What You Need To Know About Filing For Exempt Status With The IRS

As a non-profit organization, it is imperative that you file and maintain your tax-exempt status with the IRS. Since filing for your tax-exemption status is a detailed process we are sure you have a few questions. To avoid spending hours searching for accurate information, we have researched for you, so here is everything you need to know about filing for your tax-exemption status.

What You Need To Know About Filing For Exempt Status With The IRS

Here are the top seven questions most nonprofit leaders have when it comes to filing for exemption status. All information shared has been provided directly from the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov:

1) Nonprofit and Tax-Exempt Status...Is There a Difference?

Nonprofit status is a state law concept. Nonprofit status may make an organization eligible for specific benefits, such as state sales, property and income tax exemptions. Although most federal tax-exempt organizations are nonprofit organizations, organizing as a nonprofit organization at the state level does not automatically grant the organization exemption from federal income tax.

To qualify as exempt from federal income tax, an organization must meet requirements outlined by the Internal Revenue Code.

2) How Can My Organization Be Recognized as Tax-Exempt?

To be recognized as exempt from federal income taxation, most organizations are required to apply for recognition of exemption. For section 501(c)(3) organizations, the law provides only limited exceptions to this requirement.

Applying for recognition of exemption results in formal IRS recognition of an organization’s status, and may be preferable for that reason.

3) What Form(s) Should I File For Exemption Status?

Most organizations must file one of the following specific Forms to receive tax-exemption status:

• Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code (for charitable organizations; see instructions)
• Form 1024-A, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(4) of the Internal Revenue Code (instructions)
• Form 1024, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(a) (instructions).

Click here to find out which application your organization is required to submit.

4) Where Should Exemption Applications Be Sent?

Send your completed exemption application to the address stated in the instructions to the application form:

Internal Revenue Service
P.O. Box 12192
Covington, KY  41012-0192

Express mail or a delivery service address:

Internal Revenue Service
201 West Rivercenter Blvd.
Attn: Extracting Stop 312
Covington, KY 41011

5) Can My Application Be Expedited?

Generally, applications are processed in the order received by the IRS. Sometimes, however, the IRS will expedite the application process for valid, compelling, and legitimate reasons.

A request for expedited processing must be made in writing and must fully explain the reason. Reference Expedited Application Processing for more information.

6) Is it Required That My Organization Has a Tax-Exempt Number?

No, unlike some states that issue numbers to organizations to indicate that these organizations are exempt from state sales taxes, the IRS does not issue numbers specifically for exempt organizations. While the IRS does issue Employer Identification Numbers (EINs), these are merely a unique identifier, similar to a Social Security number.

Applying for and receiving an EIN does not indicate an organization's tax status; however, your organization needs an EIN to apply for tax exemption.

7) Do Government Entities Need To Apply For Exemption?

Most state and local government entities are not required to pay federal income tax. For non-tax reasons, though, government entities are sometimes asked to provide a tax-exempt number or determination letter to prove their status as a tax-exempt organization.

State and local governments are not required to apply for this exempt status, however. As discussed in ‘Affirmation of Your Tax-Exempt Status,’ the IRS will issue a letter describing the tax status of government entities. Most organizations and individuals will accept this letter as the substantiation that they need. No application is required, and no fee is associated with this letter.

Now that you have what you need to know about filing for exemption status be sure to sign up for your free ExpressTaxExempt account to handle all of your Form 990 tax filing needs! Sign up today and maintain tax compliance with ease!

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Last Minute IRS Form 941 Filing For Nonprofits

The big IRS Form 941 2018 1st Quarter filing deadline is officially here! If your tax-exempt organizations employ individuals to help carry out the mission of your group, you need to file Form 941 for 2018 by midnight TONIGHT or face major IRS penalties.

If you do not file Form 941 by April 30, 2018, your organization could find itself responsible for paying Form 941 Penalties to the IRS. Avoid IRS penalties by e-filing Form 941 with ExpressTaxExempt’s sister product, TaxBandits.

If you are not ready to file your 941 Form 2018, try not to panic... yet. TaxBandits has a tax filing solution that will not require an all-nighter leaving you looking crazy in the morning.

Time is winding up so let’s tackle last-minute IRS Form 941 filing for nonprofits together!

Last Minute IRS Form 941 Filing For Nonprofits

The 411 on IRS Form 941

Kind of rhymes, right? Well before we start creating a 941 Form 2018 jingle or talk about how to handle filing Form 941 for 2018, let’s review who is required to file and what it entails.

IRS Form 941, Employer’s Quarterly Tax Return, is used to report employment taxes quarterly and assists with calculating the employer’s portion of Social Security and Medicare tax.

The first quarter deadline for this year is April 30 and covers the months of January, February, and March.

E-Filing Checklist

When preparing to file, be sure to go over the Form 941 for 2018 checklist, as the following information is required to complete it:

• Total Employee Count
• Medicare Tax and Social Security
• Deposit Made to the IRS
• Tax Liability (Monthly/Semiweekly)
• Signing Authority Information
• Online Signature PIN or Form 8453-EMP

Steps To E-File Form 941 for 2018

Filing IRS Form 941 2018 with TaxBandits is simple! Just follow these steps to complete your quarterly filing:

1. Sign in or Create your TaxBandits account
2. Select “Form 941”
3. Add employer details
4. Choose tax year/quarter
5. Follow Interview-Style Process
6. Enter the deposit made to the IRS
7. Enter your deposit schedule and tax liability
8. Add your online signature PIN or complete Form 8453-EMP
9. Review, pay and transmit your form directly to the IRS

Signing Form 941 Online

When you file Form 941 online you are required to electronically sign your form before transmitting to the IRS. There are two ways you can do this with TaxBandits. You can use your IRS online signature PIN or use Form 8453-EMP. 

To use Form 8453-EMP simply download it, fill it out, and re-upload it to the system. The entire process only takes about a minute.

Failure-To-File Penalties

Failing to file Form 941 by its deadline can affect an organization negatively. For example, if you fail to file your 941 Form by midnight, your organization will incur a penalty of 5% of the total tax amount due. An additional charge of 5% per month will also be charged for each month that the return is not submitted to the IRS. This fee can accumulate for up to 5 months.

Furthermore, if you failed to pay an owed tax bill, you will initially be charged an additional 5% of the unpaid tax amount. This fee will also increase each month that the payment remains unpaid.

ExpressTaxExempt understands what it takes to run a nonprofit organization and wants to help make handling tax filings one component that you don’t have to be stressed over.

Filing Form 941 with our sister product TaxBandits is easy! Plus, if you need any assistance, our US-based support team is standing by ready to help you.

File IRS Form 941 2018 Before Midnight!

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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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5 New Year's Resolutions for Tax Exempt Organizations

As we continue to make effective plans for an awesome 2018 work year, we wanted to share some New Year’s Resolutions with you that could greatly benefit your nonprofit organization. 

New Year’s Resolutions

1) Better Money Management

Gaining necessary funds to adequately run your nonprofit organization can be a challenge. Make every effort you can to closely manage the funds of your organization to maximize its usage and allocate accordingly for the fiscal year. 

2) Increase Your Social Media Presence

The world that we live in today is extremely driven by social media. Take advantage of this easy, free, and trendy method of communication! Having your nonprofit active on social media can increase your audience and interact with current and potential donors, supporters, and volunteers more frequently. 

Social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Reddit are great to use. YouTube is also another way to promote your organization and its activities.

3) Revamp Your Organization’s Correspondence

This is actually one of the easiest resolutions to tackle. Instead of sending out the same generic correspondence each year, simply create something new! Rewrite your “thank you message,” website content, etc., to attract the attention of the reader. 

4) Redefine Your Target Audience 

In your upcoming team/staff meeting, take a few moments to analyze the mission of your organization and determine which audience(s) you should target this year. 

Having more than one target audience is okay!

5) Become Mobile-Friendly

With 9 of 10 American adults owning a mobile phone of some kind, it is extremely important that your website is mobile-friendly.

Mobile-friendly sites are very effective and useful for informing others about your organization and increasing online donations.

You Can Do It

While New Year’s resolutions require effort and dedication, these 5 resolutions can easily be accomplished by your organization during 2018. 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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Turn Your Nonprofit Obstacles Into Opportunities

Nonprofit organizations serve a great purpose and make a significant difference in the community daily. Although the mission of nonprofits is positive, they are faced with various challenges along the way. Each challenge presents it own obstacles but can turn into opportunities for growth and overall victory. Here are some challenges that nonprofit organizations face and how to turn them around to make it work for your organization:

POLITICAL LEADERSHIP CHANGES

Regardless of the political party that you or your team may side with, a level of uncertainty comes with a new direction of local, state, and national governmental leadership. Groups such as nonprofits can be impacted by these changes due to the difficulty in being able to adequately conduct any long-term planning for their organization.

The best way to face this challenge is to sketch out annual objectives and goals for the upcoming year while also including backup plans that will allow you and your group to have another option to fall back on in case you have to derive from your original plan.

ADEQUATE FUNDING

Along with new technology comes new ways that donors can give donations. A way to increase donations for your organization is by having an online portal that accepts donations. By accepting financial donations online, donors will feel that they can give in a more convenient way through their tablet or mobile devices. Also invent in a Square Chip Card Reader, a device which will allow your organization to receive payments through your mobile device or iPad.

LACK OF VOLUNTEERS

In order to reach the goal that your non-profit organization has set, a few extra helping hands may be needed. An easy way to gain these helpers is by reaching out to college clubs and organizations to receive some young, vibrant volunteers. Many college students are interested in lending a helping hand and gaining some community service at the same time. Also, a good bit of college organizations have a community service initiative that they strive to complete each semester. When it comes to community service, “the more, the merrier” is sometimes best.  

It is also important to keep record of any individual or group that volunteers with you, as most will need a signature or some form of verification from a designated leader within your organization validating the time they volunteered.

RETAINING/ENGAGING DONORS

Without donors, nonprofits cannot survive. The organization-to-supporter relationship is very important. Today’s donors do not want to think that all you want from them is their money. Rather than asking for money right away, find ways to engage conversations with supporters and give them an opportunity to get to know your organization and build an emotional attachment to your work and mission. These are some good ways to keep donors invested:

• Keep them engaged and let them know that they are an integral part to the organization.
• Let donors know where their money is going and what it is supporting. Give monthly or quarterly updates via email or newsletter.

INNOVATIVE & EFFECTIVE COMMUNICATION

Many aspects of today’s communication are focused on digital outlets like social media, text messaging, and mobile app usage. Although the ways of communication have changed, that doesn’t mean that your donors have adapted or changed their preferred type of communication.

Due to this dilemma, organization leaders are having to find new ways to communicate their needs and announcements to various demographics. The best way to tackle this issue is by sending one message but taking an omni-channel approach.

Messages sent through social media would use a more “trendy” approach with non-extensive writing vs. a professional email or phone call that would be more conversational. It is also suggested and very important to survey the key constituents of your organization to see which method they prefer.

FINAL STEPS

By facing these challenges and turning them into opportunities, your organization can have an awesome year of philanthropy and service! As a nonprofit organization, it is crucial that you maintain your tax-exempt status with the IRS. ExpressTaxExempt, the #1 IRS-authorized tax e-filing solution for tax-exempt organizations, allows you to do just that. Providing security, ease, and peace of mind to organizations and its leaders, we respect the services that nonprofit organizations give to communities and are motivated to help with e-filing so you can get back to proudly making a difference in your community. With newly reduced rates, organizations can now save funds annually when e-filing. Pay us a visit at www.expresstaxexempt.com today and begin your e-filing process.

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Unique Ways to Fundraise for Your Nonprofit

Any leader of a nonprofit organization will tell you that receiving adequate funding for their organization can be somewhat of a challenge. Although charitable nonprofits usually rely on the generosity of donors to support their annual efforts, fundraising initiatives are sometimes necessary to assist with supporting the financial needs of the organization. We’ve provided some fundraising techniques that your organization can utilize for years to come!

FUNDRAISING TECHNIQUES

Collaborate with other Organizations

Reach out to other organizations in your area to host events and support each other’s endeavors.

Supporting each other can assist with finances by cutting the cost in half as well as unique ideas, planning, and execution and follow through.

Have Fun Activities Become Fundraisers

Find out what your community enjoys doing during their free time and turn it into an enjoyable fundraiser. People don’t mind giving or setting aside a few dollars to do what they enjoy.  Let’s take a Talent Show/Competition for example -- the cost of hosting a local talent show can be very inexpensive and if you have a few members of your organization that like to bake, you could sell light refreshments during the intermission of the event to make an extra few dollars. Other events such as a cook-off, charity tournament, scholarship banquet, or even the latest current trend, an escape room puzzle event.

Be Involved in Your Community

Giving back to your community is always beneficial in more ways than one. It pays to educate the community about what your organization does. By making donors aware of your community service initiatives, many will feel comfortable supporting your various endeavors and fundraising efforts. People tend to not give to groups that they know nothing about. The more exposure your organization receives, the better.

Crowdfunding

This is considered to be peer-to-peer fundraising by way of members asking their friends, family members, and coworkers for donations prior to an event and then having them participate in the event.

This type of fundraising is ideal for a marathon, walkathon, pageant, etc., and is a great way to directly involve donors.

FUNDRAISERS

When conducting planning for your organization annually, it can be a challenge to find different ways to raise money. Here are some various fundraising ideas that can be done:

FUNDRAISERS	FUNDRAISING EVENTS
50/50 Raffle or Basket Raffle Bingo	Silent Auction
Sip and Paint	Talent Show / Lip Sync Competition
Recipe Books	Battle of the Bands
T-Shirt Sales	Comedy Night / Karaoke Night
Polar Plunge	Gala
Engraved Bricks	Marathon / Walkathon
Wrapping Paper Sale (Holiday Seasons)	Rainbow Tea
Car Wash	Classic Car Show
Baby Photo Contest	Cooking Class
Penny Drive	Trivia Night
Appreciation Grams	Dinner Theatre
Pie Throwing Contest or Dunk Tank	Date Auction

For more neat fundraising ideas, click here.

Be sure to save those receipts when planning a fundraising event and know that ExpressTaxExempt is always here to be a consistent resource to you and your organization for all things tax exempt! Visit our website for any tax forms that your tax-exempt organization may need throughout this year and save even more when you e-file with our recently reduced filing rates! We’re available to assist you via phone at 704.839.2321 on Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST or reach out to us 24/7 via email at support@ExpressTaxExempt.com.

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Top Membership Recruitment Tips for Your Nonprofit

Summer is quickly passing us by which means that summer vacations are coming to an end, schools are back in session, and organizations across the country are gearing up to continue reaching their annual goals. Some of these organizations will open their doors for membership intake within the next few weeks and may find that it will be somewhat challenging to not only find, but retain new members. ExpressTaxExempt is here to support your organization by providing some beneficial recruitment strategies and tips that can help your organization as it continues to grow. 

Know and Understand Your Organization

Leaders should have a clear understand of the organization’s goals, objectives, mission, and purpose prior to recruiting others to join. Have leaders in your group come up with an “elevator speech” (clear, brief message/commercial about the organization) that can be shared with those interested in joining your organization. These speeches can be shared first in a role playing activity during a monthly leadership meeting. 

Develop a Target Audience

If your organization is looking for specific types of individuals to carry out the work of the group, market and cater your recruitment efforts to the type of people that you need. For example, if you are recruiting for a college campus ministry, gear your recruitment efforts towards millennials with innovative and intriguing materials that incorporate scriptures or inspirational quotes. 

Set Realistic Membership Goals

Once you can identify who your target audience will be, then determine a realistic number of new members that you would like to have join your organization. 

How many new members can your organization reasonably assimilate into the group? Knowing the answer to this question will greatly impact the outcome of your recruitment efforts. 

Creative Marketing & Advertising

When marketing and/or advertising for your organization, be sure to use creative and strong visual elements. These visual elements will attract the attention of potential members. Utilize the talents of those within your organization and have those members with artistic talents design your flyers, posters, promotional videos, and marketing materials. Be strategic with your marketing. Do a social media blast and have the members of your organization repost a flyer or promotion at a specific time & date. Post printed flyers in “high traffic” areas where people seem to walk by or gather to fellowship which will increase the overall reach of your marketing. 

Be Authentic

When seeking others to become a part of your group it is important to be genuine. Prospective members can easily tell if your efforts are to simply just increase the size of your membership roster. Be real and let them be real. Also, remember that personal contact is always better than tons of flyers and advertisements. People tend to join an organization because of the people they will be associated with. Take time to get to know your new members. 

Ask for Input

Members of organizations want to feel a part and know that their presence in your group is valued and that they are appreciated. Throughout the year, have conversations and open discussions with members to let them voice their opinions and provide ideas as to how to make the organization become even stronger and more effective. 

By implementing these strategies into your annual recruiting efforts, you will be able to see a positive enhancement to your organization. As always, ExpressTaxExempt is here to help you in any way that we can. Be sure to e-file your Form 990 series tax forms with us each year to maintain your tax exempt status and remain in good standing with the IRS. Feel free to contact our support team of e-file experts at 704.839.2321 for any questions or help with your e-filing experience. We’re here to assist you Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST or feel free to reach us 24/7 via email at support@ExpressTaxExempt.com. 

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10 Do's and Don'ts to Maintain Your Tax Exempt Status

Organizations worldwide have applied and received 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS for years. Groups such as private foundations along with churches, hospitals, educational institutions and charities are exempt from federal income tax under the Internal Revenue Code. Maintaining this status can be just as easy as it is to lose it. 

Each year, over 100 501(c)(3) organizations have their tax-exempt status revoked. The most common cause of revocation is due to organizations that do not file their annual information return with the IRS for three consecutive years. These organizations find themselves in distress after being revoked and find out that it can be quite the hassle to bounce back from. 

An automatically revoked organization loses the eligibility to receive tax-deductible contributions as well being removed from a list of tax-exempt organizations that most donors reference prior to giving. Eliminate the worry and concern of ever having to be revoked or losing your tax-exempt status by following these “do’s and don’ts” to ensure you stay on the right track: 

"DO'S AND DON'TS"

DO’s: 

• 1. File annual information returns with the IRS (Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, 990-PF and Form 1120-POL). 
• 2. Withhold and Pay Payroll Taxes
• 3. Keep Records
• -Financial Records (Money coming in and out, employment tax records & asset records)
• -Permanent Records
• -Minutes from Board Meetings
• -Copy of previous returns and attachments sent to the IRS from the the last three previous years. 
• 4. Give donors that make a donation of $250 or more a written acknowledgement. If your group is soliciting contributions from individuals, you should provide a written receipt and register and file them in your annual reports with the states. 

• 5. Serve the public - services and activities of a 501(c)(3) organization should be directed toward an exempt purpose and the overall betterment of the public. 

DONT’S: 

• 1. Fail to file for 3 consecutive years
• 2. Engage in Substantial Lobbying
• 3. Participate in political campaign activity
• -This includes campaign contributions, endorsements and public statements regarding candidates. 
• 4.Serve private interests
• -501(c)(3) organization activities should be directed toward an exempt purpose. 
• 5. Unrelated Business Income
• -Too much income received from activities not related to the purpose of the organization can become a threat for tax-exempt status to be removed.

By following these “do’s and don’ts” your organization can remain intact and effective. Losing tax-exempt status as a non-profit can strongly affect your organization in a negative way. If your organization does in fact get revoked at some point, there is still the opportunity available for you to be reinstated by the IRS. Although the law prohibits the IRS from undoing a proper automatic revocation, organizations can apply to have their exempt status reinstated. Reinstatement can happen four ways: 10 Streamlined retroactive reinstatement 2) Retroactive reinstatement process (within 15 months), 3) Retroactive reinstatement (after 15 months) and 4) Post-mark date reinstatement. 

Be sure to file those annual returns and stay in good standing with the IRS by quickly and securely e-filing with ExpressTaxExempt. As the number one authorized IRS tax e-file provider, ExpressTaxExempt offers simplified and easy-to-use versions of Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, 990-N, and its newest form specifically designed for political organization returns, Form 1120-POL. So take a few minutes and file today to keep those taxes away! 

As always, feel free to contact our support team of e-file experts at 704.839.2321 for any questions or help with your e-filing experience. We’re here to assist you Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST or feel free to reach us 24/7 via email at support@ExpressTaxExempt.com.

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Are Nonprofit & Tax Exempt Organizations the Same Thing?

There’s an old proverb you may have heard before—”Nonprofits are tax exempt organizations, but not all tax-exempt organizations are nonprofits.”

Okay, maybe it’s not a proverb—but you get what I’m saying. Sometimes, we use these phrases interchangeably, but there are significant differences that justify their separate designation.

Nonprofit Designation

The labeling of your organization as a nonprofit or for-profit is a perception of state law.

As the law states, for-profit organizations generate revenue specifically for the benefit of their owners and investors.

If you’re recognized as a nonprofit, you are stating that your organization has some other purpose besides creating revenue for owners and investors. But that purpose alone doesn’t necessarily qualify for an exemption from taxes.

Tax Exempt Designation

Like we said earlier, just because you call your organization a nonprofit doesn’t mean it’s automatically recognized as “tax exempt.” You actually need to apply to the IRS for a determination of a tax exempt status.

A 501(c)(3) organization is the most common type of tax exempt organization you will come across.

To become a 501(c)(3) organization, you have to file Form 1023, the Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3), with the IRS.

You may also be required to submit an application with your state to be exempt from state income tax and other state taxes.

But as it goes, nonprofit and tax exempt organizations CAN still earn money. If they earn funds that aren’t needed to fulfill a current expense, they can be put towards furthering your organization’s mission (or they can be saved for future activities).

Whether you’re a tax exempt organization or a nonprofit specifically, there’s something for you at ExpressTaxExempt. If you have any questions about your tax exempt or nonprofit organization-filing Form 990, call us at 704.839.2321.

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Nonprofit Showcase: Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency

"Give me your tired, your poor, your huddled masses yearning to breathe free,” are words we all recognize, scrawled across the Statue of Liberty at Ellis Island.

This search for freedom is something we consider inherently American, and one of the main reasons refugees seek the security of our nation.

As a reaction, resettlement agencies work to help those in need find their way to the land of the free.

One of these being the Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency (CRRA), a 501(c)(3) organization that works as a part of the United States’ Refugee Resettlement Program.

The Mission

The CRRA believes that all refugees and asylum seekers deserve a chance to create successful, new lives in the USA.

Their mission is to welcome new arrivals and make them contributing and successful members of American society by:

• “Providing resettlement services to refugees and asylees who are escaping violence, persecution, and repression, without regard to their race, religion, nationality, ethnicity, political opinion, or membership in a particular social group.
• Connecting refugees and asylees to other service agencies in the Charlotte area.”

History

Started in 1996, the CRRA is an affiliate of the Hebrew Immigrant Aid Society (HIAS). Together, they’ve settled more than 3,000 refugees from 40 countries into the Charlotte metro area.

Recently, CRRA has resettled over 300 people from Bhutan, Burma, Iraq, and Somalia.

The goal of CRRA is to embrace Charlotte bound refugees, easing their transition from their troubled past to life in America.

No matter what nationality or religion, CRRA is here to help!

How They Help

Before a refugee sets foot in Charlotte, CRRA will furnish an apartment and stock it with food so that they have a safe place to call home.

After new arrivals reach Charlotte, CRRA picks them up from the airport and brings them to their new living space.

New arrivals receive help with tasks like obtaining social security cards, registering their children for school, and attending classes for English as a Second Language. The employment counselors will also match people with jobs they qualify for, so that they can provide for their family.

With additional grants and donations, CRRA is able to provide even more for clients as they settle into their new lives.

No matter what your nonprofit organization does, ExpressTaxExempt will always be here for your Form 990 filing needs. If you’re on a calendar year, your deadline is May 16th, 2016!

We’re thankful for the work Carolina Refugee Resettlement Agency does to help new Americans seeking safety!

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Nonprofit Showcase: Carolina Poodle Rescue

In the world of nonprofits, we find ourselves drawn to many causes. For a select few in the Carolinas, they have felt the call to help rescue poodles and other small dogs that have no home, have been abused, and those that simply need some extra care.

At the Carolina Poodle Rescue, you find a passionate network of volunteers who dedicated their time to transport, sponsor, support, and adopt poodles into loving homes.

Carolina Poodle Rescue’s Mission

• To rescue, rehabilitate, offer permanent sanctuary and, when appropriate, rehome needy poodles and small dogs.
• To encourage the human-animal bond by promoting activities that serve to bring animals and their people closer together.
• To support the efforts of those in the animal rescue community seeking to end euthanasia as a means of population control.

As a no-kill, limited-entry private rescue group, Carolina Poodle Rescue believes and supports the No More Homeless Pets and spay/neuter initiatives. As a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit, they are supported by that passionate volunteer network we mentioned earlier.

Before being placed, any animals adopted from Carolina Poodle Rescue are spayed or neutered. When CPR receives an application, they interview the candidates, tour their home, check references, and make sure that it’s a safe bet for one of their dogs.

With a detailed waiting list of homes and families, Carolina Poodle Rescue is able to rehome a large number of pets throughout the year.

The efforts of Carolina Poodle Rescue are are funded solely through adoption fees and donations, which is wild when you think they go through about 2,000 lbs of dry dog food in any given month!

Carolina Poodle Rescue truly believes in its mission, and even supports a number of unhoused rescues that can’t find a home due to age, health, or medical needs.

This blogger even knows of one poodle who was successfully rehoused from CPR. He’s about 15 lbs and hasn’t left my lap since arriving in our house this summer. My family was pleased with the fact that CPR took the time to match a dog to our lifestyle and needs. Thanks, Carolina Poodle Rescue!

Wally the Poodle - Adopted from Carolina Poodle Rescue

Whether your organization rescues dogs, cats, goats, or horses, you can find the right tax exempt return at ExpressTaxExempt. If you run into any questions filing your organization’s 990 series return, reach out to our support experts at Support@ExpressTaxExempt.com or 704.839.2321.

Looking for a new dog? I suggest filling out an application at Carolina Poodle Rescue!

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How to Start a Nonprofit: The Road to 501(C)(3)

It’s human nature to want to help your fellow man. And maybe you’ve been fostering an idea of how you can help, but don’t know what to do. There are a few ways to approach this. One way is to jump right in and do it, without much of a plan. Your other option is to treat the whole process like you’re starting a business.

So take your idea for a nonprofit or tax exempt organization, and ask yourself—what are my next steps? What is my plan?

Ask Yourself, Is This Necessary?

Your first step is to explore the necessity for your nonprofit. Is this organization idea unique enough to have legs? Are there existing organizations that already cover this need? Do people really need this charitable service? How are needs being overlooked? Would this be better as a business instead of a nonprofit? Once you’ve covered your bases, you can move forward.

Next, you want to create the logistics of your nonprofit. This includes a mission statement, a business plan, and your governing board. These will help you communicate your organization's mission, plan the details of this venture, and create the basic roles within your team. Structuring your organization will give your nonprofit credibility, limit liability, and create organized documentation and policies which will make your IRS filing easier.

Apply for Nonprofit Status With Form 1023

Next, you need to file Form 1023 to get 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.

There are a few key requirements for an organization to be exempt from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3):

• First, the nonprofit organization must be organized as a corporation, trust, or an unincorporated association, with its organization document defining the organization's purpose(s), and the organization must also permanently dedicate its assets to exempt purposes.
• It must also be operated to further one or more of the exempt purposes stated in its organization document.

Organizations that are eligible to file Form 1023 for recognition of exemption under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code range from churches to schools and even hospitals.

After that, you simply need to keep organized, perform your charitable duties, and stay compliant!

Staying Compliant With Form 990

How do you stay compliant? Well, ExpressTaxExempt is the simplest solution for e-filing Form 990, Form 990-EZ, and Form 990-N (the e-Postcard). With our bulk uploading feature, multi-user accessibility, and the ability to share your return for review, we have the most bang for your nonprofit’s buck.

How do you e-file your Form 990? Watch this!




If you run into any problems e-filing your 990 series return, our friendly customer support team is ready to answer your questions! You can reach them by phone at 704.839.2321, or by live chat on our site.

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