What Is Form 990-T Used For?
Form 990-T is used by tax-exempt organizations to report and pay taxes on unrelated business taxable income (UBTI) that is equal to or exceeds $1,000. This income encompasses everything that’s not directly connected with the organization’s original purpose, such as advertising, merchandise, and similar.
Who Should Use Form 990-T?
Tax-exempt organizations with an unrelated business taxable income should use IRS Form 990-T; more specifically, charities, social welfare groups, colleges and universities, retirement plans, and qualified tuition programs.
When Is Form 990-T Due?
Form 990-T is due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the end of a tax year for the following organizations:
- Individual retirement arrangements (IRAs)
- Certain employee trusts
- Coverdell education savings accounts (ESAs)
- Archer medical savings accounts (MSAs)
All other tax-exempt organizations are expected to file this form by the 15th day of the 5th month after the end of a tax year. As always, if this date falls on a weekend or a holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
What Happens If Form 990-T Is Not Submitted?
If Form 990-T isn’t submitted, you may face penalties and accrued interest for each month for which the required taxes aren’t paid. IRS imposes two main penalties: failure-to-pay and failure-to-file. The former is 0.5% of the unpaid tax for each month that the return is late, with a maximum of 25%, while the latter is 5% of the unpaid tax with the same maximum.
How and Where Do I File Form 990-T?
Most organizations and trusts are required to file Form 990-T with the IRS electronically, using the e-filing feature for charities and nonprofits. However, some organizations, which aren’t defined in section 511, can submit their returns by mail, in which case they should use the address provided on the official website.
What if My Form 990-T Is Missing Information?
If your Form 990-T is missing information, you need to amend it as soon as possible to avoid potential penalties and interest on incorrectly paid taxes. Simply file an amended return and check the “Amended” box in section F at the top of the document. Also, include a statement in Part V (Supplemental Information) to explain which lines were changed and why.
If possible, avoid additional complications by filing a correct return from the start. You can do this if you use a Form 990-T example as a guide when completing your own.