A 990 is the tax form that nonprofits, charities, and certain other organizations file instead of a business income tax return

The Form 990 is the annual tax return that tax-exempt organizations file with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). Unlike individuals who file a 1040 or businesses that file a 1120, nonprofits and charities use the 990 to report their income, expenses, and how they spent money during the year. The form is public — anyone can look up a 990 filed by a nonprofit to see where donations went and how the organization operates.

Not every nonprofit files a 990. Organizations with less than a certain amount of annual revenue may file a simpler form instead, or file nothing at all. The threshold and filing requirements depend on the organization's type and structure.

Key Takeaways

  • Form 990 is filed by tax-exempt organizations to report income, expenses, and activities to the IRS, and the completed form is public record.
  • Organizations with annual gross receipts below a threshold (which varies by organization type) may file Form 990-N, 990-EZ, or nothing at all instead of the full 990.
  • The 990 includes detailed sections on programs, compensation paid to officers and key employees, and how the organization used its money.
  • Nonprofits must file by the 15th day of the fifth month after their fiscal year ends, unless they request an extension.
  • The IRS publishes all 990 forms on a public database, so donors and the public can review how organizations spend money.

Who has to file a Form 990

Most organizations that hold 501(c)(3) status — the most common tax-exempt designation for charities — must file a 990 if their annual gross receipts are $50,000 or more. This threshold applies to most charitable, educational, religious, and scientific organizations. Other types of tax-exempt organizations, such as social clubs, labor unions, and political organizations, have different thresholds and may file different forms.

Organizations with gross receipts below $50,000 are not required to file a 990 with the IRS, though some states require their own annual reporting. Organizations that do file must do so by the 15th day of the fifth month after their fiscal year ends — so a nonprofit with a calendar year (ending December 31) must file by May 15.

Private foundations, regardless of size, must file Form 990-PF instead of the standard 990. Churches and certain other religious organizations are exempt from filing, even if they meet the size threshold.

The difference between Form 990, 990-EZ, and 990-N

The IRS offers three filing options, and which one an organization uses depends on its size and complexity. Form 990-N is an electronic notice filed only through the IRS website — it takes about 15 minutes and requires only the organization's name, address, and confirmation that it had less than $50,000 in gross receipts. Organizations filing 990-N do not submit a paper form or detailed financial information.

Form 990-EZ is a shorter version of the full 990, designed for organizations with gross receipts between $50,000 and $200,000 (the threshold varies slightly by year and organization type). It requires basic financial information and a summary of programs, but far less detail than the full form. Many small nonprofits use 990-EZ because it takes less time to prepare.

The full Form 990 is required for organizations with gross receipts of $200,000 or more, or total assets of $500,000 or more. It includes detailed schedules covering programs, compensation, related organizations, and how money was spent. The full 990 is also longer and more complex to complete.

What information goes on a Form 990

The 990 has several main sections. Part I asks for basic information about the organization — its name, address, mission, and whether it changed its structure or leadership during the year. Part VII requires the organization to list the names and compensation of its five highest-paid employees and independent contractors, and the names and compensation of officers and board members.

The form also includes a section where the organization describes its programs and accomplishments during the year. This is where nonprofits explain what they actually did — how many people they served, what services they provided, or what research they conducted. The financial sections show total revenue, broken down by source (donations, grants, program revenue, investment income), and total expenses, broken down by category (program expenses, management, fundraising).

Organizations must also disclose related entities, loans to officers, conflicts of interest policies, and whether they spent money on lobbying or political activity. The 990 is designed to show the public and the IRS how the organization operates and whether it is using donations for its stated mission.

Why the 990 is public and how to find one

The IRS publishes 990 forms filed by tax-exempt organizations on a free public database called Form 990 Series Downloads. Donors, journalists, researchers, and anyone else can search for a nonprofit's 990 by name or Employer Identification Number (EIN) and read the form. Some nonprofits also post their 990 on their own website.

The public nature of the 990 means that donors can see how much money an organization raised, how much went to programs versus overhead, and how much the executive director was paid. Charity watchdog organizations like Charity Navigator and GiveWell use 990 data to rate nonprofits. This transparency is intended to hold nonprofits accountable and help donors make informed decisions about where to give.

Organizations can request that certain sensitive information be redacted from the public version of their 990 — for example, the home addresses of board members — but the financial and program information remains public.

important date and extensions for filing

The standard important date for filing a 990 is the 15th day of the fifth month after the organization's fiscal year ends. For a nonprofit with a calendar year, that is May 15. An organization can request an automatic extension by filing Form 8868 with the IRS before the important date, which gives it an additional three months to file — until August 15 for calendar-year organizations.

If an organization misses the important date without requesting an extension, the IRS can impose a penalty. The penalty is typically $20 per day for each day the form is late, up to a maximum amount that depends on the organization's size. Organizations that repeatedly fail to file can lose their tax-exempt status.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I look up a nonprofit's 990 online?

Yes. The IRS publishes 990 forms on its Form 990 Series Downloads page, and you can search by organization name or Employer Identification Number. Many nonprofits also post their 990 on their own website. The form is public record, so there is no privacy restriction on viewing it.

What happens if a nonprofit does not file a 990?

If an organization is required to file and does not, the IRS can impose penalties and may revoke the organization's tax-exempt status. Once tax-exempt status is lost, the organization must pay income tax on its revenue and donors no longer receive a tax deduction for donations.

Is the 990 the same as a nonprofit's financial statements?

No. A 990 is a tax form filed with the IRS, while financial statements are prepared for the organization's board and donors. They use different formats and serve different purposes, though both report the organization's income and expenses. Some nonprofits include their 990 as part of their annual report, but they are separate documents.

Do churches have to file a 990?

Most churches are exempt from filing a 990, even if they have significant revenue. However, a church-related organization that is not itself a church — such as a nonprofit school or hospital run by a church — may have to file. The rules depend on the organization's structure and primary function.

What is the difference between gross receipts and net income on a 990?

Gross receipts is the total money the organization received from all sources before expenses. Net income is what remains after subtracting expenses. The IRS uses gross receipts to determine which form to file, so an organization with $60,000 in gross receipts but only $5,000 in net income still files the full 990 or 990-EZ based on the higher number.