How a Private Ministry Shields Your Business from IRS Overreach
- Iqra Saeed
- Aug 19
- 10 min read
Americans are waking up. In record numbers, people are realizing that their rights, businesses, and livelihoods are at risk—not because they're doing anything wrong, but because they’re operating under systems designed to strip away protections and funnel them into public jurisdiction and government control.
If you’ve felt the weight of IRS demands, endless compliance forms, and the threat of audits hanging over your head, you’re not alone. It’s not paranoia—it’s reality. Most business owners are operating in a vulnerable position, fully exposed to IRS overreach and statutory traps they never agreed to.
But there is a lawful way out. A Private Ministry PMA operating under Trust Law offers a powerful shield—a structure rooted in constitutional and spiritual authority that can lawfully remove your business from the reach of overreaching government entities. This article will show you how.
What is a Private Ministry?
A Private Ministerial Association (PMA) is a faith-based, private membership organization that exists outside the reach of most public statutory control. Rooted in First Amendment protections and upheld by long-standing principles of trust law, a PMA is not just a business structure—it’s a spiritual and legal sanctuary for those who want to operate lawfully, honorably, and privately.
How PMAs Work
At its core, a PMA is a contractual relationship between private members who come together for a common purpose—often religious, spiritual, educational, or health-related. Because these associations operate privately, between consenting adults, they are not governed by public laws meant for corporations or general businesses.
A properly formed PMA is established through a Private Membership Contract, often under a 508(c)(1)(a) designation, meaning it's a faith-based, tax-exempt ministry recognized by law but not required to register with or report to the IRS like a 501(c)(3).
First Amendment Protection: Your Shield in Law
The First Amendment guarantees the constitutional rights to assemble, practice religion freely, and operate within private belief systems. PMAs rely on this protection to operate outside of public domain statutes, enabling them to bypass unnecessary regulations, licensing requirements, and IRS reporting obligations.
Combined with trust law, which governs how private entities hold and protect assets, a PMA forms a dual-layered legal protection:
First Amendment = protects spiritual mission and operations
Trust Law = governs private contractual relationships and asset protection
PMAs vs. Public Entities
Unlike public entities that are open to general jurisdiction (and thus vulnerable to regulation and IRS control), PMAs are closed to the public, serving only their private members under a spiritually based mission.
Trust Law vs. Public Jurisdiction
To fully understand the power of a Private Ministerial Association (PMA), you need to understand the difference between trust law and public jurisdiction. These are two entirely separate realms—one based on voluntary, private agreement and spiritual authority; the other based on statutory control and public oversight.
Trust Law: The Lawful Foundation for Private Ministries
Trust law is one of the oldest and most respected forms of legal structure in the Western legal tradition. It governs private relationships, where one party (the trustee) holds property or authority for the benefit of another (the beneficiary), under a spiritual or moral obligation.
When a PMA is formed under trust principles, it becomes lawfully protected—not by hiding, but by operating in a completely different legal jurisdiction than public corporations or businesses. The relationship between PMA members is voluntary, private, and governed by contract, not by statutes.
A well-structured PMA may use a Ministerial Trust, Declaration of Purpose, and Private Membership Agreements to define its operations and obligations—all of which function outside the typical reach of state or federal regulators.
Constitutional and Historical Legal Basis
The power of PMAs isn’t theoretical—it’s backed by centuries of constitutional and legal precedent:
First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution protects the right to freely assemble, practice religion, and form private associations. This forms the spiritual jurisdiction PMAs rely on.
Trust Law Precedent (rooted in English Common Law and adopted in U.S. courts) upholds private fiduciary agreements, provided no harm is caused to the public.
Supreme Court rulings have repeatedly affirmed that religious associations and private contracts enjoy a special layer of protection, especially when no public invitation is extended.
In other words: when you establish a Private Ministry through trust law and private contract, you are stepping into a lawfully protected space—above statutes, outside commercial codes, and within your natural rights as a man or woman under God.
Standing Outside Statutory Corporate Frameworks
Here’s what makes PMAs fundamentally different:
They are not corporations, and thus not subject to corporate codes or public charter restrictions.
They do not apply for permission to exist. They declare their purpose and mission based on rights that predate government.
They do not function in the “public”, where agencies like the IRS claim authority. They operate in the private, where jurisdiction must be proven, not assumed.
Statutory corporate frameworks are designed for entities seeking government benefit—licensing, limited liability, or public funding. In exchange, those entities agree to government oversight. PMAs, by contrast, seek no such favors, and therefore remain independent and sovereign within their own jurisdiction.
The IRS and Public Commerce
If your business is structured as a public corporation or sole proprietorship under your ALL CAPS NAME, you're likely operating under public jurisdiction—and that means you're also under the watchful eye (and authority) of the IRS.
But here's what most people don’t know: the IRS’s power is not absolute. It’s based on jurisdiction, and more importantly—voluntary compliance.
IRS Authority: Public, Not Private
The IRS has jurisdiction over U.S. citizens and entities engaged in public commerce under the U.S. corporate system. This includes:
Registered corporations and LLCs
Businesses with EINs linked to the corporate U.S.
Individuals using their ALL CAPS NAME tied to their SSN
Anyone participating in government-regulated commerce without reservation
When you operate under these frameworks, you’re seen as a corporate franchise—a created entity that voluntarily opted into the federal commercial system. That system, in turn, is based on commercial trust principles, where all rights are presumed to be privileges regulated by government.
Most Businesses Operate Under Corporate Franchise Law—Unknowingly
It’s not that people willingly give up their rights—it’s that they were never informed there was another way.
When you register a business name with the state, apply for a license, or file taxes under your SSN or EIN, you’re voluntarily entering into commercial contracts. These agreements place you under corporate franchise law, where you’re bound by federal statutes, IRS codes, and the terms of the contract you signed—whether you understood it or not.
Most businesses don’t realize:
That they’re viewed as agents of the U.S. Corporation
That they're being taxed as government-created entities
That they can lawfully operate privately and retain their natural rights
Jurisdiction Is Based on Consent—And Consent Can Be Withdrawn
This is the game-changer: jurisdiction requires consent. You were not born into statutory jurisdiction—it was presumed through your actions and filings.
The IRS’s power over you is based on:
The assumption that you are a U.S. citizen (not a State National)
The belief that you are engaged in taxable, public commerce
The lack of any rebuttal to those assumptions
But here’s the truth: you can lawfully rebut those assumptions, withdraw presumed consent, and return to operating under natural law and trust-based, private ministry frameworks.
A Private Ministry (PMA) is how you do that—by stepping out of the public arena, and into the private, where IRS codes don’t apply because jurisdiction must be proven, not assumed.
How Private Ministry Status Protects You
A Private Ministerial Association (PMA) is not a loophole—it’s a lawful structure that operates on higher legal grounds. When properly formed, your Private Ministry becomes a jurisdictional fortress, separating your work, your income, and your mission from public control—especially IRS overreach.
Let’s walk through how this protection is built, step by step.
1. Declaring Private Status
It all begins with declaration. You formally declare that you, and the work you do, operate in the private, under God-given unalienable rights—not under U.S. corporate citizenship or federal jurisdiction.
This declaration is often done through a Private Membership Contract, Declaration of Status, and Affidavit of Truth, where you clearly state:
You are not a U.S. corporate citizen (14th Amendment)
Your ministry is a faith-based private association
Your affairs are governed by trust law and spiritual jurisdiction
2. Establishing a Ministry Trust
The next layer of protection is forming a Ministry Trust, often under common law or ecclesiastical law.
Why this matters:
A trust separates you personally from the ministry’s assets or activities
It places your operations under private fiduciary duty, not public regulation
It defines the ministry’s purpose, membership rules, and lawful boundaries
This trust is not filed with the IRS or the state—it exists in the private and is protected by contract and trust law.
3. Recording Affidavits and Creating a Lawful Paper Trail
To fortify your status, you create and record affidavits that form the foundation of your jurisdictional shift. These may include:
Affidavit of Status (declaring your State National or private capacity)
Affidavit of Truth (declaring your beliefs and ministry purpose)
Notice of Private Ministry (placing agencies on legal notice)
When these documents are notarized, served by mail, and recorded with your local county clerk, they create a public record of private standing. If unchallenged, they become admissible legal evidence of your corrected status.
This is called lawful due process—not evasion, but evidence.
4. Lawful Separation, Not Evasion
Let’s be clear: this is not about hiding from taxes, cheating the system, or avoiding legal obligations. That’s evasion—and it’s unlawful.
This is about lawful jurisdiction correction. You are moving your operations from a voluntary, consent-based commercial system back into the private, protected domain where your natural rights are supreme and where the IRS must prove its claim before asserting authority.
Because of this clear, documented separation:
The IRS has no jurisdiction over your ministry unless you invite it
Your income, services, and interactions occur between private members, not the public
You retain the full lawful authority to operate privately, peacefully, and honorably
Key Benefits of Operating as a PMA Ministry
Choosing to operate as a Private Ministerial Association (PMA) isn’t just a legal decision—it’s a lifestyle of lawful empowerment, spiritual alignment, and total jurisdictional clarity. Let’s explore the key advantages of stepping into the private domain as a PMA ministry.
1. Lawful IRS Immunity
Because your ministry is faith-based and operates under the private jurisdiction of trust law and the First Amendment, it stands outside of the federal commercial system.
That means:
No IRS filings required (when properly structured as a 508(c)(1)(a) faith-based ministry)
No tax obligations for ministry-related activities between private members
No jurisdictional reach unless you voluntarily re-enter the public domain
This isn't hiding—it’s a jurisdictional fact: if the IRS cannot prove jurisdiction, they cannot enforce codes designed for public, taxable entities.
2. Enhanced Privacy and Autonomy
Unlike public entities that must report, register, and request permission at every step, a PMA operates in the private.
Benefits include:
No public disclosures or licensing
Complete control over your structure, operations, and messaging
Protection from unwanted audits, compliance enforcement, or overreach
Your records, communications, and contracts remain within the private membership, giving you maximum control and security.
3. Spiritual Mission & First Amendment Protections
Your PMA is not just a legal shield—it’s a spiritual vessel. When your mission is clearly rooted in faith, health, education, or spiritual care, you are protected by:
The First Amendment (freedom of religion and association)
Ecclesiastical Law
International Human Rights (Self-Determination)
This adds a layer of divine purpose to your work and protects you from interference—even in times of increasing censorship or regulation.
4. Freedom from Licenses, Permits & Red Tape
Within the private domain, you are not required to apply for business licenses or permits, so long as:
You are serving private members, not the general public
You disclose your private status clearly
You operate in good faith and cause no harm
This frees you from the bureaucracy that strangles many small business owners and faith-based healers.
5. Peace of Mind and Lawful Confidence
When you know your status is corrected, your ministry is lawfully established, and your jurisdiction is documented, you gain something most business owners never experience: peace of mind.
You're no longer living in fear of:
IRS letters
Unlawful shutdowns
Licensing threats
“Compliance” nightmares
Instead, you operate with lawful confidence, backed by the Constitution, trust law, and a documented record of your right to be private.
Common Misunderstandings
Whenever people hear about operating outside of IRS jurisdiction or forming a Private Ministry, the same questions usually arise:
“Is this legal?” “Will I get in trouble?” “Isn’t this just a loophole to avoid taxes?”
These are understandable concerns—but they come from a lack of education, not from fact.
Let’s clear the air.
Myth #1: “This is illegal or sketchy.”
Truth: A Private Ministry (PMA) formed under trust law and the First Amendment is 100% lawful and constitutionally protected. It is recognized under the law as a faith-based, private association, not a public business or taxable entity. You’re not “getting around the law”—you’re simply standing in a different jurisdiction where the law no longer assumes your consent to be governed by commercial statutes.
Myth #2: “I’ll get flagged or investigated.”
Truth: Operating as a PMA doesn’t make you a target. In fact, it removes the jurisdictional hooks that agencies rely on to regulate you in the first place. When you follow due process—recording your status, declaring your mission, and operating honorably—you’re not hiding from the system, you’re standing lawfully outside of it.
Myth #3: “It’s a tax loophole.”
Truth: This isn’t about “loopholes”—this is about lawful standing and jurisdiction. A loophole is a trick within a system; a PMA is a completely separate system, governed by different rules. You're not manipulating the law—you’re returning to your God-given right to associate privately, work in faith, and keep what you create.
Education and Honor are Everything
The most powerful PMAs are founded by those who understand this core truth:
“Jurisdiction is not claimed—it is given. And you have the lawful right to say, ‘No more.’”
By learning the law, standing in honor, and documenting your process properly, you become untouchable by deception. Not because you’re fighting the system—but because you’ve lawfully and peacefully removed yourself from it.
This is about accountability, knowledge, and lawful remedy—not tricks, shortcuts, or hiding. PMAs are for those who are ready to operate with integrity and confidence in the private.
Final Thoughts: Why Now is the Time to Move Private
Every day, more Americans are waking up to a simple but urgent truth: The public system no longer serves the people—it controls them.
Whether it’s overreaching taxation, unjust audits, censorship, licensing threats, or mandated compliance with policies that violate your conscience, public business has become a legal minefield. The moment you step into the public arena, you're playing by rules designed to strip away your rights and convert them into conditional privileges.
The world is changing fast—and the pressure on small businesses, faith-based practitioners, educators, and healers is only growing.
Thousands Are Moving Private—And for Good Reason
People across the country are leaving the public system behind and reclaiming their lawful standing through Private Ministerial Associations (PMAs) and ministry trusts. They’re:
Replacing fear with peace of mind
Swapping compliance for clarity
Leaving behind licenses and codes for faith and freedom
Protecting their families, missions, and income from unpredictable enforcement
This isn't a fringe movement—it’s a lawful shift happening quietly, powerfully, and peacefully.
It’s Not Just Lawful—It’s Empowering
A properly formed PMA is your legal right. It’s not rebellion. It’s not evasion. It’s the restoration of what was always yours: freedom of conscience, private association, spiritual expression, and economic autonomy.
If you’ve ever said:
“I just want to help people without the government breathing down my neck.” “I want to run my business aligned with my beliefs.” “I want to live free—lawfully and peacefully.”
Then the time to move private is now.
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