The Secret to Stress-Free Form 990 Filing

The month of November is rather nostalgic with the Fall season bringing about cooler temperatures and Thanksgiving kicking off holiday gatherings and celebrations. 

November is also a big month in the tax exempt industry. If your exempt organization operates on a fiscal year which ends on June 30, your IRS Form 990 return is due by November 15. If you operate on a calendar year (original due date of May 15) but filed a 6-month extension through Form 8868, your 990 return is due also. 

Deadlines are never fun and trying to meet them can become stressful. Thankfully, e-filing with ExpressTaxExempt eliminates the stress of tax filing while on a time-crunch. 

ExpressTaxExempt offers the entire Form 990 Series to be completed in the most simple and easiest method possible. You won’t have to worry about missing your Form 990 deadline because the interview style e-filing process will help you complete your form and instantly transmit it directly to the IRS. 

All that you will need to do is follow the simple 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! 

Failing to file your Form 990 return can result in accumulating expensive penalties very quickly. If your organization fails to file on time and has less than $1,000,000 in gross receipts for the entire year and do not provide reasonable cause for missing the deadline, the IRS will charge you $20 per day for every day that your return is late. 

This penalty continuously accrues until you reach the maximum of $10,000 or 5% of your organization’s total gross receipts, depending on which amount is less. Filing with ExpressTaxExempt prevents this from happening. 

Stress-Free Filing

The best way to handle any type of situation, especially tax filing, is to be prepared. By being proactive and having a tax plan in place, the risk of last minute tax surprises can be avoided. Here are some other ways to have stress-free filing experience: 

1. Know your specific filing deadline 
2. Determine and Organize all of the information you will need when filing in advance. 
3. Strategize the amount of time needed to file your 990 while still conducting the daily tasks of your exempt organization, charity, etc. 
4. Maintain detailed records throughout the calendar or fiscal year. 
5. Utilize the ExpressTaxExempt website as an informative resource before, during, and after the e-filing process. 

Filing Process

Our service at ExpressTaxExempt is dedicated to providing the best and most efficient e-filing experience for tax exempt organizations, no matter how big or small. Because of this, all ExpressTaxExempt users can begin the filing process for free and easily enter their organization’s information individually. Payment is only required at the very end when it’s time to transmit your return directly to the IRS. Furthermore, our interview-style form completion includes internal audit checks to ensure that all information is entered properly with no areas left undone, auto-generated IRS form Schedules to accompany your 990 return, along with several other exclusive features.

We're Help To Help

E-filing your appropriate Form 990 Series return before the November 15 due date with the #1 authorized IRS e-file provider (ExpressTaxExempt) is a piece of cake. 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 or reach us 24/7 via email with support@ExpressTaxExempt.com.

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Political Organizations Can Now File Their Taxes with Ease

ExpressTaxExempt has a new form that’s specifically designed and ready to be filed by political organizations. Form 1120-POL is typically filed by political organizations and certain tax-exempt organizations with taxable income remaining after the $100 special deduction has been taken for the taxable year.

Form 1120-POL is due annually on the 15th day of the fourth month following the organization’s tax year end date.

For organizations that operate on a calendar tax year (January 1 to December 31), the due date is April 15 each year.

To e-file Form 1120-POL, you’ll need some information about the organization such as its tax year beginning and end dates as well as the organization name, employer identification number (EIN), and address. Financial details including income, deductions, and tax data will also be needed once you navigate through the e-filing process. Once this information has been submitted, an officer of the organization must sign Form 1120-POL before e-filing it with the IRS.

It is extremely important for political organizations to file this form. Failing to file or filing late can result in the group incurring penalties from the IRS. Organizations that fail to file are required to pay an additional fine equal to 5% of the tax due for each month the return is late, with a maximum of 25% of the total tax due. Form 1120-POL returns that are filed more than 60 days late will have to pay the remaining tax due or $135, whichever is smaller.

ExpressTaxExempt eliminates the hassle of a long filing process by providing Form 1120-POL with a very simplistic process that can be completed in five easy steps:

1) Create Your Account

• Enter your email address, password, and some basic identifying information to create your free account and start filing.

2) Start a New Form

• From your Dashboard, select the Start New Form option. Then, click Form 1120-POL to begin entering information to e-file your Form 1120-POL. 

3) Enter Organization Information

• Here, you’ll enter your basic organization information needed to file Form 1120-POL. This information includes your organization name, EIN, and address. This information must match what’s on the IRS’s records. 

4) Complete Our Interview Process

• Rather than fill out your form line by line, complete our simplified, interview-style process to enter information and complete your Form 1120-POL. Once you’ve finished, you can review your form to ensure everything looks correct. 

5) Pay & Transmit

• Once you’ve confirmed that everything looks good to go on your Form 1120-POL, all that’s left to do is to pay our one-time transmittal fee and e-file your Form 1120-POL directly with the IRS.

Our simple and easy-to-use form can be completed at any time with  ExpressTaxExempt for an affordable and competitive rate of $49.90. Be sure to take advantage of this great new form that will surely be beneficial to your organization when filing annually. If you have any questions about the e-filing process or need assistance while filing, we are always here to provide you with stellar customer support.  We’re here to assist you by phone at 704. 839.2321 on 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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Reduced Filing Prices Now Available with ExpressTaxExempt

Christmas really does come in July! ExpressTaxExempt is excited to announce that it is now offering new, reduced rates for nonprofit and exempt organizations to easily prepare and e-file their annual tax forms. A premiere product of SPAN Enterprises, ExpressTaxExempt serves as the #1 tax e-filing solution for tax exempt organizations worldwide. 

Users, both current and new, can now e-file for some of the best prices on the market and have access to stellar customer service that is only available through ExpressTaxExempt. 

Pricing

New pricing for Form 990 Series & Form 1120-POL is as follows:

• *Form 990-N (e-Postcard) ~ $9.90
• *Form 990-EZ (Short Form) ~ $59.90 [previously $129.95]
• *Form 990 (Long Form) ~ $69.90 [previously $299.95]
• *Form 990-PF (Private Foundation) ~ $99.90 [previously $499.95]
• *Form 1120-POL (Political Organization) ~ $49.90 [new form] 
• *Form 8868 (Extension) ~ $14.90 [previously $14.95] 

Almost unbelievable right?! Well it gets even better than that. ExpressTaxExempt new e-filing prices are also paired with exclusive features for each user. Users will have the ability to file and transmit with the #1 IRS-authorized e-filing solution, complete the filing process in an interview-style format, file for previous tax years (2015 and 2014), receive immediate email notifications regarding the acceptance or rejection of their return, free information return amendments, assistance from our U.S. based support team via phone, live chat, and email, along with many other great features. 

One may ask, “Why should I file with ExpressTaxExempt instead of another provider?” At ExpressTaxExempt, we provide security, ease, and peace of mind to exempt organizations and its leaders. We respect the services that nonprofit and exempt organizations provide 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 pricing, organizations can now save funds annually when e-filing to maintain its tax exempt status. Pay us a visit at www.expresstaxexempt.com today and begin your e-filing process. 

If you have any questions about the e-filing process or need assistance while filing, 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. 

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5 Challenges Faced by Nonprofit Organizations

Nonprofit organizations serve a great purpose and make a difference in the community daily. In order to stay both active and effective, nonprofits have to attract supporters to their cause and then convert those supporters to become donors or members that will support their work.  

Although nonprofits serve a great purpose, they are faced with various challenges along the way. Thankfully, there is always a way to turn those challenges into opportunities. We’ve listed some of these challenges and provided you with some tips on how to turn them around and make it work for your organization:

Nonprofit Challenges

1) 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 part of the team. 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. 

2) Lack of Resources

When finances are limited and resources are scarce, it is beneficial to form partnerships with other organizations that have the similar mission and goals. By forming and fostering these relationships, you can achieve more on a larger scale. Remember, there is strength in numbers. 

3) Adequate Funding

Acquiring the necessary funds to adequately operate your organization in its full potential may be a bit of a challenge for some groups. Organizations can solicit funding from foundations, corporations, grants, and philanthropic individuals. Reaching out to local businesses in the community along with community leaders for sponsorships or donations. 

4) Public Awareness

New non-profit groups or organizations that may not be well known in their community yet should put focus on increasing awareness about who they are and what they do. Implementing an online marketing campaign/strategy will allow for your organization to be promoted to a larger audience and can also draw the attention of potential funding sources. Utilizing social media platforms like Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter, Instagram, and more, will also be very beneficial in reaching larger audiences. 

5) Printed Communication

The days of paper-based marketing and sales are slowly, but surely fading away. For many years, organizations depended heavily on direct mail serving as their main point of contact with current and potential donors. Although direct mail still brings in some money, it mainly targets just one age bracket, which is age 55 and over and makes it quite difficult to track who opened and read the mailer that was mailed. 

The best way to solve this problem is to move online. Instead of sending letters, send emails with an intriguing subject line and include the information that you’re trying to disseminate. Also, if your organization has a website, you can add a “Donate Now” button to your home page which will allow donors to give online. Having the capability to receive donations online can also encourage donors to set up automatic payments and donations towards your organization each month. Plus, millennials are more prone to make donations via text or online if they are contacted through that medium. 

How To Maintain Tax-Exempt Status

In order to remain as a tax-exempt organization or to receive tax deductible donations to sustain the operation of your organization, you must in good standing with the IRS. This status can be maintained by e-filing with ExpressTaxExempt. Within minutes you will be able to successfully e-file one of the forms including in our Form 990 Series or our latest release for political organizations, Form 1120-POL.

Feel free to contact our support team of e-file experts at 704.839.2321 if you have any questions or need 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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ExpressTaxExempt Now Offers Form 1120-POL for Political Organizations!

Political Organizations now have a form of their own to file their annual tax returns. Available through ExpressTaxExempt, Form 1120-POL has made it easier than ever for political organizations to transmit error-free returns to the IRS. 

Each year, political organizations and some tax-exempt organizations are required to file Form 1120-POL with the IRS if they have any taxable income. ExpressTaxExempt’s newest form provides a much faster and more secure       e-filing process that can be filled out and submitted directly to the IRS within minutes compared to the extended paper filing process. 

Since our mission at ExpressTaxExempt is to help organizations, we have created a simple and easy-to-use form that any leader can complete. With exclusive features such as our IRS-authorized status, interview-style process, internal error checks and US based support, Form 1120-POL is sure to be beneficial to political organizations worldwide. Furthermore, benefits of e-filing IRS form 1120-POL with ExpressTaxExempt include the support of all Form 1120-POL schedules and attachments, ability to add multiple users to manage, review, and approve the form on your behalf, retransmitting rejected forms at no extra cost, e-filing for unlimited organizations through one account, and receiving real-time e-mail notices throughout the e-filing process. 

The process to e-file Form 1120-POL is that of a very simple one and can be completed in five easy steps. Once these steps have been completed and all information has been confirmed, all that’s left to do is to simply pay and transmit directly to the IRS. As an IRS-authorized e-filing product, ExpressTaxExempt is able to offer e-filing Form 1120-POL at a very competitive rate. With no start-up costs or monthly fees, you will only pay a one-time transmittal fee of $49.90 to complete filing. 

ExpressTaxExempt also offers an extension service through affiliate ExpressExtension to file Form 1120-POL. Users can quickly file Form 7004 and be granted an automatic 6-month extension of time to file the information return. 

So this tax year, political organizations be sure to take advantage of the great benefits and features provided by Form 1120-POL by quickly, easily, and securely filing with ExpressTaxExempt. 

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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