Keep your nonprofit's tax exemption.
A tax-exempt organization does not pay income tax, but it does have to file a return every year to keep that status. The return is the 990, and which version you file depends on how much your organization takes in. Miss it three years in a row and the IRS revokes your exemption automatically. We route you to the right form, file it on time, and keep your status intact.
The return that keeps you exempt.
Form 990 is the annual return that tax-exempt organizations file with the IRS. It is not a bill; most nonprofits owe no income tax. It is an accounting of the year, covering revenue, spending, programs, and governance, and much of it becomes public so donors and the public can see how the organization is run. There is not one 990 but a family of them, and the right one depends on the size of your organization. Filing the correct version on time is what preserves your exempt status, and it is the one obligation the IRS enforces with automatic revocation rather than a notice.
The right return, routed to your size.
We start from your numbers, pick the version you are required to file, and complete the schedules that go with it.
- The correct 990 for your size. Form 990-N for the smallest organizations, 990-EZ in the middle, the full 990 for larger ones, and 990-PF for private foundations.
- The schedules that apply. The supporting schedules your activities require, such as public support, grants, or governance detail.
- An electronic filing. The 990 series is filed electronically with the IRS, with confirmation it was accepted.
- A public-ready copy. The version of the return that becomes public, kept with your records for donors and grantmakers who ask.
It comes down to your numbers.
Almost every tax-exempt organization files something in the 990 series each year. A short list of organizations is excused, and private foundations always file their own version.
- Public charities and most other 501(c) organizations, every year
- Smaller groups file the short 990-N e-Postcard, at 50,000 dollars or less in gross receipts
- Mid-size groups file the 990-EZ, under 200,000 dollars in receipts and 500,000 dollars in assets
- Private foundations always file Form 990-PF, whatever their revenue
- Churches and certain church-affiliated organizations
- Some government-affiliated and state institutions
- Organizations included in a group return filed by a parent body
- Organizations that have not yet applied for recognition, in limited cases
Not sure which version fits, or still working toward exemption? Start with Form 1023 for 501(c)(3) recognition, then the 990 follows each year after.
One yearly deadline, one serious consequence.
These figures are verified against current IRS guidance for exempt-organization returns. The daily penalties matter, but the consequence that ends an organization is the automatic revocation after three missed years.
The revenue lines and penalty amounts are adjusted for inflation. We confirm the current figures before every filing.
From your books to a filed return.
- 1Route to the right form
We check your gross receipts and total assets and confirm which version of the 990 you are required to file.
- 2Prepare the return and schedules
We complete the return from your books and add the supporting schedules your activities call for.
- 3File electronically with the IRS
We e-file by your May deadline, or request the automatic extension on Form 8868 if you need more time.
- 4Confirm and handle state renewals
You get confirmation the return was accepted, and we flag any state charitable-registration renewal that comes with it.
Your exemption is worth protecting.
Losing exempt status is expensive to fix and can cost you grants and donors while you are revoked. We treat the 990 as the compliance filing it is, not an afterthought.
We match your revenue and assets to the correct 990 so you neither overfile nor underfile.
We track your deadline every year and warn you long before three missed filings.
Many states require a yearly charitable-registration renewal alongside the 990. We flag and file it.
You see the price for your return before you file, with no surprise add-ons. See pricing →
The rest of your nonprofit's year.
Apply for 501(c)(3) recognition before the annual 990 begins.
Explore → To raise fundsCharitable registrationRegister to solicit donations, then renew it each year with the 990.
Explore → All in one placeNonprofit servicesFormation, exemption, and compliance for tax-exempt organizations.
Explore → Never miss a dateCompliance calendarEvery nonprofit and tax deadline for your organization in one place.
Explore →Form 990, answered.
Which 990 does my organization file?
It depends on size. Gross receipts normally 50,000 dollars or less means the short 990-N e-Postcard. Under 200,000 dollars in receipts and under 500,000 dollars in assets means the 990-EZ. At or above either line means the full 990. Private foundations always file the 990-PF, regardless of revenue.
When is Form 990 due?
The 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year ends, so May 15 for a calendar-year organization. An automatic 6-month extension is available on Form 8868 for the 990 and 990-EZ.
What happens if we do not file?
Missing the required 990 for three consecutive years causes the IRS to automatically revoke your tax-exempt status, effective on the third year's due date. There are also daily late-filing penalties. Getting exemption back means reapplying for recognition.
Does filing the 990 mean we owe tax?
Usually not. The 990 is an information return, not a tax bill. Most exempt organizations owe no income tax; see nonprofit services for the full picture. Certain unrelated business income can be taxable and is reported separately on Form 990-T.
Is our 990 public?
Much of it is. The 990 is a public-disclosure document, which is why donors, grantmakers, and watchdogs can review a nonprofit's finances and governance. We prepare a clean, public-ready return. Many states also require charitable registration to be renewed alongside it.