Non-Profit Tax Returns
We prepare your annual Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-T so your organization stays compliant and in good standing with the IRS.
What This Is
Nonprofit organizations don’t pay income tax on their exempt activities, but they still have to file with the IRS every year. That means Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or in some cases Form 990-T if your organization has unrelated business income. We handle the preparation and filing of these returns so your organization meets its obligations accurately and on time.
You provide us with your financial records and supporting documentation. We prepare the return, walk you through it so your board understands what’s being reported, and file it. The process is straightforward when the bookkeeping is clean, and if it’s not, we can help with that too.
Forms We Prepare
Forms We Prepare
Form 990 for organizations with gross receipts above $200,000 or total assets above $500,000. Form 990-EZ for smaller organizations that fall below those thresholds. Form 990-T when your nonprofit has unrelated business income that needs to be reported and taxed separately from your exempt activities.
What's Included
What's Included
Complete preparation of the applicable return with all required schedules. Review of revenue and expense classifications for accuracy. Functional expense allocation where required. A review meeting so you and your board understand exactly what is being filed before it goes to the IRS.
Why This Matters
The Form 990 is not just a tax form. It is a public document. Donors, grantmakers, watchdog organizations, and state regulators can all access it. Errors or inconsistencies on your 990 don’t just create IRS problems. They raise questions about how your organization manages money, and those questions can directly affect funding.
There’s also the straightforward compliance risk. File late three years in a row and the IRS automatically revokes your tax-exempt status. That’s not a warning or a penalty. It’s an automatic revocation, and getting reinstated is a long and expensive process that disrupts operations and erodes donor trust.
Public Scrutiny
Public Scrutiny
Your 990 is publicly available. Grant foundations review it before writing checks. Major donors look at it to evaluate how their money is being used. Governance details, compensation disclosures, and program expenses are all visible. An inaccurate or sloppy return sends the wrong message about your organization’s financial management.
Automatic Revocation
Automatic Revocation
The IRS doesn’t send multiple warnings before pulling your exempt status. Three consecutive years of missed filings and your organization loses its 501(c)(3) designation automatically. Donations made during the revocation period are no longer tax-deductible for your donors, and the reinstatement process involves refiling your application with additional fees and documentation.
What Changes
Your 990 gets filed correctly and on time by someone who understands the nuances of nonprofit reporting. Revenue is properly classified between program service revenue, contributions, and grants. Expenses are allocated across program, management, and fundraising in a way that accurately reflects how your organization operates. The numbers tell the right story because they match reality.
You also get a preparer who can flag potential issues before they become problems. If unrelated business income is creeping up, we’ll let you know. If your functional expense ratios look off compared to what grantmakers typically expect, we’ll bring that to your attention. The goal is a filing that keeps you compliant and positions your organization well with anyone who reads it.
Board Confidence
Board Confidence
Board members have a fiduciary responsibility to oversee the organization’s finances, but most are volunteers without accounting backgrounds. A clearly prepared return with a plain-language walkthrough gives them the understanding they need to fulfill that duty and ask informed questions about the organization’s financial health.
Year-Round Awareness
Year-Round Awareness
Filing your return is not the only time we’re paying attention. If you’re also a bookkeeping client, your books stay organized throughout the year so tax season is not a scramble. If you’re not, we’ll still let you know what records to keep and how to track things so next year’s filing goes just as smoothly.
Northern Virginia's Bookkeeping & Advisory Firm
First Step:
Tell Us About Your Business
Every engagement starts with a conversation. Tell us what's going on with your books and we'll give you our honest assessment.
