Exempt Organizations Need To File IRS 990 With ExpressTaxExempt

We think it’s pretty safe to say that there’s no place like home.

If you filed IRS Form 990 within the past year, you became familiar with our sister product TaxBandits, which helps exempt organizations tackle the world of compliance beyond IRS 990 forms.

After much consideration and feedback from awesome clients like yourself, we have decided to relaunch ExpressTaxExempt as the reigning hub for “all things 990!”

No need to worry–if you enjoyed all of the bells and whistles of TaxBandits, you can still e-file your nonprofit tax reports in the same place as you can your W-2, 1099, and even your quarterly Form 941.

Our mission at ExpressTaxExempt will always be to keep your organization compliant and exempt from taxes with simplified e-filing.

Instead of navigating through several websites for the tax-exempt forms you need, we’ve consolidated all our resources under one name and brand. Our service is dedicated to providing the best and most efficient e-filing experience for tax-exempt organizations, no matter how big or small.

Your account information will remain the same for both ExpressTaxExempt and TaxBandits, so there’s no need to worry about creating a new account and remember yet another complicated password.

Best of all, we now offer special bundled pricing which allows you to save 5% when you bundle your Form 990 filing with your 8868 Extension Form. Check out the new pricing, here.

Now that ExpressTaxExempt is back up and running like never before, come on back home and visit our website to get an early start on your IRS Form 990.

Welcome Home!

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Everything You Need To Meet the June 15th Deadline 🙌🏾

This is a guest post from TaxBandits, an Authorized IRS e-file solution designed to handle the needs of tax-exempt organizations and small businesses.

Can you believe it has almost been a month since the big nonprofit tax return Form 990 deadline on May 15! This was the nonprofit tax return deadline for those nonprofits who operate on a typical calendar tax year.  However, if your organization operates on a fiscal tax year starting in February your IRS Form 990 is due June 15th! Hint hint; nudge nudge; that is THIS Friday. 😧  

So to help those of you still needing to file, we wanted to share everything you need to meet the June 15th deadline. 

Everything You Need To Meet The June 15th Deadline 

What is Form 990?

IRS Form 990 is the annual financial and informational return filed by all tax-exempt nonprofit and charitable organizations. Your organization's type and financial situation will decide which nonprofit tax return Form 990 you will file.

There are four types of 990 Forms in the Form 990 Series. Select and e-file the appropriate nonprofit tax return Form 990 based on the following requirements:

Form 990-N (e-Postcard) - For organizations reporting gross receipts less than $50,000

Form 990-EZ (Short Form) - For organizations reporting gross receipts less than $200,000 and total assets less than $500,000

Form 990 (Long Form) - For organizations reporting gross receipts equal to or greater than $200,000 and total assets equal to or greater than $500,000

Form 990-PF - For organizations identifying as an exempt private foundation, taxable private foundation, or a nonexempt charitable trust treated as a private foundation.

Preparing For The June 15 Deadline

Have Necessary Documents on Hand

Before filing your organization’s 990 Form, make sure you have located and organized all your required information. Trust me, being organized will make this process so much easier and less time-consuming.

Depending on which Form 990 you are required to file, you may have to report various details such as revenue and expense amounts, program services, a list of employees, financial statements, governance and more.

Know What Information You Need

Well since we’re on the topic of required information let’s go ahead to get to it. Here’s what you will need when you file your 990 Form with TaxBandits:

Information Needed To File Form 990-N
Employer Identification Number Legal Name Fiscal year period	Principal Officer Current Address Gross Receipts under $50,000

Information Needed To File Form 990/990-EZ/990-PF
EIN Legal Name Fiscal year period Current Address Contact number Exemption type List of Officers and Key Employees Prior year return Contributions for the past 5 years Other Revenue details Expenses Investment Income details Numbers of Employees, Contractors & Volunteers	Organization’s Mission Accomplishments for the year (Grants Paid, Projects finished, etc.) Donor Advised Fund Information Endowment Funds Information Assets (Art, Historical treasures, etc.) Policies Details of Activities (Political, lobbying, foreign transactions, etc.) Related organizations

The Comprehensive Guide To Filing Form 990

Now that you know how to prepare your IRS Form 990 you can easily file with the help of TaxBandits. We support your organization by providing a simplified, interview style filing process, automatic schedules and worksheets, retransmit rejected returns for free, support prior year filing and more!

Be sure to check out The Comprehensive Guide To Filing A 990 Tax Form For Your Nonprofit; a great resource which gives you everything you need to know about IRS Form 990 and how to file it!

File IRS Form 990 Online

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How To E-file Your Form 990 On The Go

Nonprofit and tax-exempt organizations worldwide are required to file an annual information return each year to report the financial status and actions of the organization to the IRS. E-filing a 990 Form on your own can be difficult and time consuming if you’re paper filing, but luckily for you, ExpressTaxExempt makes the process as easy as possible.

ExpressTaxExempt offers an easy and secure way to transmit 990 forms quicker than ever. And here’s the fun part, you can get your filing done within minutes, especially Form 990-N, without being near a desk or computer!

Organizations with a fiscal tax year that ended on November 30, 2017 are required to file a 990 Form by April 17th.

Here are two ways you can e-file your Form 990 from your smartphone by the upcoming April 17th deadline: 

Form 990-N Mobile App

Did your organization have less than $50,000 in gross receipts for the 2017 tax year? The FREE ExpressTaxExempt - Form 990-N app allows small tax-exempt organizations to e-file their 990-N (e-Postcard) Form directly from an iOS or Android mobile device.

The entire filing process can be completed anywhere at any time; the only information needed is basic organization details, tax year period, and confirmation of total revenue less than $50,000.

Prior to transmitting to the IRS, your e-Postcard is automatically checked to ensure each question was answered correctly. Once the IRS approves your filing, you will receive a confirmation directly to your email. If your return is rejected for any reason, the 990-N mobile app will inform you of what information needs to be corrected and allows you to resend your form without any extra cost.

Form 8868 Mobile App

If your nonprofit or charity has gross receipts over $50,000, and you need extra time to file your 2017 Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF, you can download the FREE ExpressTaxExempt - Form 8868 and conveniently file a tax extension using your iOS or Android handset.

E-filing only takes minutes to complete, and all you need is your organization’s basic details, tax year period, and select the annual tax return you typically file with the IRS. You can also enter any estimated tax liabilities if necessary. Your tax-exempt extension form gets checked for any mistakes before transmitting, and you’ll receive a PDF copy of the extension after sending it.

Let ExpressTaxExempt Help You Meet The April 17th Deadline

Forget about missing the April 17th Tax Day deadline when you file with ExpressTaxExempt. 

Whether it’s transmitting your form to IRS by the deadline or quickly applying for a tax extension, ExpressTaxExempt has you covered! 

You Help Others, Let Us Help You!

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Form 990 December Deadline is Approaching Quickly

Snowflakes are falling, Christmas gift shopping is at an all time high, and holiday parties make the weekends even more enjoyable. It really is beginning to look a lot like Christmas! 

While you’re embracing the many facets of the Holidays, don’t forget about the upcoming Form 990 Series filing deadline on this Friday, December 15. We’d hate for your Christmas to be ruined by costly penalties from the IRS. 

Tax exempt organizations that operate on a fiscal tax year of August 1 to July 31 are required to file one of the following tax returns of the Form 990 Series by December 15th: 

Form 990 - filed by organizations with gross receipts more than or equal to $200,000 or total assets equal to or greater than $500,000.

Form 990-EZ - the Short Form Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax and is filed by organizations with gross receipts less than $200,000 and $500,000 in total assets.

Form 990-N - for organizations with gross receipts that are less than or equal to $50,000. This form can only be filed electronically.

Form 990-PF - filed by Exempt & Taxable Private Foundations as well as Non-Exempt Charitable Trusts which the IRS treat as private foundations.

For more information on what details you will need in order to e-file, click here.

Filing Form 990

Handling tax filings, whether personal or business, can be intimidating and stressful; but not with ExpressTaxExempt. ExpressTaxExempt eliminates the worry about missing your Form 990 filing deadline! With our simple, interview style e-filing process, you can complete your form and instantly transmit it directly to the IRS.

We offer easy e-filing for Form 990 Series returns (Form 990, Form 990-N (e-Postcard), Form 990-EZ, and Form 990-PF) so you can quickly file the correct 990 Form for your organization.

Simply follow the quick step-by-step guide to create your free account, enter basic information about your organization, complete the form interview, review your information and audit report, pay for your form, and transmit it directly to the IRS. The entire process is completed in 5 simple steps!

Let Us Help You File

If you have any questions, 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 available Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. EST, and even offer extended customer support hours tonight for the November 15 deadline. You can also reach us 24/7 via email with support@ExpressTaxExempt.com. 

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Is My 990 Information Return Due on September 15th?

Does your organization operate on a fiscal tax year instead of a calendar tax year? Are you unsure of what the difference is between the two? Well let’s find out right now!

If your organization operates from January 1 to December 31 it is considered to have a calendar tax year with a standard tax filing deadline each year. Organizations that function for 12 consecutive months but end on any month besides December are operated as a fiscal tax year. 

Tax exempt organizations that operate on a fiscal tax year and function from May 1 to April 30 have a tax filing deadline this Friday, September 15th to file their 990 Information Returns. 

Form 990 is considered to be the Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax form which many tax exempt organizations such as religious groups, educational groups, charities, and other nonprofit groups are required to file each year to provide the public with financial information about their organization. 

Forms included in the Form 990 Series are Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, and 990-N. Form 1120-POL, the newest ExpressTaxExempt tax form, is specifically designed for political organization tax filing. The appropriate form that your organization should file will be dependent upon the amount of gross receipts that it accumulates throughout its accounting period (tax year). 

To find out which tax form your organization should e-file, click here.

Is your nonprofit's tax return due tomorrow (September 15)?

 

GIF via GIPHY

No need to worry or stress out! Our user-friendly tax filing software makes your e-filing experience very simple and easy to complete. Simply go to ExpressTaxExempt to begin filing or if you need some extra time to gather all of your information, quickly file a Form 8868 for a Form 990 Extension to avoid penalties and receive an additional 6 months of filing time for your tax exempt organization. 

Operating your nonprofit organization without tax-exempt status can be extremely challenging and quite difficult. Eliminate the worry and concern of losing your tax status or even regain tax-exempt status by filing your Form 990 series returns with us at ExpressTaxExempt. With affordable pricing and a safe, secure and easy-to-use e-filing system, organizations can quickly and accurately file their forms directly to the IRS. Need help during the filing process? No worries. We’re always here to help! Feel free to contact our support team of e-file experts at 704.839.2321 for any questions or help with the 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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Filing for the Wrong Tax Year: What Should You Do Next?

If you ever want to see someone raise their eyebrow or look stunned when checking their mailbox, let them receive a letter from the IRS. Although millions of letters and notices are mailed to taxpayers each year, there is still that worry and concern that immediately comes over you when you first see that sealed envelope from the IRS with your name on it. Fortunately, all letters from the IRS are not negative and many may be very easy to resolve.

Organizations that file a 990 Series or 1120-POL tax form must file each year by the due date that correlates with the selected form. If not, the IRS will contact you by mail, informing you that you have missed your filing deadline. When receiving letters like this, the first thing you need to do is BREATHE! There’s no need to panic. Read the letter thoroughly and follow the instructions that the IRS has listed in the correspondence. Any notice sent from the IRS usually covers a specific issue about your tax return or account, so be sure to handle that issue as soon as possible.

From various conversations with many of our awesome ExpressTaxExempt customers, we have noticed that we receive quite a bit of calls yearly inquiring about a letter received from the IRS stating that their organization did not file for a previous tax year ending on a specific date. For example, you may receive a letter stating that “XYZ Organization failed to file its 990-N return for the tax year ending on June 30, 2016…” Initially, the solution to this dilemma would be to e-file online within minutes at www.expresstaxexempt.com; but what tax year should you technically be filing for?

A “tax year” is an annual accounting period for keeping records and reporting income and expenses. There are two types of tax years that you can follow, those being a Calendar Year (12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending December 31) or a Fiscal Year (12 consecutive months ending the last day of any month except December).

So if you receive a letter that’s referring to a tax year ending in 2016, that means you need to submit a return for the 2015 tax year (which ended in 2016).

EXAMPLE: Tax Year of June 1, 2016 to July 31, 2017 | File for 2016 Tax Year

      Tax Year of February 1, 2015 to January 31, 2016 | File for 2015 Tax Year

        Tax Year of March 1, 2014 to February 28, 2015 | File for 2014 Tax Year

As expected, it is very important for Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N users to file the appropriate returns yearly. Although there is no penalty assessment for Filing Form 990-N late, all organizations that fail to file the required 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N forms for three consecutive years will automatically be revoked and lose their tax-exempt status, which can be detrimental to the long-term success of an organization. Avoid finding yourself in this predicament by quickly, safely, and easily e-filing your form with ExpressTaxExempt. Our newly reduced filing rates will help your organization save funds as well. So feel free to contact us 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 if you have any questions about the e-filing process.

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Don't Miss Your Filing Deadline: Keep Your Tax-Exempt Status

Form 990-N e-filers and nonprofit organization leaders, don't miss an important upcoming deadline for tax exempt organizations. Organizations that operate on a fiscal tax year may need to file their return by Monday in order to keep their current tax exempt status. 

Form 990-N is due every year by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of your tax year. For those that have a fiscal year that ended in February or March, your filing deadline is right around the corner: 

-February 28/29 (Fiscal Tax Year End Date) -- Due on Monday, July 17 (July 15 falls on a weekend) 

-March 31 (Fiscal Tax Year End Date) -- Due on Tuesday, August 15

-Click Here to file your organization's Form 990-N (e-Postcard) 

Filing Form 990-N (e-Postcard) is extremely easy and can be completed in three simple steps with ExpressTaxExempt:  

1. -Search Organization's EIN
• Enter your Employer Identification Number (EIN) to view filing history and e-file your Form 990-N to the IRS. 
2. -Select Filing Year
• Choose the available tax year from your filing history list to e-file and create an account to review your filing details. You can also update any of your organization information if necessary. 
3. -Review & Transmit to the IRS
• Complete payment information and transmit your e-Postcard to the IRS instantly. You can review your payment receipt or summary of your e-Postcard once you transmit your return. 

Although there is no penalty for filing Form 990-N late, organizations that fail to file for three consecutive years will automatically lose their tax-exempt status. If things are hectic for you right now, no need to worry. You can simply file an extension with ExpressExtension and receive an extra 6 months to file. 

Take advantage of our useful Fiscal Tax Year Filing Calendar chart below to find out when your Form 990-N is due: 

Tax Year Begin Date	Tax Year End Date	Form 990 Deadline
January 1	December 31	May 15
February 1	January 31	June 15
March 1	February 28/29	July 15
April 1	March 31	August 15
May 1	April 30	September 15
June 1	May 31	October 15
July 1	June 30	November 15
August 1	July 31	December 15
September 1	August 31	January 15
October 1	September 30	February 15
November 1	October 31	March 15
December 1	November 30	April 15

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.

Check-out some of our most recent blogs:

New Leadership? No Problem: Organizational Leadership Transition Tips

Give Now, Receive Later: Don't & Get Money Back

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Upcoming Form 990-N Deadline: Be Sure to File by July 15

An important deadline is approaching for tax exempt organizations and Form 990-N e-filers! Organizations that operate on a fiscal tax year may need to file a return by next week in order to keep their organization's current tax exempt status.

Form 990-N (e-Postcard) is due every year by the 15th day of the 5th month after the close of your tax year. A tax year is usually 12 consecutive months and is categorized as either a calendar tax year (January 1 - December 31) or a fiscal tax year (a period ending on the last day of any month except December).  Organization’s whose fiscal tax year ended in the month of February should file their Form 990-N via ExpressTaxExempt  by July 15. Since the July 15 due date falls on a Saturday, you will have two extra days to submit since filing will be extended to the following business day, which would be Monday, July 17th. Once again, all 990-N Forms for groups that have a fiscal tax year which ends in February should file no later than Monday, July 17th.

Although there is no penalty for filing Form 990-N late, organizations that fail to file for three consecutive years will automatically lose their tax-exempt status.

Filing a Form 990-N (e-Postcard) for your organization is very easy through ExpressTaxExempt and can be completed in three simple steps:

Search Organization's EIN 

• Enter your Employer Identification Number (EIN) to view filing history and e-file your Form 990-N to the IRS. 

Select Filing Year

• Choose the available tax year from your filing history list to e-file and create an account to review your filing details. You can also update any of your organization information if necessary. 

Review & Transmit to the IRS

• Complete payment information and transmit your e-Postcard to the IRS instantly. You can review your payment receipt or summary of e-Postcard once you transmit your return. 

And just like that, your form is filed with the IRS and your organization remains tax exempt. It’s really easy as 1-2-3! If things are busy with your organization and you just don’t have the time to file the Form 990-N you can just take a few minutes and file Form 8868 with ExpressExtension and apply for a 6-month filing extension to get some more time.

Although your organization’s due date may not be July 15, you may have one coming up soon. Reference our Fiscal Tax Year Filing Calendar chart below to find out your deadline:

Tax Year Begin Date	Tax Year End Date	Form 990 Deadline
January 1	December 31	May 15
February 1	January 31	June 15
March 1	February 28/29	July 15
April 1	March 31	August 15
May 1	April 30	September 15
June 1	May 31	October 15
July 1	June 30	November 15
August 1	July 31	December 15
September 1	August 31	January 15
October 1	September 30	February 15
November 1	October 31	March 15
December 1	November 30	April 15

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.

Check-out some of our most recent blogs:
New Leadership? No Problem: Organizational Leadership Transition Tips

Give Now, Receive Later: Don't & Get Money Back

Read More »

New Leadership? No Problem: Organizational Leadership Transition Tips

As we ease into the month of July, some organizations are embracing [or planning to elect] new leadership to continue carrying out the work of their group. Good leaders strive to leave their organization in good standing and provide future leaders with ample information to ensure a smooth transition. While some organizations in this predicament may have a transition method in place to train new leaders, there are others that may need or want to implement some useful strategies to ensure the core leadership of their group remains solid.

Major things such as annual tax filing due dates, record keeping, or maintaining tax-exempt status cannot afford to “fall by the wayside” during each transition of leadership.

At ExpressTaxExempt, we realize that your mission is to help others, so now, let us help you! Here are some leadership transition tips that could be beneficial to your organization:

TRANSITION CHECKLIST

Get Organized - Prior to new leaders beginning their term, try your best to make sure things are organized so that leaders can focus on their duties without having to go against any unnecessary roadblocks.

Leadership Transition Binder - A great tool and gift to incoming leaders is to provide them with a binder that has all of the documents they need to be successful in their new leadership role. They will reference these items throughout their tenure, so make sure they are detailed and organized.

• *Each binder should have general “must-haves” like the organization’s bylaws, calendar of events, etc., as well as specific documents that would be helpful to the individual and their position. For example, the organization’s treasurer or director of finance should receive information like previous financial records, state tax forms/info, tax filing information (EIN/Tax ID#, bank account information, pending significant financial transactions, fundraising information) and more.

-Discuss Organization’s Policies & Procedures

-Set realistic goals and objectives for the year
-Go over each leader’s duties in detail. Explain what they are and are not responsible for.  
-Inform New Leaders of Key External Relationships

• *For leadership roles that require working relationships with other leaders outside of the organization, a Contact Sheet should be provided with contact information (name, title, email address, phone number) for each individual. 

With these useful tools and tips, your leadership team should be on the road to success as they continue to carry out the great work that your organization does from day to day. Be sure to keep your tax-exempt status by annually filing with ExpressTaxExempt. Unsure of your filing deadline? We have a Fiscal Tax Year Filing Calendar available for you to take advantage of. Enjoy your summer and feel free to comment with any other leadership transition tips and we’ll add them in!

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