The Internal Revenue Service has posted a list of organizations that have lost their tax-exempt nonprofit status, including Great Bend’s Downtown Development Inc.

Most of the organizations on the list had their status lapse last October, because they missed a tax filing deadline. Donors who contributed to at-risk organizations were protected until the final revocation list was published, according to information from the IRS.

If an organization loses its exemption, it will have to reapply with the IRS to regain its tax-exempt status. Any income received between the revocation date and renewed exemption may be taxable.

The list includes more than a dozen entities with Barton County addresses.

Other Great Bend organizations include Barton County Association for Retarded Children Inc., Electric Companies Association of Kansas, Healing Light Ministries, Cheyenne Bottoms Sportsmen’s Club, Great Bend Garden Club, Central Kansas Civic Improvement Foundation, Kansas Association of Inventors, Bikers of Central Kansas, Kansas Case Management Organization, Midway Club of Kansas, Solid Waste Association of North America, Cedar Branch Inc., American Criminal Justice Association, Western Kansas Swim Club, Flying Club Inc., 20th Judicial District Youth Programs, American Guild of Organists 617, Cult Awareness Network of Kansas, Free and Accepted Masons Prince Hall Grand Master, Sandhill Rifle & Pistol Association, and Central Kansas Association of Life Underwriters.

Other area entities include: American Association of University Women-Barton, Hoisington; Lions International, Garfield; National Association of Letter Carriers, Ness City and Stafford; Russell Volunteer Fire Department; and Ness City American Legion.

A 2006 law required nonprofit organizations with receipts of less than $25,000 to file tax returns for the first time in 2007. Those that failed to file for three years lost their tax-exempt status. The law excludes churches.

Last year, as thousands of small charities were about to lose their tax exempt status, the IRS offered a one-time chance come into compliance. Some endangered groups, such as the Barton County 4-H Holding Board, retained their tax-empty status, while many others did not.

In a Great Bend Tribune story published last August, it was noted that many of the organizations on the list were no longer active, although some just needed to file the proper paperwork.

At the time, Great Bend City Administrator Howard Partington said Downtown Development had received funding from the city in the past, but hadn’t been active in recent years. That remains the case today, and Partington said he had no current information about the group that once organized and promoted downtown events.