Tax Exempt Organizations Must File Return May 15

Tax exempt organizations with a December 31 fiscal year are obligated to file their annual tax return by Tuesday, May 15.

Small tax exempts, i.e., those with annual incomes of less than $50,000, can file a "postcard" 990N.  Instructions for that form can be found at:

http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=169250,00.html

Larger tax exempts have to file an IRS form 990 or form 990-EZ.   A form 990-EZ may be filed for those organizations with less than $200,000 annual income and less than $500,000 in assets.

Per the IRS, tax exempt organizations which fail to file a tax return for three years in a row may lose their tax exempt status.

If your organization is not ready to file a 990 or 990-EZ by May 15, you can file an automatic 3-month extension by a simple filing of form 8868 (extension).  Information on this simple to file form can be found at:

http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=152723,00.html

The IRS has a one minute video with other helpful information on this topic:



(Note:  If your organization has a fiscal year which is other than a calendar year end 12/31/11, then your annual tax return is due the 15th day of the fifth month after your fiscal year end.)