Small Nonprofit Need to Remember to File the E-Postcard

You are part of a very small nonprofit. Keeping the books is simple, what could go wrong? Well if you don’t pay attention to the IRS filing requirements-you could lose your nonprofit status.

Small nonprofits with gross receipts of $25,000 or less need to annually submit the Form 990-N to the IRS. The form is filed online at http://epostcard.form990.org. There is no paper filing option. While there is no monetary penalty for late filing, an organization that fails to file for three years in a row, will have its nonprofit status revoked.

The filing is simple. You just need your employer identification number, name and mailing address, tax year, website (if you have one) and the name and address of the principal officer. You will be asked to certify if your gross receipts are $25,000 or less.

Not sure if you are up to date on your filings? You can search for your organization at http://www.irs.gov/app/ePostcard/

While it is easy to file, it is easy to forget to file. The epostcard is due by the 15th day of the 5th month following your year end. Nonprofit status will be revoked by the 3rd consecutive missed due date. This IRS provision was first effective for years ending 12/31/06. So if you are a 12/31 year end and have never filed the epostcard and do not file by 5/15/10, your nonprofit status would be revoked. Now is the time to file.

More information is available at the IRS website http://www.irs.gov/charities/article/0,,id=169250,00.html