Congratulations IDA members and its supporters. IDA (North America branch) has been approved for Federal Tax exempt status under section 501(C) type 3 in the USA. For an organization to be eligible for non-taxable status, it has to go through tedious application process with the IRS (Internal Revenue Service). IRS is a bureau of Department of Treasury of the US government, and it has recently informed us that our application for Federal Income Tax exemption status has been approved.

What does this mean for IDA? Well, it means a lot but to begin with, IDA will not be required to pay Income Taxes on the donations it receives from benefactors and or on revenues it might generate through various ways, such as fund-raising events, in the USA. Additionally, anyone who donates cash to IDA will be eligible to deduct the amount donated from his or her income taxes. This is particularly beneficial to individuals who itemize their standard deductions, pay mortgages on their houses, and also for small business owners. There are many Irobs in USA who fit in each of the categories mentioned; for them, it is like killing two birds with one stone. These individuals have the opportunity to generously fund IDA and its activities and get credit on their federal income taxes.

Ripple effect to IDA: Since the potential benefactors can legally deduct their donations to IDA to help reduce income taxes, it is likely that they will be more generous with their charitable donation; big corporations can be solicited for donations. We can also apply for grants from other non-profit organizations in the USA; and the list goes on.

IDA committee strongly believes that there is great potential to take IDA to the next level. But it is up to each of us to convert the theory into practice, take action to ensure its objectives become reality.

Let us cheer this small but a milestone achievement. After all, “you eat elephant one bite at a time”.