The Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization is the City of New Orleans Department of Finance form on which a non-profit asks for exemption from one of the items named on it: an occupational license, a mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax. The organization describes its purpose and the event, explains how the proceeds will be used, and an officer certifies the answers and attaches the IRS letter. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the form itself is published by the City of New Orleans at nola.gov.
Last updated
What is New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF?
The Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization is a City of New Orleans Department of Finance form on which a non-profit asks for exemption from the items listed on it: an occupational license, a mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax.
The top of the form carries four boxes, each with its city code reference: Occupational License (150-970) (C) (1), Mayoralty Permit (110-264) (C), Sales Tax (150-521) (17) and Amusement Tax (150-521) (17). Property tax is not among them, so this is not a New Orleans property tax exemption form.
The application is built around a specific event or activity. It asks for the organization's purpose, whether it endorses candidates or is otherwise involved in political activities, a description of the event with its location, date and time, how the proceeds will be used after direct necessary expenses, whether a promoter or contractor will profit, and whether the activity competes with retail merchants. An officer then certifies that the organization is a bonafide domestic civic, educational, charitable, fraternal or religious organization under Louisiana law, or has proper tax exemption status with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and that it is the actual sponsor of the event.
The lower part of the form is a routing and approval block for City staff, from the Revenue Collections Supervisor to the Chief Administrative Officer. The City's Mayoralty Permit page calls this document the "Exemption Application" and tells non-profit organizations to fill it out to get a waiver of fees.
Who needs to file New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF?
Non-profit organizations that want an exemption for one of the four items listed on the form (occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax) complete it, usually for a particular event or activity. The City's Mayoralty Permit page points non-profit organizations to this application to get a waiver of fees.
Conditions the form attaches:
- The organization must be a bonafide domestic civic, educational, charitable, fraternal or religious organization under Louisiana law, or hold proper tax exemption status with the IRS.
- It must be the actual sponsor of the event. The form asks whether you were asked to sponsor the activity so that it might receive tax exempt status.
- All proceeds from the event, after necessary direct expenses, must be used for civic, educational, charitable or religious purposes.
- A copy of the IRS organization letter verifying tax exempt status under 501 c 3, 4, 8 or 19 must be attached.
An officer of the organization signs the form, and a Represented By line names the person acting for it. The form is written for organizations, not individuals. If you are looking for a property tax exemption, note that property tax is not one of the options printed on this form.
When to file New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF
Complete the application when your non-profit organization seeks an exemption for a specific event or activity, since the form asks for a description of the event and its location, date and time. No due date or validity period is printed on the form.
The City's Mayoralty Permit page says applications for special events must be received thirty (30) days before the event to ensure issuance, and lists a Special Event Permit form and a Performance Bond or Sales Tax Deposit as required documents. That rule is stated for special event requirements, not for this application, so confirm timing with the Bureau of Revenue before your event: (504) 658-1600 or [email protected].
Documents you need
- A copy of your organization's letter issued by the IRS verifying tax exempt status under 501 c 3, 4, 8 or 19; the form marks this as important and asks for it with the application.
How to fill out New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF
Check the exemption box
At the top, check each item you are seeking an exemption for: 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
Fill in Name of Non-Profit Organization, Represented By, Address and Telephone Number (daytime).
State the organization's purpose
Under Purpose of Organization, describe in the lines provided what the organization does.
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
Explain whether you were asked to sponsor the activity in order that it might receive tax exempt status, using the lines provided.
Describe the event
Describe the event for which the exemption is sought, then enter its location, date and time on the Location, date and time of events lines.
Explain how proceeds will be used
State how the proceeds, after direct necessary expenses, will be used. If they will be donated to a non-profit organization, explain how that organization will use the funds.
Answer promoter profit and competition
Say whether the event will yield a profit to a promoter or to any individual or business contracted to provide service or equipment. Then say whether the activity competes with retail merchants, explaining how if the answer is yes.
Read the two certifications
The first certifies the organization's status, that it is the actual sponsor and how proceeds will be used. The second certifies that the answers are correct and complete and refers to penalties for fraudulent exemption claims.
Sign and date the application
Enter the Organization Name, have an officer sign on Signature of Officer and add the Date. Leave the routing and approval block for City staff blank.
Review, attach the IRS letter and download
Check every answer, then download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF. Attach a copy of your IRS organization letter and send the package as described under How to submit.
How to submit New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF
The form prints no return address or delivery channel, so the contact point is the one the City lists on its Mayoralty Permit page, which sends non-profit organizations to this application to get a waiver of fees.
- Bureau of Revenue address: City Hall, Bureau of Revenue, 1300 Perdido St., Room 1W15, New Orleans, LA 70112. The office is open 9am–5pm, Monday–Friday.
- Phone: (504) 658-1600
- Email: [email protected]
Ask the Bureau which of these it accepts for the application. Attach a copy of your IRS organization letter verifying tax exempt status. Mayoralty permit fees are set by the type of activity, what is sold and gross sales; ask the Bureau for current amounts and how to pay. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the City's channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Submitting the application without a copy of the IRS letter verifying tax exempt status under 501 c 3, 4, 8 or 19, which the form flags as important.
- Leaving the form without the signature of an officer of the organization, or without the organization name and date beside it.
- Treating the form as a property tax exemption; its boxes cover only an occupational license, a mayoralty permit, sales tax and amusement tax.
- Certifying that the organization is the actual sponsor when it was only asked to lend its name so an event could receive tax exempt status.
- Leaving out the location, date and time of the event, which the form asks for together with the event description.
- Skipping the explanation of how proceeds will be used, including how a receiving non-profit will use the funds when proceeds are donated.
- Writing in the routing and approval block at the bottom, which is for City staff.
- Overstating the organization's status: the form says fraudulent exemption claims under the cited city code sections carry civil and criminal penalties under Louisiana statutes.
Frequently asked questions
What is the Exemption Application for Non-Profit Organization?
It is a City of New Orleans Department of Finance form on which a non-profit asks for exemption from an occupational license, mayoralty permit, sales tax or amusement tax. The City's Mayoralty Permit page tells non-profits to fill it out to get a waiver of fees.
Is this the form for a New Orleans property tax exemption?
No. The four boxes at the top of the form cover an occupational license, a mayoralty permit, sales tax and amusement tax. Property tax is not listed, so a search for New Orleans property tax will not lead to an exemption through this form.
What do I attach to the exemption application?
Attach a copy of your organization's IRS letter verifying tax exempt status in accordance with 501 c 3, 4, 8 or 19. The form prints this under an IMPORTANT note at the bottom, so it should travel with the application.
Who signs the exemption application?
An officer of the organization signs on the Signature of Officer line, with the organization name and date. The form also has a Represented By line for the person acting for the organization.
Does this form waive Mayoralty permit fees?
The City's Mayoralty Permit page says non-profit organizations should fill out the Exemption Application to get a waiver of fees. Fees themselves are based on the type of activity, what is sold and gross sales; ask the Bureau of Revenue about your case.
Where do I submit the non-profit exemption application?
The form names no address. The City lists the Bureau of Revenue, City Hall, 1300 Perdido St., Room 1W15, New Orleans, LA 70112, (504) 658-1600, [email protected] for Mayoralty permit paperwork. Confirm with them how they accept this application.
Is there a deadline for the exemption application?
No deadline is printed on the form. The City says special event applications must be received thirty (30) days before the event, but that rule is stated for special event requirements, so confirm timing with the Bureau of Revenue.
Can I fill out the exemption application online on FillingPDF?
Yes. You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is independent of the City of New Orleans and does not submit the application; you deliver it through the City's channels.
Ready to fill out New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF?
Fill out New Orleans Nonprofit Exemption Application: Fillable PDF now