Question 1

What kind of consulting does Jen Williams International give?

Accepted Answer

Jen Williams International does not give legal or tax advice.  Please consult a business lawyer or tax professional if you have legal or tax-related questions or concerns.

Question 2

What are the requirements to apply for 501(C)(3) status?

Accepted Answer

Before an organization can apply for 501(c)(3) status, the IRS requires it to be incorporated as a non-profit corporation, association or trust.  It will also need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) and Bylaws.  (All of this is included in our Nonprofit Startup Package). The IRS further requires that the organization: be organized and incorporated as a nonprofit exclusively for one or more of the purposes set forth in Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3); not allow the net earnings of the organization inure to the benefit of any individual; not attempt to influence legislation as a substantial part of its activities; and not participate at all in campaign activity for or against political candidates.

Question 3

What is the IRS filing fee?

Accepted Answer

The IRS now has only TWO filing fees for 501C3 application submissions - $275 and $600 (formerly $400 and $850 depending on the organization's projected revenue).  If an organization is eligible to use the IRS short-form version of the application, the filing fee is $275.  All other organizations (ie, churches, schools, hospitals, etc) must pay a flat $600 filing fee -- no matter it's proposed or actual budget.

Question 4

Do you need the filing fee up front when I order your service?

Accepted Answer

We do not need the IRS filing fee up front to prepare an application!  Many applicants do, .however, give us the filing fee at the same time they pay for our services.

Question 5

How long does it take you to prepare my application?

Accepted Answer

All orders for applications are processed in the order we receive them. Because of our extensive experience, it takes approximately 15 minutes to one hour, depending on the application...and we make no mistakes!

Question 6

How long does it take for the IRS to process my application once it's sent in?

Accepted Answer

Our clients' applications with the lower filing fees are now averaging approval in just four (4) to six (6) weeks!  Those applications that have to pay the higher filing fee are now averaging 90 days or more in processing time.  Churches seem to get approved the fastest.  However, sometimes it can be longer because the IRS may have to send an application to another office due to a heavy caseload, or because of the complexity of an applicant's organizational activities and/or revenue sources.  Once an application leaves our office, it is out of our hands.

Question 7

What if the IRS contacts me for additional information, who will help me respond?"

Accepted Answer

We will, of course...AT NO ADDITIONAL CHARGE!  Sometimes the IRS may contact an applicant for additional information; however, it rarely happens.  Our fee for preparing applications INCLUDES an IRS Power of Attorney for IRS representation during the process.  We know what the IRS wants to hear and we'll speak to your examiner on your behalf...

Question 8

Then what happens?

Accepted Answer

If the requesting examiner has no additional questions (99.99% of the time they won't), a Letter of Determination "approval" will be sent directly to you in about 4 weeks.  (The approval letter is not a certificate or a number; just a boring IRS letter congratulating you on your approval.)

Question 9

Someone else prepared my 501(c)(3) application and the IRS sent it back to me with a lot of questions.  Can you fix this, too?"

Accepted Answer

Yes, we also "fix" applications.  However, if available, please provide us a copy of the initial 501(c)(3) application originally sent to the IRS (so we'll know why it needs "fixing"), as well as any and all letters from the requesting examiner, and your attempted responses, if any.  Upon our review, we will provide you a quote.

Question 10

What is your success rate at getting these applications approved?

Accepted Answer

Since 2001, Jen Williams International has maintained a 100% IRS approval rate.  We have never had an application denied!  Please note, however, that an applicant's cooperation and prompt response to our (and the IRS) requests for complete information and documentation is paramount in helping to get approval.  This is a team effort!

Question 11

What if mine is denied?

Accepted Answer

We offer a full money-back guarantee (except the IRS filing fee). However, the way we prepare 501(c)(3) applications, and with our successful track record of 100% IRS approvals since 2001, it's highly unlikely!  We double-check all applicants' information and documentation for completeness, overall consistency and IRS regulatory compliance.  If an applicant does not have all their "ducks in a row," we will inform them of what we need beforehand to ensure their application successfully qualifies for approval.

Question 12

I'm new at this. Where can I get more 501(c)(3) information?

Accepted Answer

Call the IRS Exempt Organization's Customer Service at (877) 829-5500 or visit the IRS official website for nonprofits and charities. (Their information and advice are free!)

Question 13

I'm convinced!  How do I get started with you?

Accepted Answer

Please complete our 501C3 Intake Form selecting the services you want and click "Submit" at the bottom of the form.  There may be information you don't immediately know or readily have.  That's ok, we'll get it later!  Just fill out what you can and put "TBD" (to be determined) in the fields you don't yet have information for.

Question 14

What can I expect after that?

Accepted Answer

Your information in the intake form will be transmitted to us electronically.  We will then contact you to confirm your service request and answer any questions you may have. Thereafter, we will email you an invoice with payment options. Upon receipt of payment, we will issue a receipt immediately and begin preparing your documents!  We will provide you copies of all documents filed for your records.

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