Most exempt organizations (including private foundations) must file various returns and reports at some time during (or following the close of) their accounting period.

See chapter 6 for information about getting these publications and forms.

Every organization exempt from federal income tax under section 501(a) must file an annual information return except:

1. A church, an interchurch organization of local units of a church, a convention or association of churches, or an integrated auxiliary of a church (as defined later under Religious Organizations in chapter 3),
2. A church-affiliated organization that is exclusively engaged in managing funds or maintaining retirement programs,
3. A school below college level affiliated with a church or operated by a religious order, even though it is not an integrated auxiliary of a church,
4. A mission society sponsored by or affiliated with one or more churches or church denominations, more than half of the society's activities are conducted in, or directed at, persons in foreign countries,
5. An exclusively religious activity of any religious order,
6. A state institution, the income of which is excluded from gross income under section 115,
7. A corporation described in section 501(c)(1) [a corporation that is organized under an Act of Congress and is:
   1. an instrumentality of the United States, and
   2. exempt from federal income taxes],
8. A black lung benefit trust described in section 501(c)(21) [Required to file Form 990-BL, Information and Initial Excise Tax Return for Black Lung Benefit Trusts and Certain Related Persons. See chapter 4 for more information.],
9. A stock bonus, pension, or profit-sharing trust that qualifies under section 401 (required to file Form 5500, Annual Return/Report of Employee Benefit Plan),
10. A religious or apostolic organization described in section 501(d) [required to file Form 1065, U.S. Return of Partnership Income],
11. A foreign organization described in section 501(a) [other than a private foundation] that normally does not have more than $25,000 in annual gross receipts from sources within the United States and has no significant activity in the United States. For further information, see Revenue Procedure 94-17, 1994-1 C.B. 579,
12. A governmental unit or an affiliate of a governmental unit that meets the requirements of Revenue Procedure 95-48, 1995-2 C.B. 418,
13. An exempt organization (other than a private foundation, discussed in chapter 3) having gross receipts in each tax year that normally are not more than $25,000. (See the instructions for Form 990 for more information about what constitutes annual gross receipts that are normally not more than $25,000.),
14. A private foundation exempt under section 501(c)(3) and described in section 509(a). (Required to file Form 990-PF), or
15. A United States possession organization described in section 501(a) [other than a private foundation] that normally does not have more than $25,000 in annual gross receipts from sources within the United States and has no significant activity in the United States. For further information, see Revenue Procedure 2003-21, Internal Revenue Bulletin 2003-6.

Small exempt organizations (such as 11, 13, and 15 above) whose gross receipts are normally $25,000 or less are not required to file an information return. However, these organizations are now required to file an electronic Form 990-N with the IRS annually. The form will require the following information:

• The organization's legal name,
• Any name under which it operates and does business,
• Its mailing address and internet website address (if any),
• Its taxpayer identification number,
• The name and address of a principal officer,
• Organization's annual tax period,
• Verification that the organization's annual gross receipts are still normally $25,000 or less, and
• Notification if the organization has terminated.

Form 990-N is due by the 15th day of the fifth month after the close of the tax year. For tax years beginning after December 31, 2006, any organization that fails to meet its annual reporting requirement for 3 consecutive years will automatically lose its tax-exempt status. To regain its exempt status an organization will have to reapply for recognition as a tax-exempt organization.

This filing requirement does not apply to:

• Churches, their integrated auxiliaries, and conventions or associations of churches,
• Organizations that are included in a group return,
• Private foundations required to file Form 990-PF, and
• Section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations required to file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.

For tax years ending after August 17, 2006, all section 509(a)(3) supporting organizations are required to file an annual information return with the IRS regardless of the organization's gross receipts. On its annual information return, a supporting organization must:

• List the section 509(f)(3) organizations with respect to which it provides support,
• Indicate whether it is a Type I, Type II, or Type III supporting organization, and
• Certify that the organization is not controlled directly or indirectly by disqualified persons (other than by foundation managers and other than one or more publicly supported organizations).

Exempt organizations, other than private foundations, must file their annual information returns on Form 990, or Form 990-EZ.

Generally, political organizations with gross receipts of $25,000 ($100,000 for a qualified state or local political organization (QSLPO)) or more for the tax year are required to file Form 990 (990-EZ) unless specifically excepted from filing the annual return. The following political organizations are not required to file Form 990 (Form 990-EZ).

• A state or local committee of a political party.
• A political committee of a state or local candidate.
• A caucus or association of state or local officials.
• A political organization that is required to report as a political committee under the Federal Election Campaign Act.
• A 501(c) organization that has expenditures for influencing or attempting to influence the selection, nomination, election, or appointment of any individual for a federal, state, or local public office.

This is a shortened version of Form 990. It is designed for use by small exempt organizations and nonexempt charitable trusts.

An organization may file Form 990-EZ, instead of Form 990, if it meets both of the following requirements.

1. Its gross receipts during the year were less than $100,000.
2. Its total assets (line 25, column (B) of Form 990-EZ) at the end of the year were less than $250,000.

If your organization does not meet either of these conditions, you cannot file Form 990-EZ. Instead you must file Form 990.

A group return on Form 990 may be filed by a central, parent, or like organization for two or more local organizations, none of which is a private foundation. This return is in addition to the central organization's separate annual return if it must file a return. It cannot be included in the group return. See the instructions for Form 990 for the conditions under which this procedure may be used.

Organizations, other than private foundations, that are described in section 501(c)(3) and that are otherwise required to file Form 990 or 990-EZ must also complete Schedule A of that form.

Organizations that file Form 990 or 990-EZ use this schedule to provide required information regarding their contributors.

All private foundations exempt under section 501(c)(3) must file Form 990-PF. These organizations are discussed in chapter 3.

You may be required to file Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-PF, and related forms, schedules, and attachments electronically.

If an organization is required to file a return electronically but does not, the organization is considered to have not filed its return. See Regulations section 301.6033-4 for more information.

The IRS may waive the requirement to file electronically in cases of undue hardship. For information on filing a waiver, see Notice 2005-88 which is on page 1060 of Internal Revenue Bulletin 2005-48.

An organization is required to file Form 990 electronically if it files at least 250 returns during the calendar year and has total assets of $10 million or more at the end of the tax year.

An organization is required to file Form 990-PF electronically if it files at least 250 returns during the calendar year.

Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF must be filed by the 15th day of the fifth month after the end of your organization's accounting period. Thus, for a calendar year taxpayer, Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF is due May 15 of the following year.

Use Form 8868 to request an automatic 3-month extension of time to file Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF and also to apply for an additional (not automatic) 3-month extension if needed.

Do not apply for both the automatic 3-month extension and the additional 3-month extension at the same time. For more information, see Form 8868 and its instructions.

When filing Form 8868 for an automatic 3-month extension, neither a signature, nor an explanation is required. However, when filing Form 8868 for an additional 3-month extension, both a signature and an explanation are required.

An organization that claims to be exempt under section 501(a) but has not established its exempt status by the due date for filing an information return should complete and file Form 990 or 990-EZ (or Form 990-PF if it considers itself a private foundation). If the organization's application is pending with the IRS, it must so indicate on Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF (whichever applies) by checking the application pending block at the top of page 1 of the return. For more information on the filing requirements, see the instructions for Forms 990, 990-EZ, and 990-PF.

Copies of Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF may be used to satisfy state reporting requirements. See the instructions for those forms.

Organizations that filed a Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF, and paid premiums or received transfers on certain life insurance, annuity, and endowment contracts (personal benefit contracts), must file Form 8870. For more information, see Form 8870 and its instructions.

Generally, an exempt organization that fails to file a required return must pay a penalty of $20 a day for each day the failure continues. The same penalty will apply if the organization does not give all the information required on the return or does not give the correct information.

The maximum penalty for any one return is the smaller of $10,000 or 5% of the organization's gross receipts for the year.

For an organization that has gross receipts of over $1 million for the year, the penalty is $100 a day up to a maximum of $50,000.

If the organization is subject to this penalty, the IRS may specify a date by which the return or correct information must be supplied by the organization. Failure to comply with this demand will result in a penalty imposed upon the manager of the organization, or upon any other person responsible for filing a correct return. The penalty is $10 a day for each day that a return is not filed after the period given for filing. The maximum penalty imposed on all persons with respect to any one return is $5,000.

No penalty will be imposed if reasonable cause for failure to file timely can be shown.