What this service is
Getting exempt status is a one-time project. Keeping it is a yearly routine of returns, renewals, meetings and records. Annual compliance is our service for that routine. We set up the schedule, remind you of what is due, coordinate the filings and give you the templates you need, so a change of treasurer or a busy season does not turn into a lapse.
The stakes are real. Under section 6033(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, an organization that fails to file a required annual return or notice for three consecutive years loses its tax-exempt status automatically. Reinstatement is possible, but it takes a new application and a user fee. See our reinstatement service.
Who needs it
- Newly recognized organizations setting up their first year of compliance.
- All-volunteer groups whose filing knowledge sits with one person.
- Organizations registered in several states, each with its own renewal date.
- Boards that want a predictable annual cycle of meetings, reviews and filings.
What's included
- Compliance calendar with your federal annual return due date, state charity registration renewals, state corporate annual reports and any state tax filings. Annual returns are ordinarily due by the 15th day of the 5th month after your year ends, which is May 15 for a calendar-year organization, and Form 8868 requests an automatic extension of time to file a return. See annual filing requirements.
- Annual return coordination through our sister site 990IRS.com, which prepares Form 990-N, 990-EZ, 990 and 990-PF. We pass along your year's governance information so the return and your records match.
- Board minutes support: a meeting schedule and minutes templates. Form 990, Part VI asks whether your board and committees documented their meetings and actions at the time.
- Annual policy reviews, including collecting the yearly conflict of interest disclosures that Form 990, Part VI, line 12b asks about.
- Donor acknowledgment templates that meet the written acknowledgment rules in Publication 1771. See donation receipts.
- Public disclosure reminders, because you must make your exemption application and recent annual returns available for public inspection. See public disclosure requirements.
Which annual return applies
| Your organization | Usual federal return |
|---|---|
| Gross receipts normally $50,000 or less | Form 990-N e-Postcard |
| Gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000 at year end | Form 990-EZ, or Form 990 |
| Gross receipts of $200,000 or more, or total assets of $500,000 or more | Form 990 |
| Private foundation, at any size | Form 990-PF |
Churches and certain other organizations are not required to file. Exact rules are in the Form 990 instructions.
Donor acknowledgments, briefly
A donor cannot deduct a single contribution of $250 or more without a contemporaneous written acknowledgment from your organization. When a donor pays more than $75 and receives goods or services in return, such as a gala dinner, you must give a written disclosure estimating the value of what the donor received. Our templates cover both.
What we need from you
- Your IRS determination letter, EIN and fiscal year end.
- A list of states where you are incorporated, registered or operating.
- Your adopted bylaws and policies.
- The name of the person who should receive reminders, and a backup.
- Year-end financial information for your annual return.
How it works
- Setup and quote. We review your filings and obligations and send a fixed quote before work starts.
- Calendar. We build your compliance calendar for the year.
- Reminders. You hear from us well before each deadline, with a list of what we need.
- Filings. The annual return is coordinated with 990IRS.com, and state renewals follow.
- Year-end review. We check that minutes, disclosures and policy reviews are complete.
What affects timing
Most deadlines are fixed, so the main variable is how quickly your year-end numbers are ready. State processing of renewals is outside our control.
Frequently asked questions
We are very small. Do we really need to file anything?
Usually yes. Most exempt organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less must still file the Form 990-N e-Postcard each year. Skipping it for three years in a row triggers automatic revocation.
Who signs our annual return?
A current officer authorized to sign, such as the president or treasurer. Form 990 must be filed electronically.
Can you start in the middle of our year?
Yes. We start with whatever is due next and build the rest of the calendar from there.
Sources
- IRS: Instructions for Form 990 (2025). irs.gov
- IRS: Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax (2025). irs.gov
- IRS: Publication 1771, Charitable Contributions Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements. irs.gov
- IRS: Termination of an exempt organization. irs.gov
IRS forms, fees and inflation-adjusted amounts change. We review this page when the IRS publishes new instructions.
501Nonprofit.com is a private company, not the IRS. This page is general information, not legal or tax advice for your organization. Example organizations and figures are hypothetical.
