ExpressTaxExempt & GuideStar Join Forces to Benefit Nonprofits

Author John C. Maxwell once said that “teamwork makes the dream work.” ExpressTaxExempt can attest to this with the launch of our newest exclusive feature, Express990. 

It is with great excitement that ExpressTaxExempt launches Express990, in collaboration with GuideStar, to benefit thousands of nonprofit organizations. Nonprofits will now be able to seamlessly export their completed IRS Form 990, 990-EZ, and 990-PF returns directly to GuideStar with this new integration.

As the world’s largest source of nonprofit information, GuideStar collects pertinent information, including annual IRS filings, and distributes it through its website and more than 200 partner sites and applications. 

The collaboration between GuideStar and ExpressTaxExempt, the #1 e-file provider for thousands of nonprofit organizations, nonprofits now have the ability to send their tax returns directly to GuideStar as part of the e-filing process. 

Furthermore, this partnership will reduce the amount of time it takes GuideStar to obtain this information and makes it available to the public which will also greatly improve upon the professional impression a nonprofit makes in terms of trust and transparency. 

Donors and potential supporters will have almost immediate access to up-to-date information for the nonprofits that select this option. Normally, it takes months before GuideStar obtains 990s from the IRS because the IRS must process them first. Express990 eliminates this delay; each return is transmitted to GuideStar as soon as it is accepted by the IRS.  

Express990 sends GuideStar exactly the same data that was submitted to the IRS under penalty of perjury. This valuable information can be utilized when determining grant approvals, contributions, and more. Information regarding each organization's mission, income, expenses, finances, and leadership will be completely transparent. This transparency can greatly increase a nonprofit’s chances of donor recognition and receive funding in a more timely manner. 

Nonprofits will also have access to several exclusive ExpressTaxExempt features, including management of reviewers, approvers, and additional users, along with internal audit checks, multi-organizational filing, and multi-tax period support. Tax returns filed with ExpressTaxExempt are transmitted directly to the IRS and can be accepted within hours. Users also receive real-time email notifications with tax return updates. Best of all, ExpressTaxExempt offers a 100 percent, US-based customer support team for any and all inquiries an organization may have in regard to its e-filing.

The collaboration between ExpressTaxExempt and GuideStar, along with the launch of Express990, is a “win-win” situation for nonprofit organizations across the country. Nonprofits will be joining a platform of 1.8 million IRS-recognized nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations on the GuideStar website. Potential donors and funders will be able to quickly obtain the information that they need to evaluate your nonprofit. A process that would usually take months, can now be completed within a few days. 

We're Here To Help

As always, our aim at ExpressTaxExempt is to be of assistance to tax-exempt organizations as we dedicate our services to providing the best and most efficient e-filing experience. Make the best choice for your nonprofit and experience the great benefits of Express990 by visiting our website today at www.expresstaxexempt.com. 

For any assistance or questions about e-filing our available 990 forms, you can contact our live professionals by phone at 704-839-2321, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m., EST), by email (support@expresstaxexempt.com), or by live chat (www.expresstaxexempt.com).

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Key Employees and Independent Contractors in Tax-Exempt Organizations

When filing IRS Form 990 or Form 990-EZ, tax-exempt groups usually have to report compensation of officers, directors, trustees, key employees, highest compensated employees, and independent contractors in Part VII of the tax return.

This section of the 990 form may come across as a bit tricky because each exempt organization can have different variables regarding members and employees such as no compensation, members with multiple roles, small payment thresholds, or even no significant key employees.

However, the IRS requires some information about the people working within your organization. Here are a few pointers to use:

Highest Paid Officers & Key Employees
Regardless of whether your current officers, directors, or trustees receive compensation or not, you’re going to need to list them. You’re also required to list any current key employees that made at least $150,000 during the year and the current top five highest paid employees making over $100,000.

Important: Your highest compensated employees are those within your organization who do not hold any officer or key employee titles like Treasurer, Secretary, or Director.

In some cases, you may have to list former members if they were active during the filing year, but left before the year was complete. List former officers, key employees, or highly paid employees who made at least $100,000. You can report former directors and trustees that were making over $10,000.

Independent Contractors
If your organization contracted any outside workers, the IRS requires that you report independent contractors that received at least $100,000 in compensation for services. The amounts must be the gross payments which can include expenses and fees - even if you don't separately report the spending costs to your organization.

IRS Information Forms: W2 Online Filing and 1099 Online Filing is simple now with streamlined features from our sister site, ExpressIRSForms.com. You transmit information returns for your employees or contractors directly to the IRS quickly than paper filing. Select our Postal Mailing option to have copies automatically sent to your recipients.

Volunteers
With e-filing 990 forms, you only need to report the total number of volunteers - there’s no need for individual names or details. Under particular circumstances, you don’t have to report any compensation paid to volunteer officers, directors, or trustees - speak with a tax professional for more details.

List your organization’s employees quickly and easily with ExpressTaxExempt.com. If you have any questions about entering key members or contractors, call our U.S. - based support team at 704.839.2321, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST or email us anytime with support@ExpressTaxExempt.com.

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