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DAilY

07/27/2010
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Charities' tax status at risk

FROM STAFF REPORTS
The Pike County Little
Theater. Black History
Gallery, the animal rescue
group SMALR, Friends of
the Progress Library and a
handful of Masonic lodges
and cemetery associations
have a common thread:
They could lose their non­
profit status if they don't fIle
required paperwork with the
Interr;ml Revenue Service by
Oct. 15.
That's according to a
news release from the,BSJ.tter ing in more than that also
Business Bureau of Missis­ may file by Oct. 15 but will
sippi.-which issued a list of have to pay a fee.
endangered charities on Those that fail to do so
Monday. . will automatically lose their
The charities have not status as tax-exempt organi­
fIled tax returns since 2007, zations a development
when a new filing requirfl­ that could cripple future
ments took effect. the news fundraising efforts and en­
release said. tail possible tax liabilities.
The IRS is giving the according to the 131313.
charities until Oct. 15 to fIle After Oct. 15. the IRS will
tax returns. Charities taking automatically revoke tax­
in $25.000 or less in gross exempt status. and in early
receipts can file the paper­ 2011 will publish a list of or­
work for free. Charities tak- ganizations losing their tax
exemptions. Donors may
still give tax-deductible con­
tributions to the agencies be­
fore the publication of the
list. after which time the do­
nations are no longer de­
ductible.
Most of the nearly 3,000
Mississippi charities on the
lIst are small, community­
based organizations, includ­
ing service clubs, founda­
tions and faith-based min­
istries.
"This is potentially the
biggest threat to the exis-
tence of small charities that
has ever occurred," Bill
Moak, President of the Bet­
ter Business Bureau (131313)
Serving Mississippi said in a
statement Monday. "It's im­
portant that charities file
their returns to avoid loss of
their tax exemption."
The BBB maintains stan­
dards for charitable ac­
countability and evaluates
charities against those stan­
dards.
;Is?E C":'RITIES. PAGE A2

-WKI T1ES:}Jost
. Charities on list small community, community-based organizations
' ,

FROM PAGE 1 Heirs Inc., McComb City Business League, Pike Organization, Tri-County Andrews Sr. ASSOCiation.
,- Hospital ASSOCiation, County Little Theater, Pike ARC. Tri-Rural Community Gillsburg Memorial Gar-
Local charities on the list
McEwen Cemetery Associa- County Minority Business Center. United Commercial dens. Silver Creek Cemetery
include the Black History tion. Martin Community League. Pleasant Grove Travelers. Youth Ethics ASSOCiation, as well as vari­
Gallery. Black Charities Outreach Hometown Asso- East McComb Missionary Success Society, Mars Hill ous local Masonic lodges.
Foundation. Chapel Min- ciation. MissiSSippi Tuber- Baptist Church Outreach Community Center, North • • l1li

istries Inc., Delta Sigma culosis ASSOCiation chap- Ministry, R.E. Warner Pike Educational Founda- FOR ACOMPLETE LIST of the

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II ter':Niltional,S.ecretaries ment in Liberty. New Cen- Rainin Three Leaaershlp Animal Leaglle a,nct Resc~, http://www.irs.gov/puQ/irs~

~ Association, Friends of the tury Development. Opera- Academy, Teens Perform- Woodlawn Cemetery. Mag- tege/ms.pdf.

-Progress Library, Joint Uon Manhood, Pike County ing Arts Center, The Look nolia Lions Club, Obediah