Exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code

Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, filed by the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers (BBAA)in May 2002 is available for public inspection. Contact the current club secretary at PO Box 9877, Virginia Beach, VA 23450-9877 to inspect the document. To have a copy of the application mailed to you, please forward a check for $1.50 made out to "BBAA" to cover postage and duplication costs.

The Internal Revenue Service recognized the Back Bay Amateur Astronomers as exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code as of 14 December 2000 on May 13, 2002. The letter notifing BBAA of that recognition appears below:

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Letter 947 (DO/DG)

INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY
P.O. BOX 2508 CINCINNATI, OH 45201

Date: May 13, 2002
Employer Identification Number:54-1938824

DLN: 17053022015042 BACK BAY AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS
Contact Person WAYNE A. FORD ID# 75068
: P.O. BOX 9877 VIRGINIA BEACH, VA 23450
Contact Telephone Number: (877) 829-5500
Accounting Period Ending: December 31st
Form 990 Required: Yes

Addendum Applies: Yes

Dear Applicant:

Based on information supplied, and assuming your operations will be as stated in your application for recognition of exemption, we have determined you are exempt from federal income tax under section 501 (a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an organization described in section 501 (c) (3).

We have further determined that you are not a private foundation within the meaning of section 509 (a) of the Code, because you are an organization described in section 509 (a) (2).

If your sources of support, or your purposes, character, or method of operation change, please let us know so we can consider the effect of the change on your exempt status and foundation status. In the case of an amendment to your organizational document or bylaws, please send us a copy of the amended document or bylaws. Also, you should inform us of all changes in your name or address.

As of January 1, 1984, you are liable for taxes under the Federal Insurance Contributions Act (social security taxes) on remuneration of $100 or more you pay to each of your employees during a calendar year. You are not liable for the tax imposed under the Federal Unemployment Tax Act (FUTA).

Since you are not a private foundation, you are not subject to the excise taxes under Chapter 42 of the Code. However, if you are involved in an excess benefit transaction, that transaction might be subject to the excise taxes of section 4958. Additionally, you are not automatically exempt from other federal excise taxes. If you have any questions about excise, employment, or other federal taxes, please contact your key district office.

Donors may deduct contributions to you as provided in section 170 of the Code. Bequests, legacies, devises, transfers, or gifts to you or for your use are deductible for federal estate and gift tax purposes if they meet the applicable provisions of Code sections 2055, 2106, and 2522.

Contribution deductions are allowable to donors only to the extent that their contributions are gifts, with no consideration received. Ticket purchases and similar payments in conjunction with fundraising events may not necessarily qualify as deductible contributions, depending on the circumstances. See Revenue Ruling 67-246, published in Cumulative Bulletin 1967-2, on page 104, which sets forth guidelines regarding the deductibility, as charitable contributions, of payments made by taxpayers for admission to or other participation in fundraising activities for charity.

In the heading of this letter, we have indicated whether you must file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax. If Yes is indicated, you are required to file Form 990 only if your gross receipts each year are normally more than $25,000. However, if you receive a Form 990 package in the mail, please file the return even if you do not exceed the gross receipts test. If you are not required to file, simply attach the label provided, check the box in the heading to indicate that your annual gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less, and sign the return.

If a return is required, it must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of your annual accounting period. A penalty of $20 a day is charged when a return is filed late, unless there is reasonable cause for the delay. However, the maximum penalty charged cannot exceed $10,000 or 5% of your gross receipts for the year, whichever is less. For organizations with gross receipts exceeding $1,000,000 in any year, the penalty is $100 per day per return, unless there is reasonable cause for the delay. The maximum penalty for an organization with gross receipts exceeding $1,000,000 shall not exceed $50,000. This penalty may also be charged if a return is not complete, so be sure your return is complete before you file it.

You are required to make your annual information return, Form 990, or Form 990-EZ, available for public inspection for three years after the later of the due date of the return or the date the return is filed. You are also required to make available for public inspection your exemption application, any supporting documents, and your exemption letter. Copies of these documents are also required to be provided to any individual upon written or in person request without charge other than reasonable fees for copying and postage. You may fulfill this requirement by placing these documents on the Internet. Penalties may be imposed for failure to comply with these requirements. Additional information is available in Publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization, or you may call our toll free number, shown above.

You are not required to file federal income tax returns unless you are subject to the tax on unrelated business income under section 511 of the Code. If you are subject to this tax, you must file an income tax return on Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return. In this letter, we are not determining whether any of your present or proposed activities are unrelated trade or business as defined in section 513 of the Code.

You need an employer identification number even if you have no employees. If an employer identification number was not entered on your application, a number will be assigned to you and you will be advised of it. Please use that number on all returns you file and in all correspondence with the Internal Revenue Service.

This determination is based on evidence that your funds are dedicated to the purposes listed in section 501 (c) (3) of the Code. To assure your continued exemption, you should keep records to show that funds are expended only for those purposes. If you distribute funds to other organizations, your records should show whether they are exempt under section 501 (c) (3). In cases where the recipient organization is not exempt under section 501 (c) (3), there should be evidence that the funds will remain dedicated to the required purposes and that they will be used for those purposes by the recipient.

If distributions are made to individuals, case histories regarding the recipients should be kept showing names, addresses, purposes of awards, manner of selection, relationship (if any) to members, officers, trustees or donors of funds to you, so that any and all distributions made to individuals can be substantiated upon request by the Internal Revenue Service. (Revenue Ruling 56-304, C.B. 1956-2, page 306.)

If we have indicated in the heading of this letter than an addendum applies, the enclosed addendum is an integral part of this letter.

Because this letter could help resolve any questions about your exempt status and foundation status, you should keep it in your permanent records.

If you have any questions, please contact the person whose name and telephone number are shown in the heading of this letter.

Sincerely yours,


Steven T. Miller
Director, Exempt Organizations

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(Addendum) Based on information you supplied, we recognize you as exempt from federal income tax as of December 14, 2000, the date your Constitution was adopted.