Exempt Organizations Practice Specialty

Phil Hunt, Tim Benoit, and Doug Carr of the Tax Practice Group have extensive specialized experience with Exempt Organizations. We assist tax exempt organizations in connection with formation, operation, and compliance as well as assisting in issues relating to charitable and planned giving. We assist clients in:

• Forming non profit corporations and charitable trusts;
• Obtaining tax exempt status under federal and Maine law;
• Ensuring compliance with the Maine Charitable Solicitations Act; and
• Where applicable, obtaining property tax exemptions, sales and use tax exemptions, and other tax benefits that may be available to charitable organizations.

We can help charitable organizations to develop planned giving programs and other financial development programs and advise the charitable organizations with respect to the organization's obligation to substantiate and report charitable contributions. We work with organizations and clients in the areas of charitable gifts, charitable trusts, charitable remainder trusts, charitable lead trusts, pooled income funds, charitable annuities, and other forms of charitable giving.

We provide specialized assistance to private foundations which are subject to special excise taxes and limitations on their charitable activities, and are capable of handling cy pres actions or other modifications or terminations of charitable organizations and trusts.

Phil Hunt, the Chair of the Tax Practice Group, is a graduate of Lehigh University and the Harvard Law School. He is a member of the Maine Bar and the U.S. Tax Court. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 (copyright 2007 by Woodward/White, Inc. of Aiken, S.C.), Maine Tax Law Section, is AV Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability by Martindale-Hubbell.

Mr. Hunt has organized and obtained tax exempt status for many non profit charitable and community organizations. He has assisted such organizations in establishing planned giving and development programs. He is a frequent presenter of seminar programs in matters involving tax issues.

Tim Benoit is a graduate of the University of Vermont and the University of Maine School of Law. He has a LLM degree in taxation from Boston University School of Law. Mr. Benoit has a background in taxation and accounting having several years experience in a major Maine accounting firm.

Mr. Benoit is a member of the Maine Bar and the U.S. Tax Court. He is listed in The Best Lawyers in America 2008 (copyright 2007 by Woodward/White, Inc. of Aiken, S.C.), Maine Tax Law Section, and is AV Peer Review Rated for Ethical Standards and Legal Ability by Martindale-Hubbell.