TSCPA News

Treasury, IRS Issue Final Regulations on Relief for Certain Tax-Exempt Organizations

May 27, 2020

The Department of the Treasury and IRS recently issued final regulations clarifying the reporting requirements generally applicable to tax-exempt organizations.

The regulations reflect statutory amendments and certain grants of reporting relief announced by the Treasury and IRS in prior guidance to help many tax-exempt organizations generally find the reporting requirements in one place.

Among other provisions, the final regulations incorporate the existing exception from having to file an annual return for certain organizations that normally have gross receipts of $50,000 or less. The regulations also provide that the requirement to report contributor names and addresses on annual returns generally applies only to returns filed by Section 501(c)(3) organizations and Section 527 political organizations. All tax-exempt organizations must continue to maintain the names and addresses of their substantial contributors in their books and records. This change will have no effect on transparency, as contributor information that is open to public inspection will be unaffected by this regulation.

The final regulations allow tax-exempt organizations to choose to apply the regulations to returns filed after Sept. 6, 2019.