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You have a mission, a board and maybe a few early donors. What you don’t have yet is the IRS letter that says gifts to you are tax-deductible. For a new charity in Cincinnati, that letter opens doors: grants, church partners, bigger gifts and a bank that takes you seriously. We help you prepare the 501(c)(3) application so it goes to the IRS complete, with nothing left blank for them to ask about later.
When You Need a 501(c)(3) Application
You need one when your group is organized for charity, religion, education or a similar purpose and wants the IRS to confirm it. Most often the push comes from outside. A foundation won’t send a grant without a determination letter. A donor wants a deduction. A business wants to sponsor your event but needs proof first.
Timing matters too. If you file within 27 months after the end of the month your group was legally formed, and the IRS approves you, your exempt status can reach back to the day you were formed. File later and it usually starts on the date you applied. Churches are a special case. A church is treated as tax-exempt without applying, but many still apply so members and donors have the letter in hand.
Our 501(c)(3) Application Process
First we check which form fits. The short Form 1023-EZ is only for smaller groups. Under the IRS eligibility worksheet in the Form 1023-EZ instructions, you can’t use it if your yearly gross receipts topped 50,000 dollars in any of the past three years, are expected to top that in any of the next three, or if your assets are worth more than 250,000 dollars. Churches can’t use the short form at all. Everyone else files the full Form 1023. Both are filed online through Pay.gov, and the IRS charges its own user fee.
Then we gather what the form asks for. That means your Ohio articles of incorporation, your bylaws, your federal ID number, a plain description of each program, and money figures for the years the form covers. We draft the answers with you, check that your articles include the language the IRS looks for, and walk you through every page before you sign. If the IRS writes back with questions, we help you answer them.
501(c)(3) Application Cost in Cincinnati
Our fee depends on which form you file and how ready you are. A small group that qualifies for the 1023-EZ and has its papers in order takes less time than a group filing the full 1023 with several programs and a few years of history to explain. Missing documents or articles that need changes add work. The IRS user fee is separate and paid straight to the IRS. We tell you our fee before we start.
Why Choose Us for Your 501(c)(3) Application
Most offices that help with the application stop the day it is filed. We don’t. The same people who help with your application can prepare your first 990, set up your books and run your payroll, so the promises you make on the form match how you actually operate.
We also keep you clear on what exemption does not cover. It frees the group from federal income tax on its mission work. It does not change payroll. Once you hire someone who works in the city, you still withhold Cincinnati’s 1.8% city income tax from their pay, the same as any other employer. Our office has been on North Bend Road since 1993, and we are open Monday through Saturday all year.
The application is one step in our full support for Cincinnati charities and ministries.
Common Questions
How long does the IRS take to approve a 501(c)(3)?
It varies, and the IRS sets the pace. The short form is usually quicker than the full Form 1023. A complete, clear application is the best way to avoid follow-up letters that slow things down.
Can we take donations before we are approved?
You can accept gifts, but donors need to know their deduction depends on approval. If you file within 27 months of forming and are approved, your status can reach back to your formation date.