Section 254.6 Of Article 2. Procedure To Claim Exemptions From California Revenue And Taxation Code >> Division 1. >> Part 2. >> Chapter 1. >> Article 2.
254.6
. (a) An organization that intends to claim the welfare
exemption or veterans' organization exemption shall file with the
State Board of Equalization a claim for an organizational clearance
certificate.
(b) The board staff shall review each claim for an organizational
clearance certificate for the welfare exemption to ascertain whether
the organization meets the requirements of Section 214 and shall
issue a certificate to a claimant that meets these requirements. The
board staff shall also review each claim for an organizational
clearance certificate for the veterans' organization exemption to
ascertain whether the organization meets the requirements of Section
215.1 and shall issue a certificate to a claimant that meets these
requirements. In this connection, the board staff shall consider,
among other matters, whether:
(1) The services and expenses of the owner or operator (including
salaries) are excessive, based upon like services and salaries in
comparable public or private institutions.
(2) The operations of the owner or operator, either directly or
indirectly, materially enhance the private gain of any individual or
individuals.
(c) Any claim of any organization that files for an organizational
clearance certificate for the first time shall be accompanied by the
claimant's corporate identification number, mailing address, and all
of the following documents:
(1) A certified copy of the financial statements of the
organization.
(2) A certified copy of the articles of incorporation and any
amendments thereto, or in the case of any noncorporate fund or
foundation, its bylaws, articles of association, constitution, or
regulations and any amendments thereto.
(3) A copy of a valid, unrevoked letter or ruling from either the
Franchise Tax Board or, in the alternative, the Internal Revenue
Service, that states that the organization qualifies as an exempt
organization under the appropriate provisions of the Bank and
Corporation Tax Law or the Internal Revenue Code.
(d) (1) If the board staff determines that a claimant is not
eligible for an organizational clearance certificate, the board shall
notify the claimant of the ineligibility.
(2) The claimant may file an appeal of the board staff's finding
of ineligibility with the board within 60 days of the date of mailing
of the notice of ineligibility. The appeal of the board staff's
finding shall be in writing and shall state the specific grounds upon
which the appeal is founded.
(3) The board shall conduct a hearing on the appeal in accordance
with any rules of notice, procedure, and briefing as the board shall
prescribe. The parties to the hearing or proceeding shall be the
board staff and the claimant appealing the finding of ineligibility.
The board staff and the claimant may agree in writing to submit the
matter to the board for a decision without a hearing. The board shall
provide written findings and conclusions or a written decision to
support its decision.
(e) (1) Once granted, an organizational clearance certificate for
the welfare exemption remains valid until the board staff determines
that the organization no longer meets the requirements of Section
214. Once granted, an organizational clearance certificate for the
veterans' organization exemption remains valid until the board staff
determines that the organization no longer meets the requirements of
Section 215.1.
(2) If the board staff determines that the organization no longer
meets the requirements for an organizational clearance certificate,
the board staff shall revoke the certificate and notify the claimant
and each county assessor of the revocation.
(3) The organization may file an appeal of the board staff's
revocation with the board within 60 days of the date of mailing of
the notice revocation. The appeal of the revocation shall be in
writing and shall state the specific grounds upon which the appeal is
founded.
(4) The board shall conduct a hearing on the appeal in accordance
with any rules of notice, procedure, and briefing as the board shall
prescribe. The parties to the hearing or proceeding shall be the
board staff and the claimant appealing the finding of ineligibility.
The board staff and the claimant may agree in writing to submit the
matter to the board for decision without hearing. The board shall
provide written findings and conclusions or a written decision to
support its decision.
(f) Pursuant to Section 15618 of the Government Code, the board
may institute an audit or verification of an organization to
ascertain whether the organization meets the requirements of Section
214.