Current Year or Prior Year

Here, at Express990, we enjoy receiving feedback from you all, and the suggestions that you inspire. We understand that filing taxes can be difficult and stressful, and our goal is to provide you with the most user-friendly, e-filing experience so you can quickly and easily get your taxes done. Our most recent user response involves e-filing for either the current tax year, or a prior tax year based on the organization’s tax year period.

If you know your organization’s tax year period, then that’s half the battle. If not, check out the following blog about how you can find your tax dates:

• Find Your Tax Year Dates

For organizations with a Calendar Tax Year, it’s pretty easy to determine whether you’re e-filing for a current or prior tax year. If the current tax year is 2014, and your tax period is from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, then you’re e-filing for the current tax year. However, if the current tax year is 2014, but you’re e-filing for a year when your tax dates are from January 1, 2013 to December 31, 2013, then you are e-filing for a prior (2013) tax year.

For those of you with organizations operating with a Fiscal Tax Year, it seems to be a bit confusing to decide if you’re e-filing for your current year, or your prior year. But we are here to help.

If the current tax year is 2014, and your tax period is from July 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015, then you are e-filing for the current (2014) tax year. It doesn’t matter about the year end date, but the year beginning date. We understand how confusing it can be, but think about it… If a regular year is from January 1, 2014 to December 31, 2014, and your tax date begins in the middle (July 1, 2014), it’s still considered as a date within the year 2014.

It’s like your New Year’s Day isn’t on January 1, 2014, but on July 1, 2014. And a year has to consist of 12 full months so your 2014 year doesn’t end on December 31, 2014, but on June 30, 2015.

Remember: The year your tax date begins on is the same year that you’re e-filing your tax for.

Current (2014) Tax Year:

• Beginning Tax Date: October 1, 2013 / Ending Tax Date: September 30, 2014 – E-file for the prior (2013) tax year.
• Beginning Tax Date: April 1, 2012 / Ending Tax Date: March 31, 2013 – E-file for the prior (2012) tax year.

E-file for your correct tax year with Express990. We support the Form 990-N (e-Postcard) for the current tax year, and the two most prior tax years; the Form 990-EZ for the current tax year, and the most previous tax year; and the Form 990 (Long) for the current tax year only. You can also e-file your e-Postcard at anytime from anywhere with our FREE Express990 App for iOS/Android devices, or mobile site.

For any questions or assistance with e-filing, we have expert help available with live professionals at our office in Rock Hill, South Carolina. Contact us at (704) 839-2321, Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Eastern Standard Time; or, email us anytime, 24/7 at [email protected].