990-EZ filing requirements: who must file and when it's due

Last updated 2026-07-25

What is Form 990, and where does the 990-EZ fit in?

Form 990 is the annual information return that most tax-exempt organizations file with the IRS. It's not a tax bill. Your booster club or PTO almost certainly owes no income tax on its normal fundraising and dues income, but the IRS still wants a yearly report on money in, money out, and who's running the show. The IRS actually has four versions of this report, and which one you file depends entirely on your organization's size, not on what you do or how you're organized. The full Form 990 is the long version, dozens of pages, for big nonprofits. Form 990-EZ is the shortened version for mid-size groups. Form 990-N is the postcard-size e-filing for the smallest groups. And Form 990-PF is a separate animal entirely, for private foundations. Most volunteer-run booster clubs and PTOs land in one of two buckets: 990-N (tiny) or 990-EZ (small but not tiny). Very few youth sports or school parent groups have enough money flowing through to need the full 990 tax form. The IRS describes the 990-EZ plainly: it's the "Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax," built for organizations that don't meet the full-form thresholds but exceed the postcard-filer limit ^[1].

What are the actual gross receipts and asset thresholds for the 990-EZ?

Smallest orgs	Normally $50,000 or less	No asset test	Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
Small/mid orgs	Less than $200,000	Less than $500,000	Form 990-EZ
Larger orgs	$200,000 or more, or assets $500,000+	Any	Full Form 990	That $50,000 gross receipts threshold for the 990-N postcard filer comes straight from the IRS's own guidance on who may file the e-Postcard [3]. Below that, you're eligible for the postcard. Above it but under the 990-EZ caps, you're in EZ territory. Above the EZ caps, you need the full form, or you may want to hire a preparer at that point, because the full 990 asks for program service accomplishments, compensation disclosures, and a lot more detail than a volunteer treasurer typically wants to tackle alone.

You can file Form 990-EZ instead of the full Form 990 if your organization's gross receipts were less than $200,000 and total assets at the end of the tax year were less than $500,000 ^[2]. Both conditions have to be true. If either number goes over the line, you're bumped up to the full Form 990. Gross receipts, in IRS terms, means the total amount your organization received from all sources during the year, before subtracting any costs or expenses. That trips people up constantly. If your concession stand pulled in $180,000 in sales and you spent $150,000 on inventory, your gross receipts are still $180,000, not $30,000 in "profit." The IRS wants the gross number, full stop. Here's the quick reference for the three most common small-nonprofit filing tiers: | Filing option | Gross receipts | Total assets | Form |

When is the 990-EZ due, and can you get an extension?

Form 990-EZ is due the 15th day of the 5th month after your organization's accounting period ends ^[2]. For a calendar-year filer (fiscal year ending December 31), that's May 15 of the following year. For a fiscal year ending June 30, common for school-affiliated groups, the deadline is November 15. If May 15 falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day. Always confirm the exact date on the IRS's own calendar or with the IRS directly, since holiday rules shift the date slightly year to year. You can request an automatic 6-month extension by filing Form 8868 before your original due date ^[4]. That extension is genuinely automatic, no explanation required, but you have to file the request on time. There's no extension available once the original deadline has already passed.

What information goes on Form 990-EZ that isn't on the 990-N?

This is where a lot of new treasurers get surprised. The 990-N e-Postcard asks for eight data points: your EIN, tax year, legal name, address, any other names used, name and address of a principal officer, website if you have one, and confirmation that gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less ^[3]. That's it. Takes ten minutes. Form 990-EZ is a real return. It has multiple parts: a revenue and expenses statement, a balance sheet, a statement of program service accomplishments, a list of officers, directors, trustees, and key employees with their compensation (even if it's $0, which it usually is for volunteer boards), and various yes/no compliance questions about lobbying, related organizations, and transactions with insiders. Depending on your activities, you may also need to attach schedules. Schedule A (public charity status) is required for most 501(c)(3) filers. Schedule B (contributor information) is required if you received large individual contributions. Schedule G is required if you held fundraising events or gaming activities (bingo, raffles) above certain thresholds. A booster club running a big raffle or a golf tournament fundraiser should expect to fill out Schedule G most years. None of this requires a CPA if your books are clean and your prior-year return is sitting in a file somewhere you can find it. But it does require actual bookkeeping discipline all year, categorized income and expenses, a reconciled bank account, and a list of who served as an officer and when. If your predecessor treasurer handed you a shoebox, budget real time for this.

What happens if your booster club or PTO misses the 990-EZ deadline?

Missing one year's deadline alone usually isn't fatal, though the IRS can assess penalties for late filing, generally $20 per day the return is late (capped at the lesser of $10,000 or 5% of gross receipts for smaller organizations), with different, higher figures for larger organizations ^[5]. Confirm current penalty amounts with the IRS since these are adjusted periodically. The real danger is compounding neglect. Federal law is explicit here: an organization that fails to file required Form 990-series returns for three consecutive years automatically loses its tax-exempt status, by operation of law, no separate IRS notice or hearing required ^[6]. This is the auto-revocation rule under section 6033(j) of the Internal Revenue Code, and it's exactly what happens to a lot of booster clubs when the treasurer graduates their kid, hands off a login nobody remembers, and three years pass in silence. Auto-revocation isn't a warning. It's automatic and retroactive to the original filing due date of the third missed year. Your organization drops off the IRS's list of tax-exempt entities, donations made after that point may not be deductible for donors, and you may owe income tax on activity you assumed was exempt. If this has already happened to your group, the IRS does have a formal reinstatement process, including a streamlined retroactive reinstatement option for organizations that were eligible to file the 990-N or 990-EZ and apply within 15 months of revocation ^[7]. It requires filing Form 1023 or 1023-EZ again along with any delinquent returns. It's a real process with real paperwork, and it's exactly the kind of thing worth reading the IRS's own instructions on before you start, or getting a nonprofit-experienced preparer involved if your situation is messy.

Who actually has to file: does every small nonprofit need to file something?

Yes, with very few exceptions. The IRS default rule is that essentially all tax-exempt organizations recognized under section 501(c) must file an annual return or notice, even if they owe no tax and had almost no activity . "We're small, we're all-volunteer, nobody will notice" is the exact assumption that leads to auto-revocation three years later. A short list of organizations are excepted from the annual filing requirement entirely, including certain church-related organizations and some government-affiliated entities. Almost no PTO, booster club, or youth sports league qualifies for these narrow exceptions. If you're not sure whether your group is exempt from filing, confirm directly with the IRS or a qualified preparer rather than assuming. One more wrinkle: filing a 990-series return is a federal requirement tied to your tax-exempt status. It is separate from any state-level charitable solicitation registration or annual report your state charity office or attorney general may require. Many states require their own annual filing, sometimes tied to raffle or gaming licenses, in addition to whatever you send the IRS. Confirm both federal and state requirements separately; they don't automatically sync up.

What's the difference between the 990-EZ and the full 990?

The difference is mostly length and depth, not philosophy. Both are annual information returns. Both are public documents once filed (nonprofits' 990s are subject to public disclosure rules, and most get posted on sites like ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer or GuideStar/Candid). The full IRS Form 990 asks for far more detail: a governance section covering board policies, detailed compensation tables for the five highest-paid employees over $100,000, and a much longer set of required schedules. A booster club or PTO under the $200,000 gross receipts / $500,000 asset thresholds almost never needs the full form. If you're bumping right up against those numbers because of a big capital campaign year or a huge one-time fundraiser, talk to a preparer before assuming you're still EZ-eligible; a single unusually large year can push you over. One practical note: once you file the full 990 because you crossed the threshold in a big year, you don't automatically stay on the full form forever. Eligibility is reassessed each year based on that year's actual receipts and assets. A quiet year afterward can put you back in EZ territory.

What does a treasurer do, and why does all this filing fall on them?

So what is a treasurer, exactly, and what does a treasurer do in a club? In a booster club, PTO, or youth sports league, the treasurer is the officer responsible for the organization's money: collecting dues and fundraising income, paying vendors and coaches' stipends, keeping the checkbook and bank statements reconciled, and reporting the financial picture to the board and membership. What does a club treasurer do day to day? Realistically: deposit checks and cash from concessions or fundraisers, pay invoices, track budget versus actual spending for each team or program, and prepare a financial report for board meetings. What does a treasurer of a club do at year end is the part that trips people up: pulling together the full year's numbers into a form the IRS or state can actually use. The filing responsibility lands on the treasurer because they're the one with access to the bank records and the income/expense detail the return requires. Nobody else on a volunteer board typically has that information organized. This is exactly why so many booster clubs lose their tax-exempt status: the treasurer role turns over every year or two as kids age out of the program, and the filing history, EIN, and login credentials get lost in the handoff. If you're new to the role, one of your first jobs should be tracking down the prior three years of returns (or confirming none were filed) and checking your organization's status directly with the IRS.

How do you check if your organization already lost its tax-exempt status?

The IRS keeps a public, searchable database called Tax Exempt Organization Search where you can look up any organization by name or EIN to see its current exempt status, whether it's been auto-revoked, and its filed 990-series returns going back several years . This should be one of the first things a new treasurer checks, before assuming everything's fine. If your organization shows up as "auto-revoked," don't panic, but don't ignore it either. The reinstatement process exists precisely for organizations in your position, and thousands of small groups go through it every year. Gather your EIN, your founding documents if you can find them, and your financial records for the missing years, then read the IRS's own instructions on retroactive reinstatement before deciding whether to handle it yourself or bring in a preparer. If you're stepping into a treasurer role cold, with little more than a bank statement and a login somebody emailed you, building a simple, state-specific reference for your first year (what to file, what deadlines apply, what your state charity office wants separately from the IRS) saves a lot of guessing. That's the whole idea behind our $99 one-time State-Personalized Treasurer Kit: a single reference built around your state's rules and your organization's filing tier, so you're not reconstructing all of this from scratch under deadline pressure.

Quick-reference: 990-EZ filing checklist for a new treasurer

Before your deadline, confirm these five things, in this order. First, check your organization's current status on the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool . If you've been auto-revoked, that changes everything about what you file next. Second, calculate actual gross receipts (not net profit) for the year and total assets as of year-end. If gross receipts are under $200,000 and assets under $500,000, you're likely EZ-eligible, assuming you were also over the 990-N threshold. Third, gather officer and director names plus any compensation paid (most volunteer boards report $0, but you still have to list who served). Fourth, identify whether you need Schedule A, Schedule B, or Schedule G based on your public charity status, large donors, and any gaming or fundraising events held. Fifth, mark your deadline: 15th day of the 5th month after fiscal year-end, and file Form 8868 well before that date if you need the automatic 6-month extension ^[4]. Don't wait until the week of the deadline to discover you're missing a prior-year return you need for reference.

Frequently asked questions

What is Form 990?

Form 990 is the annual information return the IRS requires from most tax-exempt organizations. It reports revenue, expenses, assets, and leadership, but it's not a tax bill; most small nonprofits owe no income tax. The version you file (990-N, 990-EZ, or full 990) depends on your gross receipts and total assets, not on your organization's mission.

What is the 990 tax form used for?

It's used by the IRS and the public to see how a tax-exempt organization raises and spends money, and it's how the IRS confirms the organization is still active and complying with its exempt status. Filed 990s become public records, viewable on the IRS's own search tool and sites like ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer.

What does a treasurer do in a booster club or PTO?

A treasurer manages all incoming and outgoing money: collecting dues and fundraising proceeds, paying vendors and stipends, reconciling the bank account, reporting finances to the board, and preparing or coordinating the annual IRS 990-series filing and any state charity report the organization owes.

What's the gross receipts threshold for filing Form 990-EZ instead of the full 990?

You can file 990-EZ if gross receipts were under $200,000 and total assets at year-end were under $500,000, per IRS instructions for the form. Both numbers must be under the limit. Cross either threshold and you're required to file the full Form 990 instead.

When is Form 990-EZ due each year?

It's due the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year ends: May 15 for calendar-year filers. A weekend or federal holiday can shift the exact date, so confirm the current year's date with the IRS. An automatic 6-month extension is available via Form 8868 if filed on time.

What happens if a nonprofit doesn't file a 990 for three years in a row?

The IRS automatically revokes tax-exempt status after three consecutive years of unfiled required returns, under Internal Revenue Code section 6033(j). No warning notice or hearing is required; it happens by operation of law. Reinstatement requires reapplying for exemption and filing the delinquent returns.

How do I know if my organization qualifies for the 990-N postcard instead of the 990-EZ?

Organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less may file the simple 990-N e-Postcard instead of the 990-EZ, per IRS guidance. If receipts are consistently above that but under $200,000, and assets stay under $500,000, the 990-EZ is the correct form instead.

Does gross receipts mean profit after expenses?

No. Gross receipts means total money received before subtracting any costs, per IRS instructions for Form 990-EZ. A concession stand that took in $180,000 and spent $150,000 on inventory reports $180,000 in gross receipts, not $30,000, when checking the filing threshold.

What is a club treasurer responsible for besides tax filings?

Beyond IRS and state filings, a club treasurer typically handles budgeting for teams or programs, depositing cash and check income safely, paying invoices and reimbursements, maintaining receipts for audit purposes, and giving the board a clear financial report at each meeting.

Can a new treasurer check whether the organization already lost its tax-exempt status?

Yes. The IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool lets anyone look up an organization by name or EIN to see current exempt status, auto-revocation history, and past 990-series filings. Checking this tool should be one of the first things a new treasurer does.

Do state charity or attorney general filings replace the federal 990 requirement?

No. State charitable registration and annual reporting requirements are separate from, and in addition to, the federal 990-series filing. Many states require their own annual report or renewal, especially for organizations holding raffles or other gaming activity. Confirm both sets of requirements with the IRS and your state charity office.

What schedules commonly attach to a booster club's Form 990-EZ?

Most 501(c)(3) booster clubs attach Schedule A to show public charity status. Groups with large individual donors may need Schedule B. Groups running raffles, bingo, or other gaming, or significant fundraising events, typically need Schedule G. Confirm exact requirements with the IRS instructions each year, since thresholds can change.

Sources

1. IRS, About Form 990-EZ: Form 990-EZ is the Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax for organizations below the full-form thresholds
2. IRS, Instructions for Form 990-EZ: 990-EZ eligibility requires gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000
3. IRS, Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations (Form 990-N): Organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less may file the 990-N e-Postcard
4. IRS, About Form 8868: Form 8868 provides an automatic 6-month extension to file exempt organization returns
5. 26 U.S.C. section 6033(j), Internal Revenue Code: Failure to file required returns for three consecutive years results in automatic revocation of tax-exempt status
6. IRS, Annual Exempt Organization Return: Who Must File: Nearly all tax-exempt organizations must file an annual return or notice, with narrow exceptions
7. IRS, Tax Exempt Organization Search: The IRS provides a public search tool to check an organization's exempt status and filing history