Table of Contents
For the latest information about developments related to Form 990, 990-EZ and the related instructions, such as legislation enacted after they were published, go to www.irs.gov/form990.
2012 Significant Changes
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The General Instructions:
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Remind filers not to include social security numbers on Form 990-EZ, because the filing organization and the IRS are required to publicly disclose the organization’s annual information returns upon request.
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Clarify which year’s Form 990-EZ may be used to file for a short period.
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Clarify that a short period return cannot be filed electronically unless it is a final return for which the “Terminated” box is checked in Item B of the Form 990-EZ heading.
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The instructions for page 1, Item H. Schedule B, of the heading, clarify when the organization needs to file Schedule B.
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In Part II, Balance Sheets, the instructions for line 24 (Other Assets) no longer require filers to report their share of assets of joint ventures and other partnerships using Schedule K-1 (Form 1065).
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In Part IV, List of Officers, Directors, Trustees, and Key Employees, filers are no longer required to list addresses in column (a), and should enter titles in column (a) instead of in column (b).
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In Part V, Other Information, instructions for lines 45a-45b are revised to clarify the definition of “control” for purposes of determining a “controlled organization” under section 512(b)(13).
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In Part VI, Section 501(c)(3) organizations only:
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In line 50, filers are no longer required to list addresses in column (a), and should enter titles in column (a) instead of in column (b).
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Line 51 instructions clarify that insurance providers should not be reported as independent contractors.
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Appendix H, Contributions, clarifies that if an organization accepts a contribution in the name of one of its programs, its donor acknowledgment should indicate the organization’s name.
Forms 990 and 990-EZ are used by tax-exempt organizations, nonexempt charitable trusts, and section 527 political organizations to provide the IRS with the information required by section 6033.
An organization's completed Form 990 or 990-EZ, and a section 501(c)(3) organization's Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, generally are available for public inspection as required by section 6104. Schedule B Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-PF, Schedule of Contributors, is open for public inspection for section 527 organizations filing Form 990 or 990-EZ. For other organizations that file Form 990 or 990-EZ, parts of Schedule B can be open to public inspection. For more details, see Appendix D and the Instructions for Schedule B (Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF), Schedule of Contributors.
Some members of the public rely on Form 990 or 990-EZ, as the primary or sole source of information about a particular organization. How the public perceives an organization in such cases may be determined by the information presented on its return.
Other purposes of Form 990 and 990-EZ include:
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Form 990-EZ can be filed by organizations with gross receipts of less than $200,000 and total assets of less than $500,000 at the end of their tax year.
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Sponsoring organizations of donor advised funds (as defined in section 4966(d)(1)), organizations that operate a hospital facility, organizations recognized by the IRS as section 501(c)(29) nonprofit health insurance issuers, and certain controlling organizations defined in section 512(b)(13) must file Form 990 rather than Form 990-EZ regardless of the amount of their gross receipts and total assets. See instructions for lines 44 and 45, and General Instruction A, before completing this form.
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Form 990-EZ cannot be used by a private foundation required to file Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust Treated as a Private Foundation. A section 501(c)(3) or section 4947(a)(1) organization should refer to the Instructions for Schedule A (Form 990 or 990-EZ) to determine whether it is a private foundation.
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Form 990 must be used to file a group return, not Form 990-EZ. See General Instruction A.
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