About two dozen Cottonwood nonprofits could lose their special tax status with the federal government if they fail to file proper tax forms before Friday, Oct. 15.
A list of the at-risk nonprofits, including those with Cottonwood addresses, was published by the Internal Revenue Service earlier this month.
The list includes an assortment of noprofits such as the Betty Turner Youth Foundation, the Cottonwood BookMarks, Flip City Booster Club, Fraternal Order of Police, Independent Order of Odd Fellows, the Knights of Columbus, the Verde Valley Alternative Lifestyles Directory, the Verde Valley Gem and Mineral Show and the Verde Valley Guidance Clinic Foundation.
According to the IRS, a federal law approved in 2006 directed small nonprofits with less than $500,000 to begin filing form 990N, a form of tax return, in 2007.
Previously these nonprofits were not required to file forms.
Many nonprofits did not learn of the law and now face the loss of their tax-exempt status unless they file the proper paperwork before the deadline.
Any nonprofit that fails to file proper tax forms in each of the three years since 2007 is scheduled to lose its tax-exempt status Oct. 15, according to the IRS.
Of the Cottonwood nonprofits on the list that could be contacted, all stated their tax returns were in order. All expected to maintain their tax-exempt status after Oct. 15.
Hailey Bruemer, executive director of Cottonwood Boys & Girls Club, said the club is now a branch of Boys & Girls Clubs of Northern Arizona and shelters to that club’s tax-exempt status.
Donations to Cottonwood Boys & Girls Club are tax deductible and will continue to be so, she said.
Lynette Prouty, treasurer of Flip City Booster Club, said her club’s tax forms were filed and she was waiting for IRS confirmation of the Booster Club’s continuing tax exempt status.
Deana King, president of the Cornville Community Association said another name mix-up could explain the association’s name on the list.
The association changed its name from the Greater Cornville-Page Springs Community Association in 2005.
“They should have the correct paperwork,” King said. “We’re trying to get somebody to explain it to us. Our tax-exempt status is intact and it will continue to be.”
Pam Egerton, president of the Fraternal Order of Police, was unavailable for comment.
