26 U.S.C. § 506 (2024)

This is the official text of 26 U.S.C. § 506 (2024), part of Federal (US Code)’s United States Code — the codified general and permanent federal statutes of the United States, organized into more than 50 numbered titles by subject.

Not legal advice. This page reproduces the official text of a government statute for reference only. Laws change, and how a statute applies depends on your specific facts. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney in your state.

Organizations required to notify Secretary of intent to operate under 501(c)(4)

Official statutory text

(a) In general

An organization described in section 501(c)(4) shall, not later than 60 days after the organization is established, notify the Secretary (in such manner as the Secretary shall by regulation prescribe) that it is operating as such.

(b) Contents of notice

The notice required under subsection (a) shall include the following information:

(1) The name, address, and taxpayer identification number of the organization.

(2) The date on which, and the State under the laws of which, the organization was organized.

(3) A statement of the purpose of the organization.

(c) Acknowledgment of receipt

Not later than 60 days after receipt of such a notice, the Secretary shall send to the organization an acknowledgment of such receipt.

(d) Extension for reasonable cause

The Secretary may, for reasonable cause, extend the 60-day period described in subsection (a).

(e) User fee

The Secretary shall impose a reasonable user fee for submission of the notice under subsection (a).

(f) Request for determination

Upon request by an organization to be treated as an organization described in section 501(c)(4), the Secretary may issue a determination with respect to such treatment. Such request shall be treated for purposes of section 6104 as an application for exemption from taxation under section 501(a).

(Added Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title IV, §405(a), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3118.)

Statutory Notes and Related Subsidiaries

Effective Date

Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title IV, §405(f), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3120, provided that:

"(1) In general.—The amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending sections 6033 and 6652 of this title] shall apply to organizations which are described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and organized after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015].
Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title IV, §405(f), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3120, provided that:

"(1) In general.—The amendments made by this section [enacting this section and amending sections 6033 and 6652 of this title] shall apply to organizations which are described in section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and organized after the date of the enactment of this Act [Dec. 18, 2015].

"(2) Certain existing organizations.—In the case of any other organization described in section 501(c)(4) of such Code, the amendments made by this section shall apply to such organization only if, on or before the date of the enactment of this Act—

"(A) such organization has not applied for a written determination of recognition as an organization described in section 501(c)(4) of such Code, and

"(B) such organization has not filed at least one annual return or notice required under subsection (a)(1) or (i) (as the case may be) of section 6033 of such Code.

In the case of any organization to which the amendments made by this section apply by reason of the preceding sentence, such organization shall submit the notice required by section 506(a) of such Code, as added by this Act, not later than 180 days after the date of the enactment of this Act."

Limitation on Expenditure of User Fees

Pub. L. 114–113, div. Q, title IV, §405(e), Dec. 18, 2015, 129 Stat. 3119, provided that: "Notwithstanding any other provision of law, any fees collected pursuant to section 506(e) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as added by subsection (a), shall not be expended by the Secretary of the Treasury or the Secretary's delegate unless provided by an appropriations Act."

Status: in_force · Read it on the official government site

Need a lawyer in Federal (US Code)?

Find a Federal (US Code) lawyer
About this page: Statute text is reproduced from official government publishers via the Open US Law dataset (Vaquill AI, snapshot v2026.08, CC BY 4.0). Primary legislative text like this is public domain under the government-edicts doctrine (Georgia v. Public.Resource.Org, 2020). We link every section back to its official source so you can verify it independently.