David Muresan Scientific Research Foundation v. Commissioner , 2018 T.C. Memo. 13 ( 2018 )

T.C. Memo. 2018-13UNITED STATES TAX COURT
DAVID MURESAN SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH FOUNDATION, Petitioner v.
COMMISSIONER OF INTERNAL REVENUE, Respondent
Docket No. 11943-14X. Filed February 5, 2018.
David Muresan (an officer), for petitioner.
Mark A. Weiner, for respondent.
MEMORANDUM OPINION
ASHFORD, Judge: The Internal Revenue Service (IRS or respondent)
determined that petitioner is not exempt from Federal income tax under section
501(a) because it is not an organization described in section 501(c)(3).1 Petitioner
1
Unless otherwise indicated, all section references are to the Internal
(continued...)
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[*2] challenged that determination by timely filing a petition for declaratory
judgment with the Court pursuant to section 7428(a). The parties filed with the
Court the entire administrative record and submitted this case for decision without
trial in accordance with Rule 217(b)(1) and (2). See also Rule 122. For purposes
of this proceeding, the facts and representations contained in the administrative
record are accepted as true, see Rule 217(b)(1), and are incorporated herein by this
reference. Petitioner bears the burden of proving that the IRS’ determination is
incorrect. See Rule 142(a); Calhoun Acad. v. Commissioner, 94 T.C. 284, 295
(1990).
Background
At the time the petition was filed, petitioner’s principal place of business
was in Washington.
I. David Muresan and Petitioner
Petitioner is a nonprofit corporation organized in the State of Washington
on July 18, 2011. Petitioner was incorporated by David Muresan and at all
relevant times he was petitioner’s sole officer and director.
1
(...continued)
Revenue Code in effect at all relevant times, and all Rule references are to the Tax
Court Rules of Practice and Procedure.
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[*3] Mr. Muresan emigrated to the United States from Romania in 1988. He
claims to be a self-employed long-term caregiver and home builder, as well as a
commercial truck driver. In the past, he has worked as an electrician and a
computer technician in Seattle, Washington; as a custodian in a California high
school; and while in Romania, as a self-employed electronics repairman, a high
school teacher, a design engineer, and a mechanic in a steam locomotive factory.
Mr. Muresan also holds himself out as a prolific inventor who has obtained
patents in Romania for two of his inventions in electric motors and patents in the
United States for four of his inventions in computer electronics, lighting, computer
hardware, and digital pictures. He claims he has another eight ideas to be
patented. For example, in this regard, he has developed various theories regarding
the role of body temperature in human health and physiology. He believes that
human cells are at greater risk when their temperature decreases and that
dissipation of body heat is a key cause of many illnesses, and therefore he has
developed a way of insulating the human body so that the body’s immune system
will cure diseases. However, he has been unsuccessful in convincing medical
professionals of his views and marketing his ideas and inventions to established
companies. Consequently, he incorporated petitioner as, in part, a vehicle for
promoting and marketing his ideas and inventions.
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[*4] Petitioner’s bylaws2 provide in pertinent part:
ARTICLE II Non-Profit Operation
2.1 The purpose for which the DMMD Foundation is formed is
exclusively for scientific research and other similar nonprofit
purposes, as contemplated by Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986
ARTICLE III Purposes and Mission
3.1 Purpose. The DMMD Foundation is dedicated to: invent,
develop prototypes, software development, and scholarship grants.
3.2 Mission. The mission of David Muresan Scientific- Research
Foundation (DMMD Foundation) is:.
Foundation’s Mission.
Part A) Technology Side. (about 20%)
1) Patent new ideas. This includes David Muresan’s ideas and other
people ideas. Specific, David Muresan will instruct prospective
inventor how to apply for a patent.
2) Build prototypes of existing inventions. David Muresan will use
the corporation facility and his technology skill to transform ideas in
products. David will build his car engine without pollution which
recently was rejected by German company Volkswagen and Ford
Company. David will build his new idea about a bicycle and more.
Once the prototypes will work we will not use anymore foundation
money.
2
There are two versions of petitioner’s bylaws in the administrative record.
One, apparently earlier, version submitted to the IRS incorrectly identifies, inter
alia, petitioner as Sakai Foundation with offices in Ann Arbor, Michigan and
states that membership meetings shall be held to coincide with Sakai conferences
and that the bylaws are subject to interpretation under Michigan law. The other,
apparently later, version does not include any references to Sakai.
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[*5] 3) Expose his achievements to public. That will include a museum
in his foundation facility where David Muresan will be presented his
and other inventions and prototypes built so far.
Part B) Software Side. (about 10%)
1) Develop Software. This includes the new software ideas to meet
the new exigencies in digital pictures. The base will be David
Muresan invention about Digital pictures smoothing.
Part C) Human Health Side. (about 70%)
1) Explanation of Human Health Problems. This will use David
Muresan ideas about Human Health to find the mechanism of
illnesses and to have a scientific explanation.
2) New Approach for Cure of Illnesses. This will use the
conclusions of the above analysis to propose a practical solution to
cure illnesses. The observation made by David Muresan so far is
enough to proof his ideas beyond a reasonable doubt.
3) Specific Application of health ideas. These new ideas will be
used in different health problems such as: Autism, Cancer, MS, Brain
Development, Infertility, Impotence, Depression, Pains, Aging, and
so on.
4) Grants for Research of this new idea to cure illnesses based on
the immune system enhancement. Foundation will give grants to
student in health, nurses and doctors to collect information from
science books and observations to enrich and expand the scientific
idea to let the immune system to fight infection. The results may
change deep the actual practice of bypassing the immune system by
medication only.
ARTICLE IV Qualification and Application for Membership
4.1 Membership in DMMD. Any academic and research
organizations and commercial organizations and institutions with
programs and missions consistent with the purposes of dmmd as set
forth in Articles II and III and may include colleges and universities,
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[*6] research and development centers, membership organizations, and
other nonprofit organizations, provided that applications for
membership must show that the organization: has goals and purposes
consistent with the goals and purposes of the dmmd Foundation. A
specific contract will be made with any organization wanting to
work with dmmd foundation.
[All errors in original.]
II. Administrative Proceedings
A. Petitioner’s Application for Exemption
On August 24, 2011, petitioner submitted to the IRS Form 1023,
Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code, which Mr. Muresan signed. In the Form 1023 petitioner classified
itself as a “private foundation”, an organization engaging in “economic
development”, a “medical research organization operated in conjunction with a
hospital”, and an organization providing “scholarships, fellowships, educational
loans, or other educational grants to individuals, including grants for travel, study,
or other similar purposes”. Petitioner included with the Form 1023 a statement of
its mission and a narrative description of its activities (collectively, petitioner’s
application). The statement of petitioner’s mission was nearly identical to the
mission statement set forth in petitioner’s bylaws, and the narrative description
further explained the mission, including describing several of Mr. Muresan’s
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[*7] inventions and outlining the past, present and planned activities of Mr.
Muresan to attempt to advance petitioner’s mission.
Petitioner also responded in the affirmative to the following question in the
Form 1023: “Do you or will you publish, own, or have rights in music, literature,
tapes, artwork, choreography, scientific discoveries, or other intellectual
property?” As a result of petitioner’s answer to that question, petitioner was
required to but did not, however, explain its answer or “[d]escribe who owns or
will own any copyrights, patents, or trademarks, whether fees are or will be
charged, how the fees are determined, and how any items are or will be produced,
distributed, and marketed.”
Despite the fact that petitioner’s bylaws provide that petitioner’s board of
directors shall consist of no less than three but not more than five members, in the
Form 1023 the only officer, director, trustee, employee or independent contractor
petitioner listed was Mr. Muresan; he was listed as its “CEO” with total annual
actual or estimated compensation of $36,000. Petitioner also indicated that it had
adopted a conflict of interest policy but it did not, as required by the Form 1023,
“provide a copy of the policy and explain how the policy has been adopted, such
as by resolution of your governing board.”
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[*8] In the Form 1023 petitioner listed “[d]epreciable and depletable assets” of
$400,000 and “[o]ther liabilities” of $2,500 but it did not, as required by the Form
1023, “attach an itemized list” of these assets and liabilities.
B. The IRS’ First Request for Additional Information
In a letter to petitioner dated February 10, 2012, the IRS requested
additional information regarding petitioner’s application. The IRS requested that
petitioner do the following by March 1, 2012: (1) amend its articles of
incorporation to include certain terms and submit a copy thereof as properly filed
with and approved by the State of Washington; (2) submit copies of Mr.
Muresan’s résumé and its compensation agreement with him; (3) correct the
financial data on the Form 1023, including providing an itemized list of the
depreciable and depletable assets totaling $400,000; (4) submit copies of its
bylaws and its conflict of interest policy; (5) submit a more detailed description of
its activities, including a description of its economic development program and the
research projects in which it was or would be engaged, together with copies of any
publications showing reports of its research activities; and (6) describe who owned
or would own or retain control of any copyrights, patents, trademarks, processes,
or formulas. The IRS also questioned petitioner’s classification as a private
foundation and as a medical research organization operated in conjunction with a
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[*9] hospital and recommended that petitioner modify its board of directors to
place control in the hands of unrelated individuals selected from the community it
would serve.
The IRS received a response from Mr. Muresan dated February 15, 2012,
that attempted to address only petitioner’s classification as a medical research
organization. The response stated in pertinent part:
A promise in writing to a donor in consideration of making a
contribution that such contribution will be spent within the prescribed
time constitute a commitment.
I, David Muresan, the founder of David Muresan Scientific-Research
Foundation promise to any donor of funds for this Foundation that the
money received will be spent in the time frame the donor will require.
If no such requirement will be expressed by donor the funds will be
spent as necessary for the exclusive purpose set in the Foundation
mission.
* * * * * * *
Newly Created Medical Organization - A newly created
organization is required to submit to the commissioner details plans
showing its proposed initial medical research program. The plan may
include:
i. architectural drawing for the construction of buildings;
ii. facilities used for medical research; and
iii. plans to assembly professional staff.
I. David Muresan Scientific - Research Foundation has two main
parts; Technology and Human Health Care.
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[*10] None of these activities requires special buildings. The technology
aspect require a mechanical and electrical shop with proper tools.
That is accommodated by a regular house with a shop, proper
remodeled.
The Human Health Care requires a regular house because the whole i.
idea of health, expressed in the foundation mission, consists in
enhancing the human body immune system to fight diseases.
ii. The houses of this foundation are shown below.
Their addresses are:
1) 1496 S. Crestview Dr. Camano Island WA 98282
2) 1578 S. Crestview Dr. Camano Island WA 98282
3) 1473 S. Crestview Dr. Camano Island WA 98282
iii. The stuff will be selected for medical research and administration
only, and will consist of a doctor, a nurse, and a caregiver. David
Muresan will be the director responsible for all the Foundation
mission and after this IRS exempt approval will conduct interviews
for all other positions.
[All errors in original.]
The response included an architectural drawing of the first floor of the 1496 South
Crestview Drive property and several photos apparently of the outside and parts of
the inside of that property.
C. The IRS’ Second Request for Additional Information
In a letter to petitioner dated March 2, 2012, the IRS acknowledged Mr.
Muresan’s response dated February 15, 2012, and requested the same additional
information it had requested in its February 10, 2012, letter. The IRS requested
that petitioner provide the information by March 16, 2012.
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[*11] The IRS received a response to its March 2, 2012, letter from petitioner
dated March 11, 2012, stating in pertinent part:
I ask you if the requested material are some public documents, or are
my own created documents? If they are my created documents I ask
you to provide me samples. I do not have any other documents than
Non-for Profit Registration and the Charity registration.
I am alone working for my Foundation and I do not have any money
to consult a lawyer. I cannot ask for donations until I will have the
tax exempt status.
* * * * * * *
I do not have anybody working for me at this moment. What I have is
just my Foundation Mission and my scientific mind.
My main house 1496 is presently scheduled for sale in foreclosure
and I filed with the court and on May 8th /12, I will have hearing in
the Federal District Court. If you’ll give me the status as exempt 501
c3, I may show to judge and to postponed the sale of my house.
[All errors in original.]
D. The IRS’ Third Request for Additional Information
In a letter to petitioner dated April 18, 2012, the IRS stated in pertinent part:
Our previous letter * * * [of March 2, 2012,] asked you to send us
additional information about your application for tax-exempt status
under section 501(c)(3) or section 521 of the Internal Revenue Code.
We also contacted or attempted to contact you or your designated
representative by telephone to inquire about the requested
information. We are unable to make a final determination on your
exempt status without the additional information; therefore, we have
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[*12] placed your case in suspense. If you intend to submit the additional
information, please send it to us * * *.
* * * * * * *
If we receive the requested information on or before * * * [July 17,
2012], we will reactivate your case. After the above date, we will
close your case, and you will be required to submit a new application
package and new user fee payment to pursue tax-exempt status.
The IRS received a response to its April 18, 2012, letter from petitioner
dated May 29, 2012. Although the response included a copy of petitioner’s
bylaws,3 a copy of Mr. Muresan’s resume, and copies of seven of Mr. Muresan’s
patents, the response largely rehashed statements from petitioner’s application
regarding its activities and funding sources. The response also included a one-
sentence “Compensation Agreement” stating that Mr. Muresan “will be paid up to
$3,000 per month after the first money raised and will be conditioned by the
activity performance”. However the response stated on the one hand that Mr.
Muresan would remain the only member of its board of directors until it was better
funded but on the other hand that its compensated personnel would not be allowed
to vote on their own compensation. The response also stated that Mr. Muresan
“had a profitable business as ‘dmmd’ with a different UBI number” and that Mr.
3
The response also references amended articles of incorporation but the
copy of the response that is in the administrative record does not actually contain
the referenced amended articles.
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[*13] Muresan will use that business for “any activity which does not fit into
foundation non for profit activity”. The response further stated that all patents
presently are in Mr. Muresan’s and his son’s names and that if any of the
“patent[s] will be marketed, that activity will be a profitable activity and will not
continue as foundation activity”.
E. The IRS’ Fourth Request for Additional Information
In a letter to petitioner dated June 18, 2012, the IRS again requested that
petitioner provide additional information. The IRS requested that petitioner
provide the following by July 9, 2012: (1) a copy of its compensation agreement
with Mr. Muresan; (2) corrected financial data; and (3) an explanation as to how
its research activities were carried on to benefit the public. In its letter the IRS
also continued to question petitioner’s classification as a medical research
organization operated in conjunction with a hospital and requested that petitioner
provide certain documents and information regarding that classification. Finally,
in its letter the IRS advised that “[b]ased upon the available statement of facts, we
conclude that you are most likely not described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code
and that you are also not described in either section 509(a)(1) or Section 509(a)(2)
of the Code” and set forth a number of reasons for its preliminary conclusion.
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[*14] The IRS received a response to its June 18, 2012, letter from petitioner
dated June 23, 2012. In this response petitioner asserted that “[a]ll the Foundation
activity will be in the public interest as scientific research. All income of the
foundation will be foundation revenue and employees, included directors, will
have decent salaries.” (All errors in original.) Petitioner set forth several
“[s]pecific examples” of its research being in the public interest, to wit, helping
prospective inventors apply for patents; proving the viability of Mr. Muresan’s
ideas for a pollution-free car engine, a car differential, and a bicycle seat that
would eliminate the friction caused by the seat between a bicycle rider’s legs; and
educating people to wear warm clothes as a method of enhancing the immune
system to cure diseases. The response included a one-paragraph unsigned
“Agreement for Director’s (CEO) Compensation” indicating that petitioner would
compensate Mr. Muresan for the “positive work” he would perform for petitioner
in the amount of $3,000 to $5,000 per month depending on petitioner’s financial
situation. The response also stated that to “ensure that [the] foundation serves
the public interest [the] board of director[s] will have full control over the
foundation activity EX[C]EPT SALARY AMOUNT”. However, the response
also reiterated that petitioner did not have any directors except for Mr. Muresan,
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[*15] because there was no “income to pay them”; as soon as petitioner had funds,
two directors would be hired.
III. The IRS’ Preliminary Adverse Determinations and the Appeals Process
In a letter to petitioner dated January 22, 2013, the IRS notified petitioner
that, on the basis of the information provided, it had concluded that petitioner did
not qualify for exemption under section 501(c)(3). In support of its conclusion,
the IRS stated in pertinent part in the letter:
Prior to your formation, B,[4] your founder and only director created
several inventions, which he patented, and has several other ideas that
he plans to patent. Presently, all patents are in B’s name and his son’s
name. B has operated N[5] for several years, which has conducted
some of the activities you plan to conduct. In previous years, B
offered his inventions to several companies but was denied each time.
Because B received numerous refusals and rejections, he decided to
form you to obtain donations to develop his ideas into inventions and
build prototypes of his inventions.
* * * * * * *
You indicated all of your activities will be in the public interest as
scientific research and will be made available to the public.
Moreover, B needs the Internal Revenue Service’s help to continue
his activities because exempt status will allow you to get money to
promote B’s ideas and inventions. B’s inventions do not get
marketing attention. If any of your patents become marketable, and
4
The reference in this letter to “B” is to Mr. Muresan.
5
The reference in this letter to “N” is to Mr. Muresan’s for-profit entity,
dmmd.
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[*16] profitable, then you will stop doing this activity. You further stated
that if you get interest and money, you might try to have a hospital.
Two of B’s properties, which are on several acres, may be divided to
be used to build a hospital or he may buy existing buildings and use
them as hospitals. You showed B’s property on your balance sheet as
your depreciable asset. B’s property is in foreclosure and you wrote
that tax exemption would delay the foreclosure process.
* * * * * * *
B is your sole CEO/Board member/Director/Founder and is your only
director until you have money to hire more directors. You plan to
compensate B for the work he performs for you and his proposed
salary will be about $5,000.00/month depending on your financial
situation. B will control your financial situation to prevent excessive
spending of your funds. You also said B is responsible for your
mission more than anybody else. You will eventually pay employees,
including directors, decent salaries.
Your reasons for requesting exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the
Code include:
! B will patent any person’s ideas.
! N, a related for-profit entity, will not work anymore.
! B’s inventions are too advanced.
! B’s health ideas and inventions are too dangerous for those
making money and prevent the cause of illnesses to be found.
! B’s salary from you will be reasonable and agreed upon by
donors.
! B’s son may continue your endeavors and act as a Director.
! B maintains he has no power to sell his ideas. He believes his
ideas are too advanced and can only be developed by you with
the objective being to benefit all people.
* * * * * * *
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[*17] You are not described in section 501(c)(3) of the Code because you
are not exclusively operated for charitable or educational purposes.
You are not described in Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(a)(1) of the
Regulations because you fail the operational test.
You do not meet the provisions of Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1) of the
Regulations because more than an insubstantial part of your activities
is not in furtherance of an exempt purpose. Developing B’s ideas into
marketable inventions serves a substantial commercial and private
purpose.
As described in section 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(2) of the Regulations, you
are not operated exclusively for exempt purposes because your net
earnings inure to the benefit of B. For example, you were formed by
B to obtain grant money to develop and transform B’s ideas into
products. Moreover, you plan to build prototypes of existing
inventions and exhibit B’s achievements to the public--including a
museum where he will present his inventions and prototypes. In
addition, B plans to use your exemption to delay and/or prevent
foreclosure of his properties. Finally, your board consists of one
person who controls all aspects of your operations and has a for
profit, business, N, who will benefit from your operations.
You are not as defined in Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii) of the
Regulations because you are operating for the private interests of B
and N. You are operating to confer the advantages of tax-exempt
status to B as shown by the fact that your tax exemption will enable B
to apply for grants to develop his inventions. Moreover, you are
serving the private interests of N, because you plan to provide N
marketable products that you developed.
You do not meet the provisions of Section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(5)(iii) of
the Regulations. Any scientific research you are carrying on is not
primarily conducted in the public interest. Your activities of
developing marketable products serve a commercial purpose and are
serving private interests.
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[*18] You are like the organization in Revenue Ruling 65-1. Your
activities of developing B’s ideas into products are commercial and
they do not constitute “scientific research” within the meaning of
section 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(5) of the regulations. In addition, your
purpose of obtaining grant money to develop B’s ideas is directed to
benefit B and N and any public purpose is incidental.
You are comparable to the organization in Revenue Ruling 69-632
because you were formed to serve the private interests of your creator
B. Although your activities may result in new processes that benefit
the public, this benefit is incidental to that derived by B and N.
You are like the organization in Better Business Bureau v.
Commissioner. Although you have some educational purposes, the
presence of the non-exempt purposes of operating for the benefit of B
and N as well as for commercial purposes precludes exemption.
Similar to the organization in Harding Hospital, Inc. v. United States,
505 F.2d 1068 (1974), you have the burden of proving that you
satisfy the requirements for tax exemption. You have failed to prove
to us that you are not operating for the benefit of B.
You are comparable to the organization in Church by Mail because
you and N are controlled by the same person. Moreover, N benefits
substantially from your operations.
The IRS’ January 22, 2013, letter informed petitioner that it had the right to
file a protest if it believed that the determination in that letter was incorrect, which
petitioner did shortly thereafter. In its protest, petitioner stated that although it
disagreed with the IRS’ determination that Mr. Muresan’s inventions, in particular
his pollution-free car engine, were not scientific research conducted in the public
interest, it would modify its mission to reflect a dedication of 90% of its activities
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[*19] to Mr. Muresan’s human health ideas and 10% of its activities to instructing
prospective inventors in how to apply for patents, eliminating the portions relating
to Mr. Muresan’s other inventions and proposed software development. The
protest did not attempt to address any of the IRS’ other conclusions in its January
22, 2013, letter, and the protest appears to condition implementation of the
modifications on the IRS’ approving petitioner’s application.
In a letter to petitioner dated August 8, 2013, the IRS notified petitioner that
it again had concluded that petitioner did not qualify for exemption under section
501(c)(3), stating in pertinent part:
You failed to provide any additional information from which it can be
concluded that your activities exclusively further or advance a
purpose described in Section 501(c)(3).
Although you propose to remove some of your activities, you still do
not qualify for exemption. As explained in our analysis, you were
formed to further the private interests of B and your net earnings
inure to B’s benefit. Furthermore, your scientific research is still
serving a non-exempt purpose because your intent is to obtain grant
money to serve the private interests of B. This precludes you from
exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Code.
Petitioner filed a second protest, stating that it would further modify its
stated mission to reflect only Mr. Muresan’s human health ideas in order for the
IRS to approve its application.
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[*20] This protest was referred to the IRS Appeals Office in Los Angeles,
California (Los Angeles Appeals Office). In a letter to petitioner dated December
5, 2013, the Los Angeles Appeals Office scheduled a telephone conference with
Mr. Muresan for 10 a.m. PST on January 22, 2014. In written correspondence Mr.
Muresan sent to the Los Angeles Appeals Office before the scheduled conference,
he informed the Los Angeles Appeals Office that article three of petitioner’s
articles of incorporation (i.e., petitioner’s purposes and mission) had been
amended to state that petitioner “RESEARCHES PREVENTION AND CURE
FOR DISEASES USING IMMUNE SYSTEM” and that he had received two
letters from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration regarding his apparent plans
to perform clinical trials. In the correspondence he also informed the Los Angeles
Appeals Office that because he was driving commercial trucks he would not be
able speak on the telephone while driving and inquired whether the conference
could instead be conducted “by email exchange”.
IV. The IRS’ Final Adverse Determination
The IRS issued petitioner a final adverse determination dated May 9, 2014,
denying petitioner’s application. The determination letter stated in pertinent part:
This is a final adverse determination as to your application for exempt
status under section 501(a) of the Internal Revenue Code as an
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[*21] organization described under section 501(c)(3). Our adverse
determination was made for the following reason(s):
Organizations exempt from Federal income tax under section
501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code are required to operate
exclusively for educational, charitable or other exempt purposes. An
organization is not operated for one or more exempt purposes unless
it serves a public rather than private interest. Treas. Reg.
§ 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(1)(ii).
You operate for the private interest of your sole director and founder,
David Muresan. Additionally, you have failed to adequately describe
your proposed operations despite multiple inquiries from the Internal
Revenue Service. You are therefore not eligible for recognition as a
tax-exempt organization described in Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal
Revenue Code.
Discussion
Section 501(a) provides in pertinent part that organizations described in
section 501(c)(3), including corporations, shall be exempt from Federal income
tax unless exemption is denied under section 502 or 503. As relevant here, to
qualify as an exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3), a corporation
must demonstrate that it is organized and operated exclusively for religious,
charitable, scientific, educational, or other specified exempt purposes.6
6
Sec. 501(c)(3) also provides that a corporation must demonstrate that no
part of its net earnings inures to the benefit of any private shareholder or
individual, that no substantial part of its activities consists of political or lobbying
activities, and that no part of its activities constitutes intervention or participation
in any political campaign on behalf of or in opposition to any candidate for public
(continued...)
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[*22] A corporation qualifying as an organization described in section 501(c)(3)
not only is provided an exemption from Federal income tax, but also is generally
allowed to solicit and accept charitable contributions that normally are deductible
by the donor against his or her adjusted gross income. See sec. 170(c); Bob Jones
Univ. v. United States, 461 U.S. 574, 578 (1983). As a result, such a corporation
generally must submit an application to, and be approved by, the IRS for
recognition as an exempt organization described in section 501(c)(3). Sec. 508(a);
sec. 1.501(a)-1(a)(3), Income Tax Regs.
An organization is organized exclusively for one or more purposes specified
in section 501(c)(3) only if its articles of incorporation (1) limit the purposes of
the organization to one or more purposes specified in that section and (2) do not
expressly empower the organization to engage, otherwise than as an insubstantial
part of its activities, in activities which in themselves are not in furtherance of one
or more of those purposes. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(b)(1), Income Tax Regs.
The IRS’ final adverse determination as to petitioner does not refer to
whether petitioner is organized exclusively for one or more purposes specified in
section 501(c)(3), and the matter is not addressed in respondent’s answer to the
6
(...continued)
office. Neither party asserts that any of these requirements are at issue, and thus
we do not address them.
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[*23] petition (or respondent’s briefs). Consequently, respondent is deemed to
have conceded that petitioner was organized exclusively for one or more exempt
purposes.
An organization is operated exclusively for one or more purposes specified
in section 501(c)(3) only if it engages primarily in activities that accomplish one
or more of those purposes. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(c)(1), Income Tax Regs. An
organization will not be so regarded if more than an insubstantial part of its
activities is not in furtherance of one or more of those purposes, see id., or if the
organization operates for the benefit of private interests such as designated
individuals or the creator of the organization, see id. para. (d)(1)(ii). Section
501(c)(3) does “not provide exemption for an individual engaged in various
activities, charitable or otherwise.” Salvation Navy, Inc. v. Commissioner, T.C.
Memo. 2002-275, slip op. at 9.
Respondent contends that petitioner has not demonstrated that it operates
exclusively for section 501(c)(3) purposes and not for the private benefit of its
creator, Mr. Muresan. As we understand the position of petitioner, it maintains
that its planned “human health” endeavors will accomplish a charitable or
scientific purpose.
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[*24] The term “charitable” in section 501(c)(3) is used in its generally accepted
legal sense; therefore, that term is not to be construed as limited by the separate
enumeration in that section of other purposes that may fall within the broad
outlines of “charity” as developed by judicial decisions. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(2),
Income Tax Regs. The term includes activities such as the advancement of
education or science and the promotion of social welfare. Id. We also have held
that the term includes the promotion of health and the provision of medical care by
nonprofit entities as a general benefit to the community. Sound Health Ass’n v.
Commissioner, 71 T.C. 158, 181-185 (1978) (citing Rev. Rul. 69-545, 1969-2
C.B. 117). However, “[t]o benefit the community, a charity must serve a
sufficiently large and indefinite class”; in other words, the charitable purpose
being pursued is ensuring the community’s access to medical care, not just
providing it at or below cost. Redlands Surgical Servs. v. Commissioner, 113 T.C.
47, 73 (1999), aff’d, 242 F.3d 904 (9th Cir. 2001); IHC Health Plans, Inc. v.
Commissioner, T.C. Memo. 2001-246, slip op. at 32-33.
An organization may meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3) only if it
serves the public rather than a private interest. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-1(d)(5)(i), Income
Tax Regs. Therefore, the term “scientific” in section 501(c)(3) includes the
carrying on of scientific research in the public interest. Id. As pertinent here, an
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[*25] organization is not operated for the carrying on of scientific research in the
public interest if (1) the organization performs research only for persons that are
directly or indirectly its creators and which are not described in section 501(c)(3)
and (2) the organization directly or indirectly retains the ownership or control of
more than an insubstantial portion of the patents, copyrights, processes, or
formulae and does not make them available to the public. Sec. 1.501(c)(3)-
1(d)(5)(iv), Income Tax Regs. Further, scientific research specifically excludes
activities of a type ordinarily carried on as an incident to commercial or industrial
operations. Id. subdiv. (ii).
Mr. Muresan created and incorporated petitioner, and every duty or role at
petitioner is performed by him. He is the sole member of petitioner’s board of
directors, despite petitioner’s bylaws requiring three to five members. He is
petitioner’s only officer and the only person conducting its activities; no other
individual is involved with petitioner’s operations.
During the administrative proceedings petitioner explained that it has yet to
conduct any activities but that its activities will commence when it receives
donations and is able to hire medical personnel to perform certain scientific or
medical-related research. This research appears to be in an attempt to advance Mr.
Muresan’s human health ideas to cure diseases, whereby Mr. Muresan would have
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[*26] a person with an illness stay at his home to be evaluated and monitored by a
medical professional to assess whether wearing warm clothes aids in recovery.
Petitioner has not been able to identify a medical professional that is able and
willing to provide the necessary technical expertise needed to conduct such
research.
Where an individual creates and controls an organization seeking exemption
from Federal income tax under section 501(c)(3), there is an opportunity for
abuse; the applicant thus must openly and candidly disclose all the facts bearing
upon the organization and its operations and finances “so that the Court, should it
uphold the claimed [tax] exemption, can be assured that it is not sanctioning an
abuse of the revenue laws.” Bubbling Well Church v. Commissioner, 74 T.C. 531,
535 (1980), aff’d, 670 F.2d 104 (9th Cir. 1981). Indeed, where such disclosure is
not made, the logical inference is that facts, if disclosed, would show that the
applicant fails to meet the requirements of section 501(c)(3). Id.On multiple occasions during the administrative proceedings the IRS
requested that petitioner fully explain its operations. Petitioner failed to furnish
some of the requested information, and the responses that it provided were vague.
Tellingly, petitioner’s statements that any patents would be transferred either to
Mr. Muresan or his for-profit entity once they became profitable, rather than
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[*27] absolving petitioner of any significant nonexempt purpose, condemn it
instead as clearly acting for private benefit, contrary to the requirement that the
results of any scientific research be made available to the public. Petitioner also
admitted that it is not affiliated with a hospital and does not have access to
appropriate facilities and equipment for scientific or medical-related research. In
addition, Mr. Muresan is not a medical doctor, and there is nothing in the
administrative record to indicate that he has had any formal training or experience
in scientific or medical-related research, business administration, or the operation
of a charitable organization. It is apparent that petitioner is devoted to pursuing
Mr. Muresan’s own intellectual and commercial goals.
Moreover, the administrative record reveals another purpose for petitioner.
During the administrative process petitioner advised respondent that recognizing
petitioner as an exempt organization under section 501(c)(3) may be beneficial to
Mr. Muresan to prevent the foreclosure of the mortgage on his personal residence,
which was listed as an asset in petitioner’s application despite the lack of any
evidence in the record that he had transferred title to this property to petitioner. In
this regard, the Court takes judicial notice of the fact that Mr. Muresan tried to use
petitioner’s existence as a reason to stave off that foreclosure. See Bank of N.Y.
Mellon v. Muresan, 180 Wash. App. 1046, 2014 Wash. App. LEXIS 1085 (Ct.
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[*28] App. 2014) (stating one of Mr. Muresan’s “unavailing” arguments is that
“he uses the house for the ‘David Muresan Scientific Research Foundation’”).
While we do not doubt that Mr. Muresan’s desire to vanquish human health
problems and his other ideas and goals are sincere, his attempts to establish
petitioner as a tax-exempt organization fail to meet the requirements of section
501(c)(3). On the basis of our examination of the administrative record, we find
that petitioner will not be operated exclusively for one or more purposes specified
in section 501(c)(3) and that petitioner’s operations will more than incidently
further Mr. Muresan’s private interests. We sustain the IRS’ determination that
petitioner is not exempt from Federal income tax under section 501(a) because it is
not an organization described in section 501(c)(3).
We have considered all of the arguments made by the parties and, to the
extent they are not addressed herein, we find them to be moot, irrelevant, or
without merit.
To reflect the foregoing,
Decision will be entered for
respondent.