Frequently asked questions
Are you a law firm?
No. Exempta is a document preparation service. We are not a law firm or an accounting firm, and we do not give legal or tax advice. Using Exempta does not create an attorney-client relationship. For advice about your situation, talk to a licensed attorney or CPA.
Will you file my application with the IRS?
No. You file your application yourself on Pay.gov, under your own account. An authorized officer, director or trustee of your organization signs it, and you pay the IRS user fee there. We give you a package with everything you need to enter and upload, plus step-by-step filing instructions.
Are you part of the IRS?
No. Exempta is a private company and is not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. You can apply directly with the IRS on Pay.gov without using Exempta. We help by asking plain-English questions, drafting your answers from the facts you give us, checking them for completeness and consistency, and putting together a package you can review and file.
What is Form 1023?
Form 1023 is the IRS application an organization files to be recognized as tax-exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. The IRS requires it to be submitted online at Pay.gov.
What about Form 1023-EZ?
Some smaller organizations can use a shorter IRS form, Form 1023-EZ. Exempta prepares the full Form 1023 only. Our questions include the IRS eligibility worksheet for Form 1023-EZ, and we show you what the worksheet says based on your answers. Which form to file is your decision.
How much does it cost?
Core costs $499. The IRS user fee is separate from our price. You pay it to the IRS on Pay.gov when you file.
Is the IRS fee included in your price?
No. The IRS user fee is separate from our price. You pay it to the IRS on Pay.gov when you file.
Can you tell me whether my organization will be approved?
No. The IRS alone decides whether your organization is tax-exempt, and we cannot promise approval or a processing time. As you answer our questions, we show what the IRS form asks and what your answers show under the published IRS tests. For advice about your situation, talk to a lawyer or CPA.
How long does the IRS take?
The IRS sets its own processing time, and we cannot predict it or speed it up. We email you when your package is ready to download, and you decide when to file.
Who checks my application?
A trained Exempta reviewer checks every package for completeness and for consistency with the facts you gave. Our reviewers are not attorneys or CPAs, and they do not give legal or tax advice. If they need more information, they send you questions.
Do you use AI?
Yes. AI drafts the written answers from the facts you give us. It does not add facts: when something is missing, the draft marks it and we ask you. Totals, percentages and dates are calculated by our software from your answers, not written by AI. A trained reviewer checks every package before you receive it.
What documents do I need?
Form 1023 asks you to upload your organizing document (for example, your articles of incorporation), any amendments to it, and your bylaws if your organization has adopted them. You upload them as PDF files while you answer our questions.
Do I include Social Security numbers?
No. Approved applications are open to public inspection, and the IRS instructions say not to include Social Security numbers. We never ask for them, and our checks flag one if it appears in your answers.
Can I get a refund?
You get a full refund if you ask before we start drafting your application, or if we cannot deliver your package. After drafting starts, refunds are at our discretion. Refunds never depend on what the IRS decides.
What if the IRS asks for more information?
The IRS may send a letter asking for more information. You usually have 28 days to respond. Answering IRS letters is not part of our service. A lawyer or CPA can help you respond.
Can churches use Exempta?
Yes. IRS Publication 1828 says churches that meet the section 501(c)(3) requirements are automatically considered tax-exempt and are not required to apply, and that many churches apply anyway. Whether to apply is your decision. Our page for churches explains more.
Is Exempta available in every state?
Not yet. Exempta is not available for organizations in some states. If your state is one of them, we tell you early in the questions, before you pay.
Important information about our service
Exempta prepares IRS Form 1023 application documents based on the information you provide. We are not a law firm or an accounting firm, and we are not affiliated with the IRS or any government agency. You can apply directly with the IRS on Pay.gov without using Exempta. Our staff are not your lawyers or accountants. We do not give legal, tax, or financial advice, nothing on this site or in your package is a legal opinion, and our service is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney. Exempta uses AI to draft answers from the information you give, and a trained reviewer checks every package for completeness and consistency; our reviewers are not attorneys or CPAs. The IRS alone decides whether your organization is tax-exempt; we cannot promise approval or a processing time. You are responsible for the accuracy and completeness of your answers, for reviewing every document before you file, and for signing and submitting your application on Pay.gov and paying the IRS user fee, which is separate from our price and paid to the IRS. If you choose the Reviewed plan, an independent Enrolled Agent or CPA reviews your package; any representation before the IRS is a separate arrangement between your organization and that professional. Approved applications are open to public inspection, so do not include Social Security numbers or other private personal information. For advice about your situation, consult a licensed attorney or CPA.