A Satanic church claims to have become the first group of Satanists in American history to be officially recognized as a religion by the IRS.

The Satanic Temple has been given section 501(c) tax exempt status, which puts it in the same bracket as major religions such as Catholicism and organizations such as the Salvation Army.

The recognition means that the Satanic Temple, which has 16 chapters in the U.S. and thousands of followers around the world, can apply for certain federal grants.

Anyone who donates money to the group can also write it off as a tax deduction.

The Satanic Temple has been given section 501(c) tax exempt status which puts it in the same bracket as major religions like Catholicism. Members are seen in Santa Cruz last June

Satanic Temple members gather around a statue of Baphomet, the goat-headed representation of the devil, in Salem, Massachusetts in 2016

The IRS verified that the Satanic Temple is tax exempt in its online directory

The group’s founder Lucien Greaves said in a statement that the categorization by the IRS should ‘lay to rest any suspicion that we don't meet the qualifications of a true religious organization’.

He said: ‘Satanism is here to stay’.

The Satanic Temple’s followers are a group who see Satan as the ‘a symbol against tyrannical authority’, one member told DailyMail.com in January.

They are known as hipster pranksters and believe that they are redefining Satanism and using it as a tool in the culture wars.

Although its members frequently wear Satanic imagery they do not necessarily worship the devil and see their main focus as enforcing the division between church and state.

Their protests include staging a mock rally in ‘support’ of Florida governor Rick Scott in 2013 for signing a bill that allowed students to read religious messages at assemblies.

Founder Lucien Greaves (above) said in a statement that the categorization by the IRS should ‘lay to rest any suspicion that we don't meet the qualifications of a true religious organization’

Members believe that they are redefining Satanism and using it as a tool in the culture wars

They also prevented the erection of a Ten Commandments monument at the Oklahoma State Capitol by insisted that their their statue of the goat demon Baphomet should be given equal prominence.

The Satanic Temple, which was founded in 2013, is featured in a film called ‘Hail Satan?’ which is currently on limited release in theaters.

In order to qualify for tax exemption from the IRS a religious group must prove that it is not operated to the benefits of private interests.

None of its profits can benefit private individuals and they are restricted about what lobbying they can do.

Tax exempt organizations must also disclose more to the public than those that do pay tax.

The IRS declined to explain on how exactly it made the ruling about the Satanic Temple and a spokesman said they were ‘prohibited from commenting on private taxpayer matters’.

The Satanic Temple says its aims are to ‘reject tyrannical authority’ and protest against exemptions for religions. Temple members are seen in Santa Cruz last summer

Few details about its filings are on the IRS website about the Satanic Temple but under the ‘Cause Area’ it is listed ‘Christian’, which appears to be meant ironically.

Greaves said in a statement: ‘In light of theocratic assaults upon the Separation of Church and State in the legislative efforts to establish a codified place of privilege for one religious viewpoint, we feel that accepting religious tax-exemption - rather than renouncing it in protest - can help us to better assert our claims to equal access and exemption while laying to rest any suspicion that we don't meet the qualifications of a true religious organization’.

The Satanic Temple emphasizes that it is different from the Church of Satan which was founded in 1966 by Anton Szandor LaVey.

That organization billed itself as 'the first above-ground organization in history openly dedicated to the acceptance of Man's true nature - that of a carnal beast’.

Instead the Satanic Temple says its aims are to ‘reject tyrannical authority’ and protest against exemptions for religions.

Its Seven Tenets, or founding principles, include the belief that ‘the spirit of compassion, wisdom, and justice should always prevail over the written or spoken word’.