IRS Pulls Tax Exemptions for 23 Enumclaw-area Nonprofits

A New York Times article this week indicated that the Internal Revenue Service has revoked the tax exemptions of 275,000 nonprofit organizations across the country for not filing certain legally required reports, and 23 Enumclaw organizations were among those identified.

According to an IRS press release issued this week, Congress passed the Pension Protection Act (PPA) in 2006, requiring most tax-exempt organizations to file an annual information return or notice with the IRS. For small organizations, the law imposed a filing requirement for the first time in 2007. In addition, the law automatically revokes the tax-exempt status of any organization that does not file required returns or notices for three consecutive years.

Since then, the IRS has made an extensive effort to inform groups of the changes in the law, including though announcements such as this one last year in the Courier-Herald.

At this time, the IRS believes the vast majority of small tax-exempt organizations are now in compliance with the 2006 law. “Still, we realize there may be some legitimate organizations, especially very small ones, that were unaware of their new filing requirement," IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said. "We are taking additional steps for these groups to maintain their tax-exempt status without jeopardizing their operations or harming their donors.”

The IRS believes the vast majority of organizations, including the 23 in Enumclaw and Greenwater, are defunct. However, if an active group is on the list, there are special steps they can take to apply for reinstatement of their tax-exempt status. 

Among the groups listed in Enumclaw is the Ridge Haven Condominium Association. Association President Jean Stanley told Patch the group consists of about six people and generates far less than the annual $25,000 threshold the IRS previously set to determine whether a nonprofit needed to file.

The group had just recently filed with the IRS, she said, but regarding the revoking of tax exemptions, "I wasn't aware of that."

The local Little League Baseball, Inc., was also on the list. Steve Barr, the director of media relations for Little League International, said that decisions regarding nonprofit organizations and statuses were up to the individual associations across the country. Barr gave Patch a contact for a representative of Little League District 10, encompassing South King and Pierce counties. The number was disconnected. 

Who They Are

Below is a list of the 23 local groups listed, as well as what Patch could find out about them. Sources include the Washington Secretary of State Corporations Database as well as the Guidestar database. If you know of a correction to be made for any of the following, please contact april.chan@patch.com.

• Nile Creek Hunting Club: According to the office of the Secretary of State, this club is currently inactive. It was incorporated in 1985 but dissolved in 2006.
• Greenwater Community Center Club: The Secretary of State database indicates this club, incorporated in 1984, remains active. However, Guidestar indicates it was founded in 1989. Patch attempted to contact a representative but has been unsuccessful.
• Tacoma Golf Association: Guidestar indicates it was founded in 1987. While it shares the same name with www.tgagolf.org, this association has an Enumclaw address. No further information was found.
• Washington State Police Canine Association, Inc.: While the statewide organization appears to be active, the Secretary of State database indicates its nonprofit was dissolved in 2005. Patch could not track the whereabouts of the Enumclaw group. Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1990.
• Committee for Local Improvements for Enumclaw-Life: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1990 with the mission statement: "To generate and raise funds for the enhancement and improvement of the arts and music within the community of Enumclaw." 
• Dream a Way Productions: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1990.
• Little League Baseball, Inc.: Patch reached a representative of Little League International who indicated local jurisdictions determined their own nonprofit statuses. A call put to a local representative reached a disconnected number.
• Backcountry Horsemen of Washington: The Secretary of State database indicates that various local chapters of this group are both active and inactive. A local representative who did not wish to be identified indicated that the Enumclaw Trail Riders Chapter, which is a subsidiary of Backcountry Horsemen of Washington, got its tax-exempt status in January 2008 and should not be on the list. 
• Citizens for Safety and Environment: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1997.
• Enumclaw Downtown Partnership: The Secretary of State database indicates this group was incorporated in 1998 and dissolved in 2005.
• Greenwater Mutual Water Association: The Secretary of State database indicates this group was incorporated in 2000 and dissolved in 2008. 
• Enumclaw Junior Dairy Show: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1955.
• Mt. Rainier Sports & Fitness Club: The Secretary of State database indicates this group was incorporated in 2007 and dissolved the next year. 
• Vietnam Orphanage Project: Neither database had any information about this group.
• Enumclaw Police Officers Benefit Fund: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1972.
• Ridge Haven Condominium Association: President Jean Stanley indicates the group is active and recently filed with the IRS.  
• Osceola Community Club: The Secretary of State database indicates this group was incorporated in 1946 but was dissolved in 2006. 
• Enumclaw Junior Chamber of Commerce: Neither database had any information about this group.
• American Legion 23 Theodore Roosevelt Post: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1946.
• Enumclaw Golf Club, Inc.: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1960.
• Farmers Mutual Water Co: Neither database had any information about this group.
• American Federation of State County & Municipal Employees: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1957.
• Country Hospice Association: Guidestar indicates this group was founded in 1992.