Time Is Running Out: File A Tax Extension Form 8868 Today

The due date for Form 990 is here! Nonprofit or charitable organizations worldwide have completed or are in the process of completing an IRS Form 990 to maintain tax-exempt status for their organization.

With only hours left to e-file Form 990 before the midnight deadline, here is how to beat the 990 extension due date 2017 by quickly filing tax extension Form 8868. Let’s be honest; you can rush through filing your 990 tax form today and possibly make major mistakes, or you can apply for a Form 990 extension. Time is running out: file a tax extension Form 8868 today!

Time Is Running Out: File A Tax Extension Form 8868 Today

If you need more time to e-file Form 990 you can file an extension for Form 990 and receive six additional months to file.

Not that we’re saying filling out a tax-exempt return is a brisk, afternoon activity (trust us, we know). But six months is a fairly long time… Until the time is up.

Unfortunately, today is the 990 extension due date for 2017 tax returns for nonprofit organizations operating on a calendar year.

Tax-exempt returns that are due today must be transmitted by midnight (local time), so head on over to our homepage where all your exempt organization e-filing needs can be easily met.

Even consider using our sister product TaxBandits, the new #1 home for everything tax exempt,
where you can transmit your Form 990 or apply for IRS Form 8868 using one account, and still enjoy the same e-filing features you’ve come to trust with ExpressTaxExempt.

Our live support team in Rock Hill, South Carolina is at the edge of their seats waiting to speak with you about any questions or concerns you may have about e-filing IRS Form 990 or an IRS Form 990 extension.

Give us a call at (704) 684-4751, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., EST. Since it’s “deadline day” we are even going to stick around a few extra hours to be of assistance.

We can also be reached 24/7 through support@taxbandits.com, or chat with us live.

File Your IRS Form 990 Extension Now!

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The Best Way To Encourage Online Giving

As a charitable nonprofit you rely on the support and generosity of donors for some or all your funding. While some of you are still using traditional giving methods, online giving has become the “new norm.” Here is the best way to encourage online giving.

Transitioning from traditional to online fundraising is simpler than you might think; plus it will increase your donor base from just your local community to national.

How To Create Online Fundraising Your Donors Will Love

Implement Online Giving

We spend hours on our cell phones or tablets each day, so it is safe to say technology reigns supreme. If you are not already using online fundraising, you are missing out on a major opportunity. 

As a nonprofit organization, it is critical to invest in simple online giving methods. Consider having a mobile version of your website created and utilize easy online donation programs such as PayPal, Square [Cash App is great too!], Givelify, etc. 

Keep Your Donation Form Short

Let’s be honest; no one wants to spend half an hour trying to donate to your organization. Simplify your donation form and eliminate unnecessary fields.

Typically donors will only briefly scan your donation forms before deciding to give. If your form appears long, extensive, and complex, you may be losing out on potential donors.

Test your platform. Ask a friend or third party to complete the form themselves to see what they found confusing, time-consuming, and flat out annoying. You have seen your donation form a million times, and you understand all the information asked. However, having someone unfamiliar with your donation process will gain a better understanding of what the average donor sees. 

Easy Access To Online Donation Form 

The easier it is to access, the easier it is for people to donate. 

Accessing your organization’s online donation platform should be a piece of cake for potential donors. If they have to go on a scavenger hunt to find a way to donate, they will likely give up in pursuit.

Large, colorful and clear “DONATE” buttons are always the way to go. Consider having a donate button at the top and bottom of your website or page, but do not go overboard with the donate buttons. The last thing you want to do is harass your potential donors and readers for an online donation.

Close With A Strong Call To Action (CTA)

Now that you have driven potential donors to your organization and informed them of the great things you do in your community, prompt them to donate.

This can be done through a “Donate Now” button or link that instruct donors on how they can make a difference such as, “Help Us Make A Difference In Your Community!”

Believe it or not, there are thousands of people that are looking for a charitable cause to donate to each year. Utilize these tips to attract potential donors and maintain your much-needed donor base. Once you have received donations be sure to keep accurate records so you can accurately file your 990 Form with ExpressTaxExempt at the close of your organization’s tax year.  

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Is My Nonprofit Responsible For Filing 1099 Forms?

If nonprofit organizations are exempt from taxes, are they responsible for filing 1099 forms?

Has this question ever crossed your mind?

Nonprofit organizations are exempt from a lot, but filing 1099 Forms are not one of them.

Used by business owners to report non-employee compensation of $600 or more to an independent contractor, nonprofit organizations also utilize 1099 Forms to report prizes, awards, and additional payments.

What is a Form 1099-MISC and When Is It Due?

Before you try to rush and research tons of information on 1099 Forms, ExpressTaxExempt is here to help you and give you all of the information that you need. So let’s get to it:

The original due date for reporting nonemployee compensation was January 31, 2018. However, the other types of payments reported in Box 7 of a 1099 Form must be e-filed by Monday, April 2nd to include the following payments:

• Prizes and Awards (for non-employees)
• Professional Service Fees 
• Attorney, Accountant, Architect, or Engineer Fees
• Fees paid by one professional to another (fee-splitting or referral fees)
• Taxable fringe benefits
• Payments to an insurance salesperson, and more. 

Form 1099 Series (MISC, INT, DIV, R, S, B) forms must be e-filed with the IRS by Monday, April 2nd.

How Can I File By The Deadline?

With Easter right around the corner and so many opportunities to serve your community this season, I am pretty sure the last thing on your to-do list is filing your taxes.

Luckily, our sister product allows you to file your 1099 Form so quick that you don’t have to worry about missing the deadline!

Steps to file Form 1099 are as follows:

• Create or sign in to your TaxBandits account
• Select "Form 1099-MISC"
• Enter payer details (name, EIN, address)
• Enter recipient details (name, SSN/EIN, address)
• Enter federal details for miscellaneous income
• Enter state information and state taxes withheld for each applicable state
• Choose for the form to be mailed to the recipient
• Review, pay and transmit return directly to the IRS

Information Needed To File Form 1099

You will only need four categories of information to file Form 1099 correctly:

1. Payer Details: Name, EIN, and Address
2. Recipient Details: Name, EIN/Social Security, and Address
3. Federal Details: Miscellaneous Incomes and Federal Tax Withheld
4. State Filing Details: State Income, Payer State Number, and State Tax Withheld

What Matters Most

You are working hard to improve your community health and well-being, don’t let taxes hold you back.

For all that you do, we make keeping your exempt status easy! File your 1099 Forms with TaxBandits and get back to helping others. 

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The Best Way To Handle Employee Holiday Requests

This is a guest post by Ariel Black of ACAwise; ACAwise is a full-service ACA reporting and compliance solution for Applicable Large Employers (ALEs) and Third Party Administrators (TPAs).

With Spring Break right around the corner for most students and educators, you may have some employees requesting time off for family vacations or spring getaways.

Let’s be honest, managing holiday requests can be a thorn in management’s side. However, with a little preparation, you will be rewarded with happier employees and fewer disruptions to your team. Learn how to handle employee holiday requests in style before it is too late.

The Best Way To Handle Employee Holiday Requests

Communicating Annual Leave

One of the most common problems with annual leave is finding out how many days your employees are entitled to. This luckily is easy enough. If an employee is salary or works full time, they are entitled to a minimum of 5.6 weeks paid leave.

However, this is not the biggest issue with annual leave. Managers will find in many cases that their employees feel their annual leave is unfair.

Some of these reasons may include:

• Misunderstanding of their entitlements
• Certain roles deserve more than minimum entitlement

Tips and Advice for HR Entitlements:

1. Attractive Holiday Plans

Company-wise your entitlement plans need to be attractive to your employees. For a bare minimum the company must comply with laws and regulations but by offering extras will go a long way with the happiness of your employees.

Consider offering public or bank holidays as extras instead of including them with employee entitlements.

2. Fair Treatment of All

Another way to avoid disgruntled employees is to award entitlement fairly. Everyone should be treated the same, and there should be no favoritism involved when it comes to annual leave. Granting additional benefits to a select group of employees will only lead to disruptions within your team.

Consider increasing entitlement across the board as an alternative that will encourage loyalty among your employees.

3. Increase Understanding

This point can not be stressed enough. Make sure your holiday pay and entitlement program is clearly understood by all of your employees and easily accessed. The worst thing you can do is appear to be hiding something.

The holiday season can be hectic for everyone especially those in management, but when you prepare you can keep your employees focused and productive. Try using these helpful tips and suggestions to help avoid any disruptions within your workforce. Please comment, like, and share this informative blog for those who understand the pains of HR holiday management.

Ariel Black is a Content Marketing Manager for SPAN Enterprises, parent company to ACAwise. ACAwise is an all-in-one ACA reporting solution designed to track and monitor compliance throughout the year for ALEs and TPAs.

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How To Obtain a Business Tax Exempt Number For Your Organization

Organizations with business tax exemption status through the IRS are allowed to solicit donations and generate revenue for nonprofit purposes. Businesses who are tax-exempt need to know how to obtain a business tax exempt number for your organization.

A number of entities can fall under the business tax exempt category -- charities, schools, community organizations, governmental organizations, and more. In order to apply for 501(c)(3) status, the first step an organization must take is to file a standard entity registration with both the state and the federal government.

Once you’ve received your tax-exempt status, there’s an important number that you’ll need to obtain and use often throughout the existence of your organization.

How To Obtain a Business Tax Exempt Number For Your Organization

Follow These 4 Easy Steps to Receive a Business Tax Exempt Number:

Getting a business tax exempt number is actually fairly simple and can be done in 4 steps:

1) Develop and Organize Your Business

To be considered as an organized entity by the IRS, you must be either a corporation, trust or unincorporated association.

The first major step in developing and organizing your group is to contact your local Secretary of State or even an attorney to be properly formed as an entity and obtain the necessary documentation associated with the development of the organization.

2) Obtain an Employer Identification Number

Tax-exempt businesses all need an EIN; “EIN” stands for Employer Identification Number.  If you’ve ever done anything tax related to a business or organization, you’ve probably heard the familiar acronym “EIN.”

This is number is required for functioning organizations and must be obtained through the IRS; even if the organization does not have employees.

Even tax returns are unable to be filed without an EIN. So this is definitely a “must have!”

3) File For Recognition of Exemption

This step is pretty straightforward. Simply file IRS Form 1023 to apply for recognition of exemption and wait for approval.

Once the application has been approved, an organization [and its EIN] is considered to be tax exempt and recognized as such through the government.

4) Check State Requirements for getting a Business Tax Exempt Number

After you have received your EIN and filed Form 1023, take a few moments to double check the tax exemption requirements for your specific state.

Contact the Department of Revenue or your state government to see if there are any other forms that need to be filed to secure the tax exempt status of your organization.

ExpressTaxExempt is Here To Help

As always, the ExpressTaxExempt team is here to help you as much as possible.

We’re just a phone call, email, or chat away if you ever have any questions or need assistance during any part of the e-filing process.

Feel free to contact our support team of e-file experts at 704.839.2321, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST. You can also reach us 24/7 via email with support@ExpressTaxExempt.com.

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#GivingTuesday - Making a Difference One Donation at a Time

Today, we recognize #GivingTuesday, a social movement which encourages others to give back by donating time, money or positive influence to a worthy cause that makes a difference. Generous efforts such as donating blood, providing financial support to a local organization, visiting a nursing home, or even helping out at a soup kitchen can touch the lives of many.

Even large organizations such as PayPal have “seized the season” and partnered with its users to celebrate the #GivingTuesday initiative, adding 1% of all donations made through their portal from now until the end of the year.

Since we’re talking about donating to charity, we’d love for you to share with us ways that you will donate! Are you a part of a charity or nonprofit organization who could use some donations to support the mission of the organization? If so, post the group name and information in the comments so other readers can donate!

For tax-exempt organizations, donations are a major component to its success and level of outreach. Thankfully, taxpayers have the ability to maximize their tax savings before the end of the year by giving to a charity and deducting it on their annual federal income tax return.

#GivingTuesday Tax Filing Reminders

With #GivingTuesday being an annual event, there are some reminders that taxpayers should be reminded of as they give money or good to an exempt charity or organization before December 31.

Donations to Eligible Organizations (Only) are Tax-Deductible

Churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and government agencies are eligible to receive deductible donations. For a complete list of eligible organizations, click here.

Itemize to Claim Charitable Donations

Charitable deductions cannot be made if an individual chooses the standard deduction. Taxpayers must itemize their donations on Form 1040 Schedule A to claim deductions for charitable contributions.

Have Proof of Monetary Donations

Upon making a donation, be sure to receive a bank record or a written statement from the charity/organization to prove the amount and date given. Taxpayers using payroll deductions should retain a pay stub, a Form W-2 wage statement or other proof showing the total amount withheld for charity, along with the pledge card showing the name of the charity.

Donating Property

Donating items such as clothing and other household items come with a deduction amount that is normally limited to the fair market value of the item. These types of items must be in good or better condition to be considered tax-deductible.

Similar to monetary donations, those that donate property must get a written acknowledgment from the charity for all gifts that are worth $250 or more. This statement should include a description of the items contributed.

What Happens After You Donate?

Once you’ve donated and received the necessary paperwork for your deduction, all that’s left to do is simply file your annual tax return. However, tax-exempt organizations have a few more steps to take such as filing their required Form 990 each year.

Exempt organizations are required to file this return to ensure that their organization is not abusing its tax-exempt status. The IRS also utilizes the information reported on Form 990 and makes it available for public information.

Luckily, exempt organizations can handle all of their Form 990 filing needs right here at ExpressTaxExempt with our easy, simplified filing process, and can even instantly share their information with GuideStar, the world’s largest source of nonprofit organization information.

Give, Give, Give!

The ExpressTaxExempt team encourages you to take some time this holiday season and give back in some way in honor of #GivingTuesday. Once again, feel free to comment on ways that you or your organization are helping out today and days to come as well as providing your organization's information to gain support from fellow ExpressTaxExempt users.

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