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Giving Home > Professional Advisor Resources > Private Letter Ruling > Tax-Exempt Status Denied for Software Organization

Tax-Exempt Status Denied for Software Organization

Published February 27, 2026

GiftLaw Note: Organization applied for tax exempt status under Sec. 501(c)(3). Organization’s mission is the development, maintenance and promotion of open-source software for public use. Organization’s primary concentration is on developing tools and patches for applications. Users are primarily individuals who can use the patches to introduce new features, remove undesired functionality or modify app user’s interface. All source code is publicly available for anyone to access, use and contribute to the software. Contractors are compensated as software developers based on industry-standard salaries. Revenue is expected from “user donations” and expenses will include hosting and infrastructure, subscriptions for services, administrative expenses, software expenses and future contractor compensation.
 
To be exempt under Sec. 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for charitable or educational purposes and no part of the earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual. Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) states that an organization that fails to meet either the organizational or operational test is not exempt. Under Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1), an organization is operated exclusively for an exempt purpose only if it engages primarily in activities which accomplish an exempt purpose. An organization will not qualify if a significant portion of its activities do not support an exempt purpose. Here, the Service determined that Organization failed the organizational and operational test under Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)(i) and Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-(1)(a)(1) because Organization fails to limit its purposes to exempt purposes and its open-source software activities are not limited for charitable purposes or to a charitable class. Therefore, tax-exempt status was denied.

PLR 202607023           Tax-Exempt Status Denied for Software Organization

2/13/2026 (10/01/2025)

Dear * * *:

We considered your application for recognition of exemption from federal income tax under Internal Revenue Code (IRC) Section 501(a). We determined that you don't qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3). This letter explains the reasons for our conclusion. Please keep it for your records.

Issues

Do you qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3)? No, for the reasons stated below.

Facts

You submitted Form 1023-EZ, Streamline Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.

You attest that you were incorporated on B, in the state of C. You attest that you have the necessary organizing document, that your organizing document limits your purposes to one or more exempt purposes within the meaning of the IRC Section 501(c)(3), that your organizing document does not expressly empower you to engage in activities, other than an insubstantial part, that are not in furtherance of one or more exempt purposes, and that your organizing document contains the dissolution provision required under Section 501(c)(3).

You attest that you are organized and operated exclusively to further charitable purposes. You attest that you have not conducted and will not conduct prohibited activities under IRC Section 501(c)(3). Specifically, you attest you will:

  • Refrain from supporting or opposing candidates in political campaigns in any way
  • Ensure that your net earnings do not inure in whole or in part to the benefit of private shareholders or individuals
  • Not further non-exempt purposes (such as purposes that benefit private interests) more than insubstantially
  • Not be organized or operated for the primary purpose of conducting a trade or business that is not related to your exempt purpose(s)
  • Not devote more than an insubstantial part of your activities attempting to influence legislation or, if you made a Section 501(h) election, not normally make expenditures in excess of expenditure limitations outlined in Section 501(h)
  • Not provide commercial-type insurance as a substantial part of your activities

Your mission on the Form 1023-EZ states, “We create and provide open-source software tools and patches for mobile apps, empowering users to enhance functionality, privacy, and control over their digital tools, contributing to a community-driven, accessible software ecosystem.”

After reviewing your application, we sent a request for additional information regarding your activities.

Your articles state you are a nonprofit organization dedicated to the development, maintenance, and promotion of open-source software for public use.

You explained that x percent of time is dedicated to software development and x percent is dedicated to maintaining and supporting services. Your primary focus is developing tools and patches for D applications. You have * * * main open source projects all for D applications. Users can use these patches to introduce new features, remove undesired functionality, or modify app user's interface. Users are any individual or outside corporation that chooses to use the software in whatever project they wish. The software is primarily used by individuals who want to enhance or modify the behavior of their D apps. Organizations, especially those interested in mobile app research, may also benefit by customizing apps to fit specific needs. All source code is publicly available, anyone can access, use, and contribute to the software. Contractors are compensated as software developers based on industry-standard salaries. Revenue is expected from “user donations” and expenses will include hosting and infrastructure, subscriptions for services, administrative expenses, software expenses, and future contractor compensation (software developers). The Board of Directors consists of a single member who is related to the software industry (pursuing a professional career in software development). He will be compensated if budgets allow.

Law

IRC Section 501(c)(3) provides for the exemption from federal income tax of organizations organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, or other purposes as specified in the statute. No part of the net earnings may inure to the benefit of any private shareholder or individual.

Treasury Regulation Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) states that in order to qualify under IRC Section 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for one or more of the purposes specified in such section. If an organization fails to meet either the organizational or operational test, it is not exempt.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)(i) provides that an organization is organized exclusively for one or more exempt purposes only if its articles of organization limit the purposes of such organization to one or more exempt purposes; and do not expressly empower the organization to engage, otherwise than as an insubstantial part of its activities, in activities which in themselves are not in furtherance of one or more exempt purposes.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) provides that an organization will be regarded as “operated exclusively” for one or more exempt purposes only if it engages primarily in activities that accomplish one or more of such exempt purposes specified in IRC Section 501(c)(3). An organization will not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial part of its activities is not in furtherance of an exempt purpose.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2) provides the term “charitable” is used in IRC Section 501(c)(3) in its generally accepted legal sense and includes relieving the poor and distressed or the underprivileged, combating community deterioration, lessening neighborhood tensions, and eliminating prejudice and discrimination.

Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i) provides that the term “educational,” as used in IRC Section 501(c)(3), relates to the instruction or training of the individual for the purpose of improving or developing his capabilities or the instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community.

In Revenue Ruling 71-504, 1971-2 C.B. 231, a city medical society exempt under IRC Section 501(c)(6), that primarily directs its activities to the promotion of the common business purposes of its members may not be reclassified as an educational or charitable organization under Section 501(c)(3). The society was created for the purpose of promoting the art of medicine, the betterment of public health, and the unity, harmony, and welfare of members of the medical profession. Membership is open to all doctors in the community. Activities included presentations on new procedures and clinical care, an extensive library of medical books for use by members, a monthly medical journal, supporting medical education and local health programs, a patient referral service for members, meetings concerned with matters affecting the promotion and practice of medicine and enhancing and improving the public image of the medical profession. While some of the society's activities are charitable or educational, several are instead directed primarily at the promotion of the medical profession and thus further the common business purposes of its members.

In Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279 (1945), the Supreme Court of the United States interpreted the requirement in IRC Section 501(c)(3) that an organization be “operated exclusively” by indicating that an organization must be devoted to exempt purposes exclusively. The presence of a single non-exempt purpose, if more than insubstantial in nature, will destroy the exemption regardless of the number and importance of truly exempt purposes.

Application of law

IRC Section 501(c)(3) sets forth two main tests for qualification of exempt status. Per Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for purposes described in Section 501(c)(3).

You do not meet the organizational test of Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1)(i). Your organizing document contains a broad purpose statement that does not limit your purposes to one or more exempt purposes.

You do not meet the operational test of Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1). You are not operating “exclusively” for exempt purposes as required by Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1). Creating, maintaining, and providing open source software for anyone to use for any purpose constitutes a substantial, non-exempt purpose. Your open source software activity is not limited for charitable purposes or to a charitable class. Your open source software activities are not charitable per Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2) or educational per Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i).

Like the organization in Rev. Rul. 71-504, some of your activities may be considered educational or charitable. However, a substantial portion of your activities involves the creation, maintenance, and provision of open source software (available for any individual or organization to use for any purpose) which does not further “exclusively” exempt purposes. Thus, like the organization in Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc., you have a substantial non-exempt purpose that destroys exemption regardless of the number and importance of truly exempt purposes.

Conclusion

Based on the information submitted, you do not qualify for exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3). You do not meet the organizational test because your articles do not limit your purposes to one or more exempt purposes. You do not meet the operational test because you are operated for a substantial non-exempt purpose.

If you agree

If you agree with our proposed adverse determination, you don't need to do anything. If we don't hear from you within 30 days, we'll issue a final adverse determination letter. That letter will provide information on your income tax filing requirements.

If you don't agree

You have a right to protest if you don't agree with our proposed adverse determination. To do so, send us a protest within 30 days of the date of this letter. You must include:

  • Your name, address, employer identification number (EIN), and a daytime phone number
  • A statement of the facts, law, and arguments supporting your position
  • A statement indicating whether you are requesting an Appeals Office conference
  • The signature of an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization or your authorized representative
  • The following declaration:

For an officer, director, trustee, or other official who is authorized to sign for the organization: Under penalties of perjury, I declare that I have examined this request, or this modification to the request, including accompanying documents, and to the best of my knowledge and belief, the request or the modification contains all relevant facts relating to the request, and such facts are true, correct, and complete.

Your representative (attorney, certified public accountant, or other individual enrolled to practice before the IRS) must file a Form 2848, Power of Attorney and Declaration of Representative, with us if they haven't already done so. You can find more information about representation in Publication 947, Practice Before the IRS and Power of Attorney.

We'll review your protest statement and decide if you gave us a basis to reconsider our determination. If so, we'll continue to process your case considering the information you provided. If you haven't given us a basis for reconsideration, we'll send your case to the Appeals Office and notify you. You can find more information in Publication 892, How to Appeal an IRS Determination on Tax-Exempt Status.

If you don't file a protest within 30 days, you can't seek a declaratory judgment in court later because the law requires that you use the IRC administrative process first (IRC Section 7428(b)(2)).

Where to send your protest

Send your protest, Form 2848, if applicable, and any supporting documents to the applicable address:

U.S. mail:

Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
Mail Stop 6403
PO Box 2508
Cincinnati, OH 45201

Street address for delivery service:

Internal Revenue Service
EO Determinations Quality Assurance
550 Main Street, Mail Stop 6403
Cincinnati, OH 45202

You can also fax your protest and supporting documents to the fax number listed at the top of this letter. If you fax your statement, please contact the person listed at the top of this letter to confirm that they received it.

You can get the forms and publications mentioned in this letter by visiting our website at www.irs.gov/forms-pubs or by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676). If you have questions, you can contact the person listed at the top of this letter.

Contacting the Taxpayer Advocate Service

The Taxpayer Advocate Service (TAS) is an independent organization within the IRS that can help protect your taxpayer rights. TAS can offer you help if your tax problem is causing a hardship, or if you've tried but haven't been able to resolve your problem with the IRS. If you qualify for TAS assistance, which is always free, TAS will do everything possible to help you. Visit www.taxpayeradvocate.irs.gov or call 877-777-4778.

Sincerely,

Stephen A. Martin
Director, Exempt Organizations
Rulings and Agreements