A tax-exempt trust for religious and apostolic associations operating with a common treasury.
138|132|A 501(d) trust serves religious or apostolic associations whose members share a common treasury. Unlike 501(c)(3) organizations, 501(d) entities can engage in business activities to support their religious community, with income flowing through to members. This structure is used by certain religious orders, communal societies, and apostolic organizations.
145|139|Forged in Trust's 501(d) platform addresses the unique requirements of religious common-treasury communities including proper trust governance, member income allocations, and IRS compliance.
165|159|A 501(d) Trust operates as a religious or apostolic association with a common treasury. Members contribute their income to the trust, which holds all property communally and distributes funds for member needs according to the association's religious principles. The trust form accommodates the theological commitment to common ownership while providing legal structure for holding property, managing community finances, and interfacing with the tax system.
169|163|The 501(d) Trust protects the community's common treasury by providing tax-exempt status under IRC Section 501(d) — the trust's income is not taxed at the entity level. Instead, each member includes their distributive share of the trust's income on their personal tax return (similar to a partnership). Members who have taken a vow of poverty may qualify for exemption from self-employment tax on their distributive share. The trust structure provides a legally recognized vehicle for religious communities that traditional corporate or trust forms cannot accommodate.
173|167|After creation: (1) File Form 1024 with the IRS to apply for recognition of 501(d) tax-exempt status. (2) Transfer all community property, bank accounts, and investments into the trust's name. (3) Each member must execute a written membership agreement documenting their commitment to the common treasury. (4) File annual Form 1065 (Partnership Return) showing each member's distributive share of trust income. (5) Issue Schedule K-1 to each member annually. (6) Hold membership meetings per the trust's governing documents with written minutes. (7) Maintain records documenting that the organization operates with a common treasury and that members share in the organization's income.
177|171|Generate an attorney-review-ready 501(d) trust in under 15 minutes. Backed by ChainLock™ blockchain anchoring for immutable proof of execution.
182|176|Get Started — $89 183|177|Bitcoin OP_RETURN + Polygon Smart Contract
191|185|192|186| Every document generated by Forged in Trust is anchored to two blockchains simultaneously. A SHA-256 hash of the executed document is embedded in a Bitcoin OP_RETURN — immutable, permanent, secured by the highest hashrate on Earth. The same hash is recorded on Polygon via TrustAnchor.sol for instant verification and smart contract integration. Dual-chain anchoring eliminates single-point failure. Bitcoin proves existence. Polygon enables programmatic access. Year 1 free with every trust. Year 2+ $97/yr Standard / $197/yr Premium. 193|187|
194|188|🔮 Quantum-Secured — Every document hash is salted with true cryptographically randomness. No computer — classical or quantum — can predict or reverse it. Learn how →
221|215|Your trust instrument is one of the most important legal documents you will ever create. Here is why anchoring it to the blockchain changes everything.
227|221|A SHA-256 cryptographic hash of your executed trust is permanently embedded in the Bitcoin blockchain — the most secure computing network in human history. Once recorded, the hash cannot be altered, deleted, or disputed. If anyone later claims the trust was modified or never existed, the blockchain proves which document existed on which date. No court can override mathematics.
233|227|Trust documents get lost in moves. They get destroyed in fires, floods, and earthquakes. Disgruntled parties destroy them. Law firms close and lose their files. The blockchain does not lose documents. It does not burn. It does not flood. Your trust exists forever — independent of any physical copy.
239|233|In a trust dispute, the burden of proof falls on the party asserting the document's validity. The blockchain flips this dynamic. The timestamp is mathematical — not testimonial. No witness can forget. No memory can fade. The blockchain is the witness that cannot be cross-examined. Present the Blockstream Explorer link in court. The judge can verify it independently.
245|239|When action is needed, your trustee and beneficiaries do not need to find a law firm, open a safe deposit box, or petition a court just to confirm the trust exists. They visit the verification page. They see the blockchain proof. Immediate. Irrefutable. No waiting. No gatekeepers.
251|245|The Bitcoin blockchain is maintained by tens of thousands of nodes across every continent. No government can shut it down. No corporation can delete it. No law firm can lose it. The proof of your trust exists independently of Forged in Trust, independently of any institution, independently of any jurisdiction. Even if this company ceases to exist, the Bitcoin blockchain will still contain your document's fingerprint.
257|251|Bitcoin has been running continuously since January 3, 2009 — through financial crises, wars, pandemics, and regime changes. It has never been hacked. It has never been shut down. It has never lost a single transaction. Your trust, anchored to Bitcoin, will outlast the law firm that drafted it, the bank that stored it, and the government that notarized it. Your great-grandchildren will be able to verify it.
263|257|$497/year maintains the chain.
269|263|One price. Every tier. That covers re-verification, chain monitoring, amendment re-anchoring, and the infrastructure that keeps your trust's proof permanently alive on both Bitcoin and Polygon. Lawyers charge $8,000+ for a single blockchain anchoring. We maintain both chains for $497/year — and the proof never expires.
270|264|Why blockchain and quantum anchoring matters for a 501D Trust
282|276|A 501(d) Religious Apostolic Trust holds assets for religious or apostolic associations operating with a common treasury. Because these organizations often hold communal property, disputes over ownership and governance can threaten the community's resources. Blockchain anchoring creates an immutable record of the trust's terms and asset dedication, preventing any individual from claiming personal ownership of communally held religious property.
284|278|Your trust is the foundation. These products complete the picture.
291|285|Trust tax preparation — GAAP-compliant accrual accounting and IRS filings for trust structures.
296|290|Starting at $499
297|291|Learn more → 298|292|Chain of title audits, SEC investigations, and forensic analysis of trust and securities structures.
303|297|Learn more → 304|298|Multi-sig trustee management — cryptographic key distribution, access control, and succession planning.
309|303|From $1,200/yr
310|304|Learn more → 311|305|Triple-Forged blockchain anchoring — Bitcoin, Polygon, and quantum-proof hashing for your trust documents.
316|310|Learn more → 317|311|Forged-on-Chain™, Forged-in-Trust™, Triple-Forged™, AccruStrike™, ForensicPierce™, IronGrid™, Trustee Keys™, and Quantum Salt™ are trademarks of Forged on Chain LLC.
Forged on Chain LLC is not a law firm and does not provide legal advice. Our products are self-help document preparation tools. Consult a licensed attorney for legal advice specific to your situation.