The Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization is the City of New Orleans Department of Finance form that a non-profit uses to ask for an exemption from the city's occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax for an activity it sponsors. An officer describes the organization, the event and the use of the proceeds, then signs a certification. You can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the city publishes the original at nola.gov. It is not a property tax form, even though people often search for it among New Orleans property tax topics.
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What is New Orleans Non-Profit Tax Exemption Application (PDF)?
The Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization is the City of New Orleans Department of Finance form on which a non-profit organization requests an exemption from a city license, permit or tax for an event or activity that benefits the organization.
The form opens with four boxes, and you mark the exemption you want:
- Occupational License (150-970) (C) (1)
- Mayoralty Permit (110-264) (C)
- Sales Tax (150-521) (17)
- Amusement Tax (150-521) (17)
It then asks for the organization's name, the person who represents it, an address, a daytime telephone number and its purpose. Further questions cover political activity, whether the organization was asked to sponsor the activity so that it could receive tax-exempt status, the event and its location, date and time, how the proceeds will be used after direct necessary expenses, whether anyone profits from the event, and whether it competes with retail merchants. An officer signs a certification that the organization is the actual sponsor and that the proceeds will serve civic, educational, charitable or religious purposes. A block at the bottom, Routed By, is for customer service personnel.
The form is not a Resale Certificate, which the city's page describes as a separate document letting dealers buy items for resale without paying sales tax.
Who needs to file New Orleans Non-Profit Tax Exemption Application (PDF)?
A non-profit organization that wants a City of New Orleans exemption for an activity it sponsors files this application. The city's page says non-profits may obtain sales tax, mayoralty permit, amusement tax and occupational license tax exemptions for conducting activities that benefit their organization.
The certification on the form sets the conditions the organization attests to:
- It is a bona fide domestic civic, educational, charitable, fraternal or religious organization under Louisiana law, or it has proper tax exemption status with the Internal Revenue Service.
- It is the actual sponsor of the event described.
- All proceeds from the event, after necessary direct expenses, will be used for civic, educational, charitable or religious purposes.
An officer of the organization signs, and the form has a "Represented By" line for the person who acts for the organization. Each application names the event for which the exemption is sought, so an organization with several events expects to describe each one.
Organizations that only need to buy items for resale should not use this form; the city handles Resale Certificates separately.
When to file New Orleans Non-Profit Tax Exemption Application (PDF)
File the application when your organization plans an event or activity for which it wants an exemption, because the form asks for the event's description, location, date and time. No separate deadline, filing window or validity period is printed on the form, so confirm timing with the City of New Orleans Department of Finance before the event takes place. The exemption you are requesting depends on the boxes you mark at the top: occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax.
Documents you need
- Proper documentation supporting the organization's status, which the City of New Orleans page says must accompany the application; the form does not list which documents, so ask the Department of Finance what it accepts.
How to fill out New Orleans Non-Profit Tax Exemption Application (PDF)
Mark the exemption you are requesting
At the top, check the box for each exemption you seek: Occupational License (150-970) (C) (1), Mayoralty Permit (110-264) (C), Sales Tax (150-521) (17) or Amusement Tax (150-521) (17).
Enter the organization's details
Write the Name of Non-Profit Organization, the person it is Represented By, its Address and a daytime Telephone Number.
State the organization's purpose
Under Purpose of Organization, describe in the lines provided what the organization exists to do.
Answer the political activity questions
Answer whether the organization endorses candidates for public office and whether it is otherwise involved in political activities.
Answer the sponsorship question
Answer whether you were asked to sponsor this activity so that it might receive tax-exempt status, and add any explanation the lines allow.
Describe the event
Under Describe the event for which the exemption is sought, explain the event. Then enter its location, date and time on the next line.
Explain how proceeds will be used
Say how the proceeds, after payment of direct necessary expenses, will be used. If they go to another nonprofit, explain how that organization will use the funds.
Answer the profit and competition questions
Say whether the event will yield a profit to a promoter or to any individual or business contracted to provide service or equipment. Say whether the activity competes with retail merchants and, if yes, explain how.
Complete the certification
Enter the Organization Name, have an officer sign under Signature of Officer and enter the Date. Leave the Routed By block to customer service personnel.
Review and download the completed PDF
Check that every question is answered and the boxes match the exemptions you want. Download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF, then deliver it as described under How to submit.
How to submit New Orleans Non-Profit Tax Exemption Application (PDF)
The form prints no mailing address, online portal, fee or appointment rule, so confirm how to deliver it with the City of New Orleans.
- Department of Finance: the form is issued by the City of New Orleans Department of Finance and ends with a Routed By and Customer Service Personnel block that city staff complete. Ask the Department how it receives completed applications.
- City website: the city's page on exemptions for non-profit organizations is at https://nola.gov/resale-certificate/. It says the application must be completed with proper documentation, and it lists service hours of 9am to 5pm, Monday through Friday.
Sign the certification before you submit it; the form needs the signature of an officer. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the city's channels.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Leaving all four exemption boxes at the top unmarked, so the city cannot tell whether you seek an occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax exemption.
- Submitting the application without the signature of an officer of the organization under the certification.
- Describing the event without its location, date and time, which the form asks for on its own line.
- Skipping the questions on endorsing candidates and other political activities.
- Naming a nonprofit as the recipient of proceeds without explaining how that organization will use the funds, as the proceeds question requires.
- Answering Yes to competing with retail merchants without explaining how, although the form asks for an explanation.
- Certifying that the organization is the actual sponsor of the event when another party sponsors it.
- Seeking an exemption with answers that are not correct and complete; the form warns of civil and criminal penalties under the Louisiana Statutes for fraudulent exemption claims.
Frequently asked questions
What is the New Orleans Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization?
It is a City of New Orleans Department of Finance form on which a non-profit requests an exemption from the occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax for an event it sponsors. An officer certifies the organization's status and how the proceeds will be used.
Is this form a New Orleans property tax exemption?
No. The form lists only four items: occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax and amusement tax. It does not offer a New Orleans property tax exemption. Contact the City of New Orleans for property tax questions.
Who has to sign the non-profit exemption application?
An officer of the organization signs. The certification at the bottom has lines for the Organization Name, the Signature of Officer and the Date. The form also has a Represented By line for the person acting for the organization.
What does the organization certify when it signs?
It certifies that it is a bona fide domestic civic, educational, charitable, fraternal or religious organization under Louisiana law, or has proper tax exemption status with the IRS. It is the actual event sponsor, and proceeds after direct expenses serve civic, educational, charitable or religious purposes.
What happens if an organization gives false information?
The form warns that organizations that fraudulently seek an exemption under sections 150-521(17), 150-970(C)(1) or 110246(C) of the city code are subject to civil and criminal penalties provided in the Louisiana Statutes.
Can I fill out the New Orleans exemption application online?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not submit the form to the City of New Orleans; you deliver it through the city's channels.
Is this the same as a New Orleans Resale Certificate?
No. A Resale Certificate lets dealers buy items for resale without paying sales tax. The Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization is for non-profits seeking exemptions for activities that benefit their organization.
What documents go with the exemption application?
The city's page says the application must be completed with proper documentation, but the form does not name the documents. Ask the City of New Orleans Department of Finance which proof of your organization's status it requires before you submit.
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