Tax Deadline for Nonprofits is May 15th!

If your nonprofit tax year closed December 31, 2008, you must file the minimum of an e-Postcard (990) for 2008.

Beginning in 2008, small tax-exempt organizations whose gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less may be required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N. Prior to 2008, these organizations were not required to file the longer Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

This filing requirement applies to tax periods beginning after December 31, 2006. At minimum you must file for 2008. Organizations that do not file the notice will lose their tax-exempt status and be discarded from the IRS rolls. Exceptions to this requirement include organizations that are included in a group return, some private foundations and many church-related organizations.

The e-Postcard is due every year by the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of your organization’s tax year. For example, if your tax year closes December 31, the form is due the following May 15th.

The e-Postcard is a simple, Internet-based form that asks a few identifying questions about your organization. You can only file the e-Postcard online – there is no paper form. All you need is access to a computer and an e-mail address. No special software is necessary, and there is no cost to file an e-Postcard. It’s free!

To file the e-Postcard, go to http://www.irs.gov/ and click on “Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations – Form 990-N (e-Postcard),” where you’ll find a link to the e-Postcard filing system. You will file the e-Postcard through the Web site of the IRS’s trusted partner, the Urban Institute.

Please check the LANO events calendar for additional workshops about these new IRS regulations.