21 Shelton-Based Organizations Lose Tax-Exempt Status

Twenty-one Shelton-based organizations have lost their tax-exempt status after failing to file informational returns for three straight years, according to the Internal Revenue Service.

The revocations are among more than 2,100 statewide and 275,000 nationwide announced last week. The vast majority of those organizations are believed to be defunct, according to the IRS.

Since the passage of the Pension Protection Act in 2006, nearly all tax-exempt organizations have been required to file an annual informational return or notice with the service. The overwhelming majority of tax-exempt groups have done so, the IRS said, but a small minority have not.

“During the past several years, the IRS has gone the extra mile to help make tax-exempt groups aware of their legal filing requirement and allow them additional time to file,” IRS Commissioner Doug Shulman said in a statement. “Still, we realize there may be some legitimate organizations, especially very small ones, that were unaware of their new filing requirement.” 

Organizations that find themselves on the list must apply to have their status reinstated. Though the revocations do not impact donations made prior to their publication by the IRS, subsequent donations will no longer be tax-exempt unless a group's status is reinstated.

Donors concerned about any of the organizations they support to can check those groups' status online through the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website.

"In addition, donors should be aware that organizations that have had their federal tax exemption revoked by the IRS may have other management issues," Consumer Protection Commissioner William M. Rubenstein said in a statement.

The 21 Shelton-based groups who have lost tax-exempt status are:

• Adonai Financial Counseling
• Ancient Free & Accepted Masons Of Connecticut
• Burndy Long Term Disability Plan
• Children and Health Charitable
• Clean Sound, Inc.
• Connecticut Association of Educational Opportunity
• Connecticut Governors Committee for Physical Fitness
• East German Sick Benefit Society of Bridgeport Connecticut, Inc.
• Employees Aid Association of the Star Pin Company
• Friends of the Playground of Shelton
• New Media Alliance, Inc.
• Pomperaug Social Club, Inc.
• Pop Warner Little Scholars, Inc.
• PTSA Connecticut, Inc.
• Shelton Builders Association, Inc.
• Shelton Commerce and Industry Association
• Shelton Department of Highways & Bridges
• Shelton Employees Association of Black & Decker
• Shelton Police Union Insurance Fund
• Society of Carbide Engineers
• Solutions for Succes, Inc.

Check here for a full list of organizations who lost their tax-exempt status this year.