Are church schools tax-exempt?
James Craig
Published Mar 04, 2026
Churches and religious organizations are generally exempt from income tax and receive other favorable treatment under the tax law; however, certain income of a church or religious organization may be subject to tax, such as income from an unrelated business.
How do I file church tax-exempt status?
To apply for tax-exempt status, you must complete IRS Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. Completing this form can be a daunting task because of the legal and tax technicalities you’ll need to understand.
How do I start a religion and get tax-exempt status?
How to apply for tax exemption
- The organization must be an association, trust or corporation with an active Employer Identification Number.
- Review if your organization has an exempt purpose that will meet tax-exempt status.
- File IRS application form 1023 for exemption of tax-exempt recognition.
What is church tax-exempt status?
For purposes of U.S. tax law, churches are considered to be public charities, also known as Section 501(c)(3) organizations. As such, they are generally exempt from federal, state, and local income and property taxes. “Exempt” means they don’t have to pay these taxes.
How to exempt a church school from taxes?
A separately incorporated school usually must file IRS Form 1023- Application for Tax Exemption. To be exempt from filing IRS Form 990, the exemption application must claim in the appropriate place that it is exemption and show as part of the exemption application why it is exempt from the annual filing requirement.
Is a church-based child care provider a tax-exempt organization?
Most likely your church based child care provider is a tax exempt organization. However, some daycares or preschools associated with churches are organized under entities separate from the actual church. The only way to know for sure is to check with your child care provider.
When did the church become a 501c3 tax exempt organization?
Most churches in America have organized as “501c3 tax-exempt religious organizations.” This is a fairly recent trend that has only been going on for about fifty years. Churches were only added to section 501c3 of the tax code in 1954. We can thank Sen. Lyndon B. Johnson for that. Johnson was no ally of the church.
When to apply for tax exempt religious organization?
A religious organization generally must submit its application within 27 months from the end of the month in which the organization is formed to be considered tax exempt and qualified to receive deductible contributions as of the date the organi- zation was formed.