I have a question about affiliate relationships with companies like Amazon. We want to receive the benefits offered by Amazon (and others) by placing a link on our website for members and non members to use when ordering products.
I read through one article on your blog regarding Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT). One point in your article refers to exemptions for the tax and I believe we will qualify for at least two:
- A $1,000 threshold allows that the first $1,000 in profit from an unrelated business will not be taxed.
- If the fundraiser (or unrelated business) is run by volunteer efforts (i.e., no paid staff) then the proceeds are not taxed.
Do you have anything to add to that article or any others I haven’t seen? Specifically, should we avoid these types of programs?
I appreciate your insight as well as your being a resource to the homeschool community.
Sincerely,
Jeanne R
Jeanne,
Thank you for contacting me and your kind words.
I think you understand Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) and the exemptions quite well.
UBIT is a tax that tax exempt organizations must pay when they earn a profit on activities that are unrelated to their tax exempt purpose. The classic example is that a nonprofit hospital must pay the IRS taxes on profit from their gift store, because running a gift store is not related to the hospitals tax exempt purpose (treating illness).
Most charities qualify for exemption from UBIT and you found two common exemptions.
I think the affiliate program with Amazon is a fine idea.
Have it run by volunteers and you’ll avoid any UBIT.
Carol Topp, CPA
