Non-Profit Status or Fun With the Government

This is really just a post to gripe. I received a letter from the IRS concerning my school's non-profit status YESTERDAY. The letter was dated the 12th but mailed the 22nd. Yeah, great, and they expect a response by the 1st! What?

That's just the beginning of my problem with this lovely letter. Seems they are not thrilled that I am catering to one segment of the population, homeschoolers, and they are requesting quite a few additional things from me that, for the life of me, I can't see has anything to do with the non-profit status of my school. Why do they need a copy of our curriculum? What does this have to do with my non-profit status? Will they not allow my school to be non-profit if I want everyone to use Abeka? Or maybe Saxon math is the only math program allowed? OR could it be that homeschooling is a no-no and they are harassing me over it? I am not accusing anyone of anything but it sure seems really curious.

I also have to have a racially non-discriminatory policy (which is pretty much a duh) and this requires me to publish such information in a newspaper or other such publication where people from all economic groups can read this policy. They also want any advertisements, catalogs or brochures dealing with student admissions. Someone at the IRS has THIS MUCH time on his hands? They want to read through anything I have published for the school?

There are MANY more things that I must send to them including position descriptions, methodology in determining prices charged, the content for all guest speakers, and it goes on and on. All by April 1st.

These are the people now in charge of our health care. Great!