HIDALGO COUNTY - CHANNEL 5 NEWS learned the Extra Hand Volunteers charity is staying under the radar by making sure no one knows who they are. It cost $14.50 to register your business with the county. But Ricardo Gracia, the director of Extra Hand Volunteers, didn't pay up.
Arturo Guajardo Jr. is the official record keeper in Hidalgo County. When it comes to Gracia's charity, he says, "We did not find him opening an assuming business name at all. In fact, there's nothing in our official records at all."
Guajardo says it's common practice to register your business. He says, "Usually the bank will require an assumed name certificate to open a business account, and for tax purposes."
During our investigation, Mary Morin, a former volunteer for Extra Hand Volunteers, told us she was to keep her pay under the radar. Gracia admitted to us his tax records and record keeping are unsophisticated.
Guajardo says, "If you are going to apply for employee ID number with the IRS, they'll require an assumed certificate."
There are no employee ID numbers for Extra Hand Volunteers at the county. We did check with the IRS, but the federal tax agency told us disclosure laws keep them from commenting about specific people or even tax-exempt organizations.
They referred us to their web site. We didn't find Extra Hand Volunteers in the database.
We asked Guajardo what happens if your business is not registered. He says no one is watching.
"Who's going to enforce that? Nobody will force you to register a business," says Guajardo.
Guajardo says the IRS will most likely investigate. The state attorney general is aware of Gracia's activities.
If you want to register your business, it's a simple process. It's a one-page document that will allow the bank and the government to monitor your money, your activity, and your business.
