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Giving Home > Professional Advisor Resources > Private Letter Ruling > Exempt Status Denied for Hunting Retriever Club

Exempt Status Denied for Hunting Retriever Club

Published June 5, 2026

GiftLaw Note: Organization applied for exempt status under Sec. 501(c)(3). Organization states that it was formed as a recreational hunting retriever club. Organization’s activities consist of training days that are held approximately five times per year and hunting competitions held one to two times a year. During hunting competitions, individuals from neighboring states are invited to participate may receive certifications for their dogs. Organization’s main participants are adults and their pet dogs, but children who demonstrate proper gun safety and individuals with disabilities who can participate with appropriate assistance are also permitted to participate. Any individual who submits a membership application and pays the required dues may become a member of Organization. Organization’s revenue is derived from membership dues and competition entry fees, and profits are used to purchase equipment and supplies and to support Organization’s future events and activities.

To be exempt under Sec. 501(c)(3), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for charitable, religious or educational purposes. 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. Regulation 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i) defines the term educational as the instruction or training of the individual to improve or develop his/her capabilities or the instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community. Here, the Service determined that Organization failed the operational test under Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-(1)(a)(1) because Organization is not operating exclusively for educational purposes. Additionally, Organization’s activities for dogs are not within the meaning of “educational” as defined by Reg. 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i) because the dogs are the object of the training. Therefore, tax-exempt status was denied.

PLR 202621010                                                                Exempt Status Denied for Hunting Retriever Club

5/22/26 (1/5/26)

Dear * * *:

We considered your Streamline Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, 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 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 formed as a corporation 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 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 have not conducted and will not conduct prohibited activities under 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 more than expenditure limitations outlined in Section 501(h)
  • Not provide commercial-type insurance as a substantial part of your activities

Your Articles of Incorporation state that you were formed as a recreational club. You are an D hunting retriever club. Your activities consist of training days which are held around 5 times per year and hunting tests, or competitions, which are held once or twice a year. During the tests, people are invited to bring their dogs from neighboring states to participate in order to receive D certifications for their dogs.

The main participants in your activities are adults and their pet dogs. Children are allowed to participate if they demonstrate proper gun safety and disabled individuals can participate with proper assistance.

Your revenue comes from membership dues and competition fees. Anyone that submits an application and pays dues can become a member of your organization. Membership is x dollars per year. You currently have members. Fees to enter the competitions are y dollars-z dollars per day per dog that participates in the competition. Profits go to fund the next events and purchase equipment and supplies for the competitions.

Law

Internal Revenue Code Section 501(c)(3) provides for the recognition of exemption of organizations that are organized and operated exclusively for charitable, educational, or other enumerated 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) provides that, to be exempt as an organization described in 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 test or the operational test, it is not exempt.

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 which 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)(3)(i) defines the term educational as the instruction or training of the individual to improve or develop his/her capabilities or the instruction of the public on subjects useful to the individual and beneficial to the community.

Revenue Ruling 71-421, 1971-2 C.B. 229 held that a dog club exempt under Section 501(c)(7) of the Code that was formed to promote the ownership and training of purebred dogs and conduct obedience training classes may not be reclassified as an educational organization under Section 501(c)(3) of the Code.

In Better Business Bureau of Washington, D.C., Inc. v. United States, 326 U.S. 279 (1945), the Supreme Court held that the presence of a single non-exempt purpose, if substantial in nature, will destroy a claim for exemption, regardless of the number or importance of truly exempt purposes.

Ann Arbor Dog Training Club, Inc. v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. 207 (1980), describes an organization, the primary purpose of which was to train dogs, that did not qualify for exemption. Although the dog owners received some instruction as to the training of the dogs, the dogs were the primary objects of the organization's training classes and evaluation. Since training dogs is not an educational purpose described in IRC 501(c)(3), the organization did not qualify for exemption.

Application of law

Section 501(c)(3) sets forth two main tests for qualification for exempt status. As stated in Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1), an organization must be both organized and operated exclusively for purposes described in IRC Section 501(c)(3). You do not meet the operational test under IRC Section 501(c)(3) because you are not operating exclusively for educational purposes. You are similar to the organizations in Rev. Rul. 71-421 and Ann Arbor Doe Training Club, Inc. v. Commissioner. Your activities consist of hosting training days and tests, or competitions, for people and their dogs where the dogs can earn certifications from the D. Although your activities include training days, the dogs are the object of the training as well as the subsequent tests or competitions. Therefore, your activities for dogs are not within the meaning of educational as defined in Treas. Reg. Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(3)(i). Instead, as indicated in your Articles of Incorporation, your activities are for the recreation of your members which is a substantial nonexempt purpose. As provided for in Better Business Bureau, this substantial, non-exempt purpose precludes exemption under IRC Section 501(c)(3).

Conclusion

Based on the information submitted, you are not operated exclusively for exempt purposes within the meaning of IRC Section 501(c)(3) because your activities further substantial nonexempt purposes. Thus, you do not qualify for exemption under Section 501(c)(3).

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 ease 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