Gail in Virginia Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 This is a personal question, sort of. Our church has a house that we were using as an office complex for the church. We build an addition to the church where the offices are now located, and have decided to rent the house as a residential rental. Would the income from that be considered UBIT? My first thought was yes, but when I look at the instructions for a 990 i see: Exceptions to UBIT Even if an activity meets the above criteria, the income may not be subject to tax if it meets one of the following exceptions: (a) substantially all the work in operating the trade or business is performed by volunteers, (b) the activity is conducted by the organization primarily for the convenience of its members or (c) the trade or business involves the selling of merchandise substantially all of which was donated. In general, rents from real property, royalties, capital gains, and interest and dividends aren’t subject to the unrelated business income tax unless financed with borrowed money. Then I looked at IRC section 512(b)(3), which seems to say rental of real property is excluded from UBIT unless it is either 50% or more personal property being rented, or the lease payments are based on the income earned on the rental, or it is debt financed. So now I am thinking that it is not, and the church would still have no filing requirement. Does anyone have any other information that contradicts this? Or confirms this? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PapaJoe Posted August 3, 2021 Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 I dealt with this years ago with a (non-church) non-profit. Real estate rental is not subject to UBIT unless it is debt-financed. If the church owns the property free and clear of any debt, then no UBIT. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gail in Virginia Posted August 3, 2021 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2021 That was the answer I gave but then I second guessed myself. Thanks PapaJoe! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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