Any social, civic, religious, political, or educational organization in St. Louis, Missouri can apply for a sales tax exemption by completing Form 1746 (document, Missouri sales tax exemption request). This form includes the information needed to verify that the organization is indeed a tax-exempt nonprofit. The process begins with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), where the certification process starts.
This link takes you to a list of information, forms, and guidance on the IRS website. To obtain the exemption, the owner must submit substantial and convincing evidence to demonstrate that the property meets the requirements of Article X, Section 6, of the Missouri Constitution and Section 137,100 of the Missouri Revised Statutes. Assessor's Office, Room 120, St. Louis, MO 63103 Tax-exempt properties (137,100 RSMo).
All nonprofit organizations have one thing in common: they focus on helping others and benefiting their community. To learn more about the advantages, restrictions, and expectations of tax-exempt organizations, take part in 10 courses in the online workshop on tax-exempt organizations for small and medium-sized businesses. Directors constitute the governing body of your nonprofit corporation and are stakeholders in the purpose and success of your organization. Section 501 (c) (organizations) has limits on the amount of political and legislative (lobbying) activities they can carry out.
Before establishing a new nonprofit organization, make sure you've identified an unmet need in your community and that there is no other organization that supports your cause. Filing for the 501 (c) tax exemption may seem like a daunting task but it has many benefits. Most importantly, you'll gain credibility and legitimacy for your cause, making the public trust your organization. Once adopted, keep them securely in your not-for-profit record kit.
If there is another organization that supports your cause, consider working together as this could be a better way to make an impact in your community and use existing resources. The IRS has developed a series of online workshops designed to help you ensure that your organization complies with federal tax laws that govern section 501 (c) (corporations). If the organization enters into an excessive profit transaction with a person who has substantial influence over the organization, a special tax may be imposed on the person and on the managers of the organization who agree to the transaction.