Church Definition According to the IRS

The definition for a church in the United States can get a bit complicated for tax purposes.

Let me start by saying…the IRS doesn’t actually have an exact church definition.

A former commissioner of the Internal Revenue Service, Jerome Kurtz, stated the following in presenting guidelines for IRS agents in determining if an organization is a church or not:

“Since beliefs and practices are so varied, the IRS cannot define a church, but resorts to a case-by-case approach to determine whether an organization is a church.”

In order for an organization to be qualified to receive tax-exempt status for the IRS, they must meet certain conditions.

IRS News Release 1930 listed the following guidelines for its agents in determining whether an organization is indeed a church.

14 Points of Criteria

A distinct legal existence.
A Recognized creed and form of worship.
A definite and distinct ecclesiastical government.
A formal code of doctrine and discipline.
A distinct religious history.
A membership not associated with any other church of denomination.
An organization of ordained ministers.
Ordained ministers selected after completing prescribed courses of study.
A literature of its own.
Established places of worship.
Regular congregations.
Regular religious services.
Sunday schools for the religious instruction of the young.
Schools for the preparation of its ministers.

**The IRS generally uses a combination of these characteristics, together with other facts and circumstances, to determine whether an organization is considered a church for federal tax purposes

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