Cir

Zagfly, Inc. v. Commissioner

Good Law
603 F. App'x 638
United States Court of Appeals for the Ninth CircuitMay 18, 201513-71566California268 words

Opinion

Opinion

MEMORANDUM

Zagfly, Inc., appeals the Tax Court’s denial of its petition for a declaration of tax-exempt status under I.R.C. § 501(c)(3). Reviewing the Tax Court’s nonexemption determination de novo and its underlying factual findings for clear error, see Johanson v. Comm’r, 541 F.3d 973, 976 (9th Cir.2008), we affirm.

The Tax Court correctly applied the “operational test” under Treasury Regulation § 1.501(c)(3) — 1(c)(1), determining Zagfly would not be “operated exclusively for one or more exempt purposes.” It based this conclusion on the factual finding that Zag-fly would not be engaged primarily in activities which accomplish one or more of the exempt purposes specified in section 501(c)(3) of the tax code. Based on its filings with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), Zagfl/s main activity would be to operate a website through which its customers could purchase flowers at market prices. After establishing the flower website’s viability, Zagfly would expand to market other goods and services. Although Zagfly planned to donate its business profits to charitable organizations, the Tax Court did not err in concluding the donation of business profits was not an exempt purpose. See…

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