The Center for Ethics, Governance, & Accountability

For all of the NPOs out there, remember your filing deadline is May 15 if you operate on a calendar year.

You know the rule: Form 990 (or other applicable filing) is due on the 15^th day of the 5^th month following the end of your accounting period. May is the 5^th month, so don’t forget to file.

You have options, but you still must act by May 15. For example, you can file the form to extend your deadline by 3 months. And, the IRS will even allow you a second extension of 3 months.

Remember the issue that had befallen the thousands of non-profits that had not filed for three years? They lost their charitable status (as well I think they should). Even that is fixable, but you have to know the rules and play by them. I have always found the IRS very cooperative and much easier to deal with than most people seem to think.

If your organization has gross receipts of $50,000 or less (even that has changed to the benefit of small NPOs – previously it was $25,000 or less) you may file Form 990-N. Some people call this the e-Postcard. Everything is done on-line via an IRS contractor. You must register (please don’t forget to keep your registration information because you will need it next year) and then you simply go to the site, complete the information, and hit SEND. You will promptly get a ‘receipt’ to print out that verifies you filed and when. It will literally take you less than 5 minutes the first time and probably about 3 minutes each year thereafter.

Since I believe so strongly that the Non-Profit Sector must take the opportunity to be the best of the best, there is nothing more important than the timely filing of your information with the IRS.