Blog - Tax990 -

Lobbying Rules for Nonprofits: What 501(c)(3)s Can and Cannot Do

Lobbying is one of the most misunderstood areas of nonprofit compliance. The good news: 501(c)(3) organizations are allowed to lobby, within limits. This guide breaks down lobbying versus political campaign activity, the substantial part test versus the 501(h) election, and where lobbying activity lands on Schedule C.

Posted byPatience Booker
August 17, 2026
0 Comments

How to Look Up Any Nonprofit’s Form 990 (Free)

Every nonprofit's Form 990 is public record — but finding it depends on knowing where to look. This guide walks through five free tools for searching Form 990 filings, from the IRS's official database to plain-language nonprofit profiles, including what each one can and can't show you. Whether you're a donor doing research, a journalist on deadline, or a board member confirming your own organization has filed, you'll find the right starting point here.

Posted byPatience Booker
August 14, 2026
0 Comments

What is Form 990-T? Everything Nonprofits Need to Know About Unrelated Business Income Tax Reporting

Unrelated business income is one of the most misunderstood areas of nonprofit compliance. This guide breaks down UBI, UBTI, UBIT, and UDFI, walks through the three-prong test and the exceptions that follow it, and explains who has to file Form 990-T, when it's due, and what happens if it's late.

Posted byCharles Hardy
August 12, 2026
0 Comments

How to Classify Contributions, Grants, and Program Revenue in Form 990-EZ

Not all revenue belongs in the same box on Form 990-EZ. Here's how to tell contributions and grants apart from program service revenue, and why the distinction matters for your Schedule A calculations.

Posted byPatience Booker
August 6, 2026
0 Comments

Not Everything Is Exempt: What Nonprofits Get Wrong About Unrelated Business Income

Being tax-exempt doesn't mean every dollar your nonprofit earns is off the hook. If your organization brings in unrelated business income, the IRS wants to hear about it on Form 990-T. Here's what trips organizations up, and how to get it right.

Posted byadmin
August 5, 2026
0 Comments

How to Look Up Any Nonprofit’s Form 990 (Free)

Every tax-exempt organization’s Form 990 is a public document, and you can read almost all of them online for free. Whether you’re a donor vetting a charity, a grant researcher,...

Posted byAbhi Kolli
July 31, 2026
0 Comments

IRS Announces Form 990 Filing Relief for Foreign FIFA World Cup 2026 Teams

The IRS just gave foreign soccer federations a break: if their only U.S. tie was the 2026 World Cup, they won't need to file Form 990 this year. It's a narrow, tournament-specific exception—but a welcome one for busy compliance teams.

Posted byPatience Booker
July 30, 2026
0 Comments

The Tax990 API Brings IRS-Authorized 990-N E-Filing to Your Platform

Tax990 just launched a REST API that lets software platforms build IRS-authorized Form 990-N e-filing directly into their products. Here's what it does, who it's for, and how to start testing today.

Posted byPatience Booker
July 29, 2026
0 Comments

How to Read Your IRS Determination Letter: A Field Guide for Nonprofits

Your IRS determination letter decoded, line by line: what your 509(a) classification, effective date, filing requirement, and deductibility each mean.

Posted byPatience Booker
July 27, 2026
0 Comments

Virtual vs. In-Person Nonprofit Finance Events: Which Is Worth It in 2026?

In 2026, the smartest nonprofit finance teams aren't choosing between virtual and in-person events — they're being strategic about when each format actually earns its place on the calendar.

Posted byPatience Booker
July 22, 2026
0 Comments