Ruritan March 2024 Newsletter

File Your Club’s 2023 IRS 990 Before May 15, 2024

Every year small tax-exempt organizations like Ruritan clubs, that previously were not required to file returns, are now required to file an annual electronic notice, Form 990-N, Electronic Notice (e-Postcard) for Tax-Exempt Organizations not Required To File Form 990 or 990-EZ. Most Ruritan clubs have had experience filing this report since May 2008. Of particular concern, however are the clubs that did NOT file any form of the IRS 990 last year. Organizations that do not file the notice for three years will lose their tax-exempt status. Also of note is that the threshold for gross receipts has been increased to $50,000 (prior to 2010 it was $25,000.) In the past, Ruritan clubs accessing the IRS website were directed to a third party vendor (Urban Institute) to file their form. Passwords managed by Urban Institute were required as well as log on information such as the club’s EIN number. This changed on March 2, 2016 when the IRS began managing its own 990-N postcard filing site. You can go to https://www.irs.gov/Charities-&- Non-Profits/Annual-Electronic-Filing-Requirement-for Small-Exempt-Organizations-Form-990-N-e-Postcard and launch the postcard filing site from there – where there are other instructions. Or you can use this shortened link created by the Ruritan staff http://tinyurl. com/clubtaxreturn. Because this is such a new site – we haven’t had a lot of experience with it yet but it does require a one-time registration where you create a password. This is not necessarily the password you were using at the Urban Institute site – all clubs filing the 990-N postcard will need to create this new password with the IRS. Clubs whose gross receipts are over $100,000 will still need to file the IRS Form 990. Clubs whose gross receipts are over $50,000 a year and under $100,000 will still need to file the IRS Form 990 EZ. However, clubs whose gross receipts fell below $50,000 were not required to file any form of the 990 with the IRS prior to 2006.

With the enactment of the Pension Protection Act of 2006 (PPA), these small tax-exempt organizations will now be required to file electronically Form 990-N, also known as the e-Postcard, with the IRS annually. According to the IRS, the form should be filed by the fifteenth day of the fifth month after the close of your tax year (for most Ruritan clubs that will be May 15th). This electronic postcard form of the 990 can ONLY be filed on line – so every Ruritan club will be required to find someone who has internet access to assist them with this filing. There will be no software required other than an internet connection and there is no charge to file the form. This does NOT mean your club(s) will have to pay taxes, however clubs who fail to file the 990-N for three years in a row will lose their tax exempt status. Clubs preparing to go online to file the 990-N should have the following information at hand: Name of their organization; Any other name the organization uses; mailing address; website address if the club has a website; the club’s EIN (see NOTE below); name and address of club president (principal officer); and the club’s tax period (which will be January 1 through December 31 unless the club has officially changed its accounting period with the IRS). The person filling out the form will need to be able to state that the club’s gross receipts are still normally $50,000 or less. The club should also file the form to notify the IRS if it is disbanding. NOTE : Almost every Ruritan club over a year old has an EIN number. If you don’t know what your club’s EIN number is – call Ruritan National toll free at 877 787-8727 and the staff will be happy to provide that information. The IRS will no longer allow a Ruritan staff member to file the 990 on behalf of a club, however any club member may file. If you have any other questions, please call Ruritan National and a staff member will be happy to help you.

Important Publication Deadlines

Fall Magazine – August 1 Winter Magazine – November 1

Spring Magazine - February 1 Summer Magazine – May 1

NOTE: If you have youth under age 18 in your pictures Ruritan National requires that you also send the appropriate signed permission forms for their photographs to be published. If you need a copy of the standard Ruritan “photo consent form” please see page 27, contact our office, or check the Ruritan National website.

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