Aplos Software » Nonprofit

IRS Exempt Organizations FY2011 Workplan

Michele — Sun, 09 Jan 2011 23:32:23 +0000

The IRS Exempt Organizations Division 2011 for its Fiscal Year 2011 was released last month. The new year is a good time to review the Division’s priorities and how they might impact your organizations.

(Thanks to the Nonprofit Law Blog for this helpful information.)

The Division will support five overarching IRS focus areas:

Impact of Recent Legislation. The Affordable Care Act (ACA), the Hiring Incentives to Restore Employment (HIRE) Act, theAmerican Recovery and Reinvestment Act (ARRA).
International Focus. The Division’s concern in this area is whether charitable assets of exempt organizations are being diverted internationally for non-charitable purposes.
Medical Residents.
National Research Program Study of Employment Tax Returns. Expect much greater scrutiny and enforcement. The IRS estimates employment tax misreporting constitutes a large part of the tax gapclose to $54 billion per year. Nonprofits should be especially careful about proper classifications of employees and independent contractors, fringe benefits, officer compensation, and employee expense reimbursements.
Non-filer Initiatives. The IRS plans to effectively use enforcement resources to deter non-filers.

The Division’s new and ongoing initiatives include:

Controlling Organizations- The IRC 512(b)(13) Project. The tax treatment of payments between controlled entities and their controlling tax-exempt parent organizations touches on several areas of tax law including unrelated business income, the allocation of income and deductions among taxpayers, and the transfer of property to controlled organizations.
Charitable Spending Initiative. This is a study to learn more about sources and uses of funds in the charitable sector and their relationship to the accomplishment of charitable purposes. Initially, organizations targeted for examination include those with high levels of fundraising expenses, organizations reporting unrelated trade or business activity with relatively low levels of program service expenditures, organizations with high ratios of officer compensation in comparison to program service expenditures, and organizations with low levels of program service expenditures in comparison to total revenue.
Colleges and Universities. The Division will continue to examine their unrelated business income, endowments and executive compensation practices.
Form 990 as a Compliance Tool. The Form 990 is the IRS primary tool to increase transparency and to promote and enforce compliance with Federal tax law. The IRS will use the updated form to identify non-compliant and potentially non-compliant organizations for examination.
Governance. Starting in FY 2010, EO began using a check sheet to capture governance practices and the related internal controls of the organizations being examined. EO will analyze the data over the long term to gain a better understanding of the intersection between governance practices and tax compliance.
Section 501(c)(4), (5) and (6) Organizations. In recent years, IRS examinations have concentrated on section 501(c)(3) organizations. Beginning in FY 2011, the IRS will increase its focus on section 501(c)(4), (5) and (6) organizations, particularly with respect to political activity, inurement and the extent of compliance with the requirements for tax exemption.

The following projects are being wound down and being assimilated into the Division’s general casework (a so-called “project to process” approach):

Combined Annual Wage Reporting. Make sure your employment tax reporting is accurate and complete.
Consumer Credit Counseling Project. Not too many of 501(c)(3) credit counseling organizations left – 41 of 63 of the largest had their tax exemptions revoked in the initial phase; more than half of the remaining are in the process of having their exemptions revoked.
Down Payment Assistance Project. Similarly, 87 of 91 DPA organizations funded solely by homesellers have had, or are in the process of having, their exemptions revoked.
Executive Compensation Compliance Initiative: Loans Project. Over $5.5 million in intermediate sanctions (e.g., for excessive compensation to insiders) were assessed as a result of examinations and 11% of the examinations led to proposed revocations or terminations of the organizations.
Political Activities Compliance Initiative (PACI). This initiative addressed allegations of prohibited political campaign activities by 501(c)(3) organizations. While the EO Division substantiated more than half of the allegations, it closed most of these cases only with warnings. Because some of the violations are becoming increasingly overt (Pulpit Freedom Sunday), at some point, we expect the IRS to start enforcing the electioneering prohibition more vigorously.
Supporting Organizations- The 509(a)(3) Compliance Project. Of 300 supporting organizations examined, 30 were terminated, 72 had their exemptions revoked, and 59 were reclassified as private foundations or other forms of public charities.

You can read the entire FY2011 Workplan and Annual Report here.

[Aplos strives to find information and articles in order to keep you up to date on the latest news and information. Please let us know if you have articles you would like to see here on our blog or have a question about specific fund accounting practices.]

Remember to say “Thank You”

Michele — Wed, 22 Dec 2010 15:40:14 +0000

I am a southern girl and manners were a big deal to my mom. She taught me the importance of respecting individuals in positions of authority with my words. There was value placed on responding to questions with “yes ma’am, no ma’am, yes sir, no sir”. And upon being the recipient of a gift whether tangible or intangible, she taught me to follow up with a thank you note. I offer that we have lost this sort of common etiquette somewhere in the efficiency and convenience of texting and email. As a nonprofit or church organization, you better believe your donors would appreciate more. I love the article below as it communicates with passion why thank you’s are important for your organization’s reputation. The article also gives some tips on what content to include in your thank you.

Article by Lisa Sargent

Head of Lisa Sargent Communications, copywriter Lisa Sargent publishes The Loyalty Letter, a free e-mail newsletter for nonprofit and charitable organizations, which is read by subscribers all over the world. Sign up free on her website.

Tax Benefits of Giving

Michele — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:41:32 +0000

While we at Aplos believe your donation to a charity should come from a heart of selflessness and generosity, we know that individuals benefit for their benevolence on their tax return as well. Below is an article from Charity Navigator in regards to some of these benefits.

A gift to a qualified charitable organization may entitle you to a charitable contribution deduction against your income tax if you itemize deductions.
If the gifts are deductible, the actual cost of the donation is reduced by your tax savings. For example, if you are in the 33% tax bracket, the actual cost of a $100 donation is only $67 ($100 less the $33 tax savings). As your income tax bracket increases, the real cost of your charitable gift decreases, making contributions more attractive for those in higher brackets. The actual cost to a person in the lowest bracket, 15%, for a $100 contribution is $85. For a person in the highest bracket, 35%, the actual cost is only $65. Not only can the wealthy afford to give more, but they receive a larger reward for giving.
A contribution to a qualified charity is deductible in the year in which it is paid. Putting the check in the mail to the charity constitutes payment. A contribution made on a credit card is deductible in the year it is charged to your credit card, even if payment to the credit card company is made in a later year.
Most, but not all, charitable organizations qualify for a charitable contribution deduction.
You can deduct contributions only if they are made to or for the use of a qualified recipient. No charitable contribution deduction is allowed for gifts to certain other kinds of organizations, even if those organizations are exempt from income tax. Contributions to foreign governments, foreign charities, and certain private foundations similarly are not deductible. Below, you can view a list of organizations for which your donations can be deducted. All organizations rated by Charity Navigator qualify for charitable status, and you can deduct your donations, subject to certain limitations.

An organization could lose its charity status if it devotes a substantial part of its activities to formulating propaganda or otherwise trying to influence legislation. However, an organization, other than a church, may qualify as a charity and still perform some of these activities by keeping its political expenditures to an “insubstantial” part of its activities. Furthermore, donations to needy individuals are not deductible.
There are limits to how much you can deduct, but they’re very high.
For most people, the limits on charitable contributions don’t apply. Only if you contribute more than 20% of your adjusted gross income to charity is it necessary to be concerned about donation limits. If the contribution is made to a public charity, the deduction is limited to 50% of your contribution base. For example, if you have an adjusted gross income of $100,000, your deduction limit for that year is $50,000.

The rules on 20% limits and 30% limits are way too complicated to delve into in this space. If you are giving to organizations other than those mentioned above, first consult with your tax adviser to determine whether these other ceilings will apply. If you give an amount in excess of the applicable limitation to charity in one year, the excess is carried over for the next five years.
Rules exist for non-cash donations.
If you contribute property owned for more than one year, the value of the deduction is normally equal to the property’s fair market value. You have an advantage when you contribute appreciated property because you get a deduction for the full fair market value of the property. You are not taxed on any of the appreciation, so, in effect, you receive a deduction for an amount that you never reported as income.

You should clearly contribute, rather than throw out, old clothes, furniture and equipment that you no longer use. However, bear in mind the condition of your donated goods. The IRS only permits deductions for donations of clothing and household items that are in “good condition or better.”

If you bring $1,000 in clothes or furniture to Goodwill or the Salvation Army, make sure that you get a receipt. Never throw such contributions into a bin where no receipt is available. If you are in the 25% bracket, that receipt may be worth $250 in tax savings to you. And remember that the IRS requires a qualified appraisal to be submitted with your tax return if you donate any single clothing or household item that is not in good used condition or better, and for which you deducted more than $500.
Remember to document.
No deduction is allowed for a separate contribution of $250 or more unless you have a written confirmation from the charity. A canceled check alone is not enough. If the contribution is to a religious organization solely for an intangible religious benefit (annual dues, for example) written proof is still required. All other contributions of cash require the charity to estimate the fair market value of any goods or services given to you in exchange for your contribution.

Starting in 2007, the IRS requires written documentation to substantiate deductions for all monetary donations – including cash. In case of an audit, you must have a canceled check, credit card statement or a written acknowledgement from the charity (showing the charity’s name, the date of the donation and the amount given). You will no longer be able to deduct those few dollars you dropped in a charity’s collection bucket without a receipt from the charity to back up your claim.

Remember, it’s always better to give than receive. The glory of charitable donations is that you give and receive at the same time.

Organizations to Which You Can Give and Deduct Your Donation

Your contribution to every organization that Charity Navigator evaluates is tax deductible. If an organization is not evaluated by Charity Navigator, and you still want to support them, you are generally allowed a 50 percent ceiling on your adjusted gross income for contributions if they are any of the following organizations:

Churches and other religious organizations;
Tax exempt educational organizations;
Tax exempt hospitals and certain medical research organizations;
A government unit, such as a state or a political subdivision of a state;
Publicly supported organizations such as a community chest;
Certain private foundations that distribute all contributions they receive to public charities within two-and-a-half months after the end of the foundation’s fiscal year;
A private operating foundation which pools all of its donations in a common fund;
Certain membership organizations that rely on the general public for more than a third of their contributions.

Learn more about the tax implications of charitable giving in our FAQ.

Major Gifts

Michele — Wed, 15 Dec 2010 14:29:21 +0000

Loved this quote below and appreciate the perspective this article offers.

“A major gift is not something that donors do on a whim or a lark, or on the spur of the moment. And in all likelihood, they do not materialize without a great deal of time, talent, or effort attached. Making the major gift is a very special expression on the part of the donor, which lets the organization know that the donor believes in the organization 100 percent.”

Laura Fredricks, Developing major gifts: Turning Small Donors into Big Contributors

Tips for Implementing a Major Gifts Program

Year End Checklist for Nonprofits

Michele — Sun, 05 Dec 2010 23:58:10 +0000

If your organization’s fiscal year is from January to December, this time of year may leave you feeling a wide range of emotions. You find yourself grateful for the generosity and support of your volunteers, board members, donors, and others who have shared with you in your passion to make a difference! And, you are likely to feel a little overwhelmed with the responsibility of sending out giving statements by the end of January, closing out your fiscal year financials, and preparing for the required 990 Form.

The good news is that if you are using our fund accounting software, you can rest easy knowing how simple Aplos makes sending out giving statements. Also, if you are thinking of switching to a simpler fund accounting software, now is the time to change! Even if you are not a current customer, I hope this list helps keep you organized and sane during this busy season.

1. Make sure you have all donations entered with current addresses.

2. Decide what type of letter you want to send to your donors. Click here for a great resource. This is a great opportunity to let your donors hear specifically how their contribution made a difference.

3. Don’t forget to include other types of donations.

4. See what requirements your organization must meet on the federal, state, and local level.

5. Start reading the instructions for the Form 990 now. You might need to research some topics or include information that takes some time to find and organize.

Those are just a few ideas to get you started. Our desire to support you goes beyond our software so let us know if you need any help!

Aplos $200 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

Michele — Wed, 01 Dec 2010 06:29:08 +0000

What would you do with $200 dollars in Visa cash? Pay for some Christmas gifts? Go out to a nice dinner? Buy yourself something? Pay your gas for the month? Aplos is giving away a $200 Visa gift card to one lucky person!

Aplos is fund accounting software for nonprofits. We realize nonprofits and churches need to spend time on their mission – not on trying to figure out complicated accounting software. Click here to learn more about Aplos.

As for the giveaway, entering to win is simple, just like our software.

Official Contest Rules

$200 Visa Gift Card Giveaway

No purchase is necessary to enter or win. A purchase will not increase your chance of winning. The Aplos Twitter Giveaway (Giveaway) is sponsored and run by Aplos. Participation in the Giveaway constitutes entrants full and unconditional agreement to and acceptance of these Official Rules.

Giveaway Period. The Giveaway commences at 6 A.M. PST on December 1, 2010 and ends at 11:59 P.M. PST on December 25, 2010 if a minimum of 200 entries are received. If we do not obtain 200 entries by Dec. 25, 2010, the contest will continue until the minimum number is received. Sponsor shall select one (1) winner, at random, during giveaway period.

Eligibility. The Giveaway is open to anyone age 13 or older as of the date of entry who resides in the 50 United States, except where prohibited by law or in any state that would require advance registration of this Giveaway. The Giveaway is void in Puerto Rico and U.S. territories and possessions. You are not eligible to participate in the Giveaway if you are not located within the 50 United States. Giveaway is void where restricted or prohibited by law. Employees of Aplos and their immediate families (parents, siblings, children, and spouses of each) are not eligible.

How to Enter.

1. Go to your twitter page, if you don’t have one you can start one for free. www.twitter.com

2. Make sure you are following Aplos_Software. This is the only way we can notify you if you win!

3. Tweet out the following message exactly as it appears only once. (Multiple entries could jeopardize your Twitter account)

#Win a $200 Visa Gift Card from Aplos, simplifying #fundaccounting! Follow @Aplos_Software and ReTweet www.aplossoftware.com/blog/?p=552

4. If youve completed ALL 3 steps prior to the cutoff date, as set forth below, you’ve successfully entered for a chance to win a $200 Visa Gift card from Aplos.

Sponsor reserves the right to deny any entry based on submission of incomplete information or non-compliance with these Official Rules. Sponsor is not responsible for late, lost, delayed, damaged, misdirected, incomplete, illegible, or unintelligible entries.

Winner Selection. Sponsor will select one winner, at random, for giveaway. The cutoff date for posting a tweet for the giveaway is December 25, 2010. However, if the minimum number of 200 entrants is not received by December 25, 2010, the giveaway will continue until such date that the minimum number is received. The winner will be notified via direct tweet through the email associated with the corresponding Twitter Account. The winner has three (3) days from this email notification to respond and confirm the winning entry. If the initial winner does not respond within this period, then a second drawing will be held. If necessary, subsequent drawings will be held until there is a confirmed winner provided time permits. The winner shall be required to complete an affidavit or declaration of eligibility/liability and, where permitted by law, a publicity release, which must be signed and returned and received by Sponsor within seven (7) days of the date printed on the prize notification. Failure to comply may result in forfeiture of all rights to prize(s). Sponsor is not responsible for and shall not be liable for late, lost, misdirected, or unsuccessful efforts to notify winners. If a prize or prize notification letter is returned as undeliverable, prize may be forfeited and an alternate winner will be awarded.

Prize. $200 Visa Gift Card

General Terms and Conditions. By participating, entrants agree that Sponsor, its shareholders, agents and representatives, affiliates, subsidiaries, advertising, promotion and fulfillment agencies, and legal advisors are not responsible or liable for, and shall be released and held harmless from: (i) telephone, electronic, hardware or software program, network, Internet, or computer malfunctions, failures, or difficulties of any kind; (ii) any condition caused by events beyond the control of Sponsor that may cause the Giveaway to be disrupted or corrupted; (iii) any printing or typographical errors in any materials associated with the Giveaway; (iv) any and all losses, damages, rights, claims and actions of any kind in connection with or resulting from participation in the Giveaway, acceptance, possession, or use of any prize, including without limitation, personal injury, death, and property damage, and claims based on publicity rights, defamation, or invasion of privacy. Sponsor reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to amend and interpret these Official Rules at any time, and to terminate, suspend or cancel Giveaway at any time for any reason, including, without limitation, if a computer virus, bug, or other technical problem or security breach corrupts the administration, security, or proper conduct of the Giveaway. Participation in this Giveaway constitutes permission (except where prohibited by law) to use winners name, hometown (including state or province) and/or likeness for promotional purposes without further compensation. All issues and questions concerning the construction, validity, interpretation and enforceability of these Official Rules, or the rights and obligations of participant and Sponsor in connection with the Giveaway, shall be governed by, and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of California, without giving effect to any choice of law or conflict of law rules or provisions (whether of the State of California or any other jurisdiction), that would cause the application of the laws of any jurisdiction other than the State of California. Any claim arising out of the foregoing shall be instituted solely in a court situated in Fresno County, California, and entrant and Sponsor irrevocably agree to submit to the personal and exclusive jurisdiction of such court. All federal, state and local laws and regulations apply. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners.

Sponsor. Aplos Software, Clovis, California.

Twitter Disclaimer. Multiple entries could jeopardize your Twitter account according to Twitter Terms and Conditions. Creating multiple accounts in order to obtain more than one entry is prohibited and could result in a suspension of all Twitter accounts.

Good Luck!

Fundraising and Legal Issues

Michele — Mon, 15 Nov 2010 14:23:29 +0000

Sometimes what sounds like a truly wonderful idea in theory begins to seem impossible down on paper. While venturing down different avenues to pursue goals, you might be surprised at how much “red tape” you have to navigate. You also might find yourself extremely discouraged to find out that a great idea is going to take a great deal more work in order to see the payoff. You and I both know that anything worth having, though, takes perseverance and stamina…and some insight into how others have mananged to push through despite discouragement. One of the most frustrating tasks I have found myself are understanding the legal issues in many situations. Below I have linked to a great article from the “Nonprofit Law Blog“.

While the article may not completely resolve the red tape issue, you might find some ways to avoid potential legal pitfalls.

Top 5 Fundraising Legal Tips

Lessons Learned Starting a Church or Nonprofit from Scratch

Michele — Wed, 03 Nov 2010 13:28:30 +0000

My husband and I started our nonprofit about a year ago and I had no idea what was about to transpire. The nonprofit world was actually quite foreign to me, thus the crash course that inevitably ensued this last year. Couple that with working for a fund accounting software company, that specializes in a product specifically for the part-time volunteer, and I became educated rather quickly. While researching articles, understanding terminology, reviewing websites, understanding donations, and finding ways to maximize exposure, I found myself becoming quite opinionated about various concepts. Admittingly, I am the type of individual who is passionate and driven by values. Below are some thoughts I have on various aspects of your organization. My hope is that you find them helpful and enhance your organization’s ultimate goal!

Contact information

I believe a great website is absolutely essential. If you aren’t fully convinced, please refer to a previous post. Please make your email address, phone number, and mailing address available to create the easiest scenario for others to contact you. Your home screen is a great location!

Donation Information

Because the life of your organization is dependent on donations. Make donating simple by placing a button on you website. For ideas and information on how to get started, click here for further information.

Volunteer Opportunities

A friend of mine just told me about a great resource that will help you design forms so that individuals may sign up for opportunities via your website. Wufoo is great for those of us that don’t know the first thing about coding a website. Of course, there are other options. Creating opportunities and having ideas lined out are great ways to keep your volunteers motivated and in their niche. Who doesn’t want volunteers serving in their sweet spot when both the volunteer and the organization benefit? Here is a great idea from an nonprofit near and dear to my heart, Neighborhood Thrift.

Facebook/Twitter Page

I have grown to appreciate the social media madness of Facebook and Twitter. Some of you may skip over this section as you have already made up your mind to rule these out as options. I am asking you to be open to suggestion and put aside your hesitations for a moment. Just imagine all of the individuals that you desire to know about your church or nonprofit and mission! I believe twitter and facebook are phenomenal ways to connect individuals to your organization! Read here for further insight.

Blog

Words…they have power and especially when they placed strategically on your website or on a blog. Just google anything you desire to know about and see for yourself. I suggest doing a little research on Search Engine Optimization and finding key words for your organization’s website that will draw in individuals as they search for specific topics.

Accounting

Don’t assume that you have to spend a great deal of time and money invested here. Believe me, I know fund accounting can seem quite daunting in the beginning. Your choice of software influences the amount of stress you will endure. I am an inexperienced volunteer who happens to use Aplos to make my life more efficient and simple. No complicated fund accounting software with too many tabs, menus, and reports to keep me confused.

Organization

Whether you constuct a fancy flow chart or simply like big yellow legal pads, know every aspect of your organization. List out the different activities and responsibilities and have a plan for each. Ask individuals what interests they have and be ready to give them options. You need to be clear on your vision and mission and establish each area of your organization with that mission in mind.

Accountability

Michele — Wed, 13 Oct 2010 13:20:08 +0000

~ The ancient Romans had a tradition: whenever one of their engineers constructed an arch, as the capstone was hoisted into place, the engineer assumed accountability for his work in the most profound way possible: he stood under the arch. ~ Michael Armstrong

In the church or nonprofit world, you may not be building an arch, but you are building an organization. Every decision you make and the results of those decisions come back to you and your ability to steward your leadership well. People, resources, and finances are just a few of the areas where this weight may feel the heaviest. At the end of the day, you are responsible and accountability just may be your greatest asset.

If you feel like a giant weight was just thrown your direction, good! I strongly believe that individual responsibility is beginning to be taken lightly these days. Greed is a strong force that must be reckoned with on a personal level. The new Form 990 is evidence that accountability at a greater level is needed.

I recently came across a great article, “Accounting is where the nonprofit buck stops“, posted in Philanthropy Journal, that speaks directly to this issue. Great insight into the new Form 990 is given as well as the reasons why our government is cracking down. Below is an excerpt from the article.

The new Form 990

Nunn says solid accounting will be critical to provide the additional financial information nonprofits now must report in the new Form 990 they must file with the IRS.

The changes are designed to improve transparency, ensuring that “all information is there and accurate and anyone can access it,” she says, and to promote accountability, ensuring “this board should already have known about what is there, and there should be no surprises.”

Nonprofits, she says, “are holding a huge public trust given to them by government and individuals in society.”

Government recognizes that nonprofits “do work that we or business cannot or should not do,” she says, and in exchange allows nonprofits to operate generally without having to pay taxes, and allows individuals and companies to make contributions for which they can claim charitable deductions on their personal or corporate income taxes.

In return, Nunn says, government and donors expect nonprofits “will do with that money what you said you’d do.”

The new Form 990 requires that “information that is pertinent to this agency is information that can be trusted, that issues have been well vetted, that the board is informed about what is going on,” she says, and that the board has been “presented enough information to make an informed decision.”

Form 990 Help (The Basics)

Michele — Wed, 08 Sep 2010 13:24:30 +0000

During a meeting about Aplos, the topic of Form 990 and its long list of instructions presented itself. For those of you unfamiliar with Form 990, the Return for Organizations Exempt from Income Tax, I would like to provide a step by step guide to help you! This being my own nonprofit’s first year to file, I am not sure what the process will entail. To be quite honest, I have anxiety about it but have confidence that we will get through this together!

I would like to provide (over the next several entries) a step by step process. My goal is to help you feel prepared to take on this somewhat daunting task so that you and I both maintain our sanity and learn a bit in the process.

Before we begin, below are some important facts to understand.

1. In order to maintain tax-exempt status, nonprofits, charities, and other tax-exempt organizations are generally required to file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ along with Schedule A with the Internal Revenue Service each year.

2. Here are the list of forms we will be learning about in order to help you file. Based on how your own organization is categorized and its contribution reciepts, only some of these forms may be a required.

Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (PDF, 9 pages)
Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (PDF, 3 pages)
Form 990 Schedule A, Supplementary Information (PDF, 7 pages)
Instructions for Schedule A for Form 990 and 990-EZ (HTML format)
Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return (PDF, 4 pages)
Instructions for Form 990-T (HTML format)
Form 8868, Application for Extension of Time To File an Exempt Organization Return (PDF, 4 pages)

3. Nonprofits are required to allow certain tax documents available for public viewing – the three most recent information returns (Form 990 or 990-EZ) and the application for exempt status (Form 1023) upon request.

4. Form 990-T reporting unrelated business income is open for public inspection only for non-profits that organized under Code Section 501(c)(3).

5. Schedule A is not open to public inspection and does not need to be disclosed by the organization.

6. Organizations can meet their public disclosure obligations by posting copies of their information returns on the Internet or their own website. For further clarification, see Frequently Asked Questions About the Exempt Organization Public Disclosure Requirements on the IRS Web site.

7. Form 990, 990-EZ, Schedule A, and 990-T must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month following the end of the organization’s tax year. The tax year for most non-profits ends on December 31st, so the normal filing deadline is May 15th. If the deadline falls on a Saturday, Sunday, or legal holiday, the returns are due on the next business day.

8. Nonprofits can request an automatic three-month extension of time to file all information returns by submitting Form 8868, Application for Extension of Time To File an Exempt Organization Return. The organization can request an additional three-month extension (this is not automatic) by filing another Form 8868 and filing out the information in Part II. The nonprofit must first request an automatic extension to request an additional extension.