Understanding the Basics of IRS Form 990-EZ

Have you ever read through the information on the IRS website for Form 990-EZ in its entirety? It never ends, those instructions seem to go on forever like Lambchop’s “Song That Never Ends”. The material can be condensed down a smidgen to a nice outline to help you understand the basics of IRS Form 990-EZ.

The 990-EZ was created to provide a shorter alternative to filing Form 990. It is used by tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts, and section 527 political organizations to provide the IRS with the information required by section 6033.

There are multiple parts for the 990-EZ, but Parts I-V must be completed by all filing organizations. Part VI will need to be completed by section 501(c)(3) organizations and section 4947(a)(1) nonexempt charitable trusts. Here is a list of the information you will need to complete Form 990-EZ:

• Gross Income
• Total expenses incurred within the last year
• Disbursements within the year that are the reason the organizations is exempt
• Balance sheet showing assets, liabilities, and net worth
• Total contributions & gifts received during the year and the names and addresses of all substantial contributors
• Names and addresses of the foundation’s managers and highly-compensated employees
• compensation and other payments made during the year
• Lobbying expenditures and nontaxable amounts
• Direct or indirect transfers and relationships with other organizations of the same type
• Respective amounts of the taxes imposed on the organization or any manager of the organization
• Amounts of reimbursements paid by the organization during the taxable year for any taxes imposed 
• Information on any excess benefit transaction
• Information on any disqualified persons
• Information on disaster relief activities

You will need to file Form 990-EZ if your tax-exempt organization has gross receipts of less than $200,000 or total assets of less than $500,000. This form is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after the organizations accounting period ends. 

You can always extend your Form 990-EZ filing deadline with Form 8868, also provided by Express990.com. This extension will automatically give you an additional 3 months to file.

These are just your basics to understanding Form 990-EZ. Next time we will get into the nitty-gritty Conditions for a Properly Completed Form 990-EZ.