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Tax-Exempt Status of Universities and Colleges

Tax-Exempt Status of Universities and Colleges: Research universities are tax-exempt because of their educational mission of teaching, research, and public service.

 

Why Are Universities and Colleges Exempt from Federal Income Taxation?

The vast majority of public and private universities and colleges are tax-exempt entities as defined by IRC Section 501(c)(3) because of their educational purposes—purposes that the federal government has long recognized as fundamental to fostering the productive and civic capacity of its citizens—and/or the fact that they are state governmental entities. In turn, states generally grant tax-exempt status to organizations, including universities and colleges, which qualify as tax-exempt entities under Federal law.

Income from activities that are substantially related to the purpose of an institution’s tax exemption, charitable contributions received, and investment income are not subject to federal income tax. The federal tax code classifies tax-exempt colleges and universities, and their foundations, as public charities. Consequently, they have historically not been subject to tax on investment income, payout requirements, or other rules that apply to private foundations.

“corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes…"

 

Private universities, as well as some public universities and foundations that support public universities, qualify as tax-exempt charitable organizations because they meet the requirements of IRC Section 501(c)(3), which includes “corporations, and any community chest, fund, or foundation, organized and operated exclusively for religious, charitable, scientific, testing for public safety, literary, or educational purposes…”

Public universities can and often do obtain tax-exempt 501(c)(3) status because they qualify as quasi-governmental entities that: are separately-organized entities; pass the organizational test by being an educational organization; do not possess regulatory power; and are not an integral part of the state government.

Many public universities qualify as governmental entities that are not subject to federal income tax based on the principles of inter-governmental immunity. These principles are codified in IRC Section 115 which states that a governmental organization’s gross income does not include “income derived from any public utility or the exercise of any essential governmental function and accruing to a State or any political subdivision thereof."

Tax Exemption Requirements, Conditions, and Accountability

As tax-exempt entities, universities and colleges are regulated by both the Federal government as well as State governments. Each year, these institutions must demonstrate their compliance with federal and state laws and regulations that govern tax-exempt entities through tax filings, audits, and public reports.

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) requires all private universities and public charitable foundations that support public universities to submit an IRS Form 990 each year. Institutions are required to report on their mission, revenues, expenditures, endowments, salaries and benefits of top officials, charitable gifts, lobbying activities, and more. This information is made available to the public.

The IRS also closely oversees charitable giving to tax-exempt universities and colleges. Institutions must comply with IRS regulations and rules with respect to the valuation, disclosure, and use of charitable gifts.

Tax-exempt private and public universities and colleges do not pay income taxes; however, they do pay other forms of taxes, such as payroll taxes for their employees.

Tax-exempt private and public universities and colleges are also subject to unrelated business income tax (UBIT). Generally they must pay tax on income from an activity, trade, or business that is not substantially related to their educational tax-exempt purposes.

How Does the Tax-exempt Status of Universities and Colleges Benefit Society?

The educational purposes of universities and colleges – teaching, research, and public service – have been recognized in federal law as critical to the well-being of our democratic society. Higher education institutions are in turn exempted from income tax so they can make the most of their revenues.

This tax exemption enables universities and colleges to maximize the benefits that they provide society, including: an educated citizenry which is essential to our democracy; a highly-educated, skilled, and productive workforce, which is critical to our nation's competitiveness; and new innovations and technologies that improve health, enhance our quality of life, strengthen national security, and fuel economic growth.

Because of their tax exemption, universities and colleges are able to use more resources than would otherwise be available to fund: student financial aid, academic programs, medical research, cutting-edge research and development, public extension and service activities, and their overall operations.

2017 Tax Law Change

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act imposed a new, unprecedented 1.4 percent excise tax on net investment income for private colleges and universities with endowment and other assets (other than those used directly in carrying out the institution’s educational purposes) valued at the close of the preceding tax year of at least $500,000 per full-time student. The so-called “endowment excise tax” is in fact a tax on charitable resources used for student scholarships, research, and other activities that are consistent with the tax-exempt, educational mission of universities.

Additional Information