Compliance Guide for

501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt

Organizations

Internal Revenue Service

Tax Exempt and 

Government Entities

Exempt Organizations

Why keep records?

What records should be kept?

How long should you keep records?

What federal tax reports and returns

must be filed?

What disclosures must a 501(c)(3) 

organization make?
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Why keep records? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Monitor Programs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Prepare Financial Statements . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

2

Prepare Annual Returns and Tax Returns . . . .

3

Identify Sources of Receipts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

Comply with Racial Nondiscrimination Requirements (Private Schools) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

3

Record Deductible Expenses 

for UBIT Purposes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

What records should be kept? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

4

Supporting Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

5

How long should you keep records? . . . . . . . . . .

7

Records and Timeframe Periods . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

7

Accounting Timeframe Periods 

and Methods . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

8

What federal tax reports 

and returns must be filed? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Form 990 Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Form 990 Filing Exceptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

9

Schedules A and B . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10 Form 990-T . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .10

Employment Tax Returns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11

What disclosures must a 

501(c)(3) organization make? . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Public Inspection of Annual Returns 

and Exemption Applications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12 Sale of Free Government Information . . . . . .13

Charitable Contributions—

Substantiation and Disclosure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .14

IRS assistance and information . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

Specialized Assistance 

for Tax-Exempt Organizations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15

General IRS Assistance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16 Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
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(c)(3)

Federal tax law provides tax benefits to 

nonprofit organizations recognized as exempt

from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) 

of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC). It requires 

that most tax-exempt organizations must comply

with federal tax law to maintain that status and

avoid penalties.

This IRS Publication 4221 presents general 

compliance guidelines for recordkeeping, reporting, and disclosure requirements that apply to

organizations that have tax-exempt status from

federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) of the

IRC. Content includes references to the statute,

Treasury regulations, and other IRS publications

and IRS forms with instructions. Publication 4221

is neither comprehensive nor intended to address

every situation.

To learn more about compliance rules and 

procedures that apply to organizations exempt

from federal income tax under section 501(c)(3) 

of the IRC, see Publication 557,Tax-Exempt Status

for Your Organization. For assistance on 501(c)(3)

compliance, you may also want to consult a 

tax adviser.
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In general, an organization must keep books and

records to show that it complies with tax rules. The

organization must be able to document the sources

of receipts and expenditures reported on Form 990,

Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax.

See Prepare Annual Returns and Tax Returns. If an

organization does not keep required records, it may

be unable to show that it qualifies for exemption.

Thus, the organization may lose its tax-exempt status. In addition, an organization may be unable to

complete its returns accurately and may be subject

to penalties. See FILING PENALTIES FOR 990 SERIES on

page 10. A good recordkeeping system will also

enable an organization to monitor the progress of

programs and aid in the preparation of financial

statements and returns.

Monitor Programs

Records can show whether programs are improving,

which programs are successful, and what changes

an organization may need to make. Good records

management may be a contributing factor to the

success of a program.

Prepare Financial Statements

It is important to maintain revenue and expense

statements and balance sheets to prepare accurate

financial statements. These statements can help an

organization when working with banks, creditors,

and contributors and funding organizations.

Why keep records?
3

50(c1)(3)

Prepare Annual Returns and Tax Returns

Records must support income, expenses, and 

credits reported on Form 990 series and other tax

returns. Generally, these are the same records 

used to monitor programs and prepare financial

statements. Also, books and records of exempt

organizations must be available for inspection by

the IRS. If the IRS examines an organization’s

returns, the organization may be asked to explain

items reported. A complete set of records will

speed up the examination.

Identify Sources of Receipts

Organizations may receive money or property from

many sources. Records can identify the sources of

receipts. Organizations need this information to

separate program from non-program receipts, 

taxable from non-taxable income, and to complete

Schedule A of Form 990 noted in section What 

federal tax reports and returns must be filed?

Organizations that check box 10, 11, or 12, Part IV, 

of Schedule A, must keep records that show how

much support they receive from specific contributors.

Comply with Racial Nondiscrimination

Requirements (Private Schools)

Private schools must keep records that show that

they have complied with requirements relating to

racial nondiscrimination. For more information, see

Part V, Schedule A, of Form 990, Supplementary

Information – Organization Exempt Under Section

501(c)(3).
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Record Deductible Expenses 

for UBIT Purposes

An organization may overlook deductible expenses

when it prepares its unrelated business income tax

(UBIT) return (Form 990-T, Exempt Organization

Income Tax Return) unless it records the expenses

when they occur.

Except in a few cases, the law does not require a

special kind of record. An organization can choose

any recordkeeping system, suited to its activities,

that clearly shows the organization’s income and

expenses. The type of activities an organization

conducts affects the type of records necessary to

keep for federal tax purposes. An organization

should set up a recordkeeping system using an

accounting method that clearly shows its income

for the tax year. See Accounting Timeframe Periods

and Methods on page 8. If an organization has

more than one program, the organization should

keep a complete and separate set of records for

each program.

A recordkeeping system should generally include a

summary of transactions. This summary is ordinarily written in an organization’s books (for example,

accounting journals and ledgers). The books must

show gross receipts and functional expenses, as

well as deductions and credits. For most small

organizations, the checkbook is the main source 

What records 

should be kept?
501

for entries in the books. In addition, an organization

must keep documentation that supports entries in

the books.

Supporting Documents

Organization transactions such as contributions,

purchases, sales, and payroll will generate supporting documents. These documents — grant applications and awards, sales slips, paid bills, invoices,

receipts, deposit slips, and canceled checks — 

contain information to be recorded in accounting

records. It is important to keep these documents

because they support the entries in books and 

the entries on tax and information returns.

Organizations should keep them in an orderly 

fashion and in a safe place. For instance, organize

them by year and type of receipt or expense.

GROSS RECEIPTS

Gross receipts are the amounts received from all 

sources. An organization must keep supporting documents that show the amounts and sources of its gross

receipts. Documents that show gross receipts include:

cash register tapes, bank deposit slips, receipt books,

invoices, credit card charge slips, and Form 1099-MISC,

Miscellaneous Income.

PURCHASES, INCLUDING 

ACCOUNTING FOR INVENTORY

Purchases are items bought, including any items 

resold to customers. If an organization produces items,

it must account for any items resold to customers.Thus,

for example, it must account for the cost of all raw 

materials or parts purchased for manufacturing into finished products. Supporting documents should show the

amount paid, and that the amount was for purchases.

Documents for purchases include: canceled checks, cash

register tape receipts, credit card sales slips, and invoices.

These records will help an organization determine the

value of its inventory at the end of the year. See

Publication 538, Accounting Periods and Methods, for

general information on methods for valuing inventory.

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(c)(3)
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EXPENSES

Expenses are the costs an organization incurs (other

than purchases) to carry on its program. Supporting 

documents should show the amount paid and the 

purpose of the expense. Documents for expenses

include: canceled checks, cash register tapes, account

statements, credit card sales slips, invoices, and 

petty-cash slips for small cash payments.

EMPLOYMENT TAXES 

Organizations that have employees must keep specific

employment tax records. See Publication 15, Circular E,

Employer’s Tax Guide, for details.

ASSETS

Assets are the property, such as investments, buildings

and furniture that an organization owns and uses in its

activities. An organization must keep records to verify

certain information about its assets. Records should show:

- when and how the asset was acquired

- whether any debt was used to acquire the asset

- purchase price

- cost of any improvements

- deductions taken for depreciation, if any

- deductions taken for casualty losses, if any, such as 

losses resulting from fires or storms

- how the asset was used

- when and how the asset was disposed of

- selling price

- expenses of sale

Documents that may show the above information include:

purchase and sales invoices, real estate closing statements,

canceled checks, and financing documents. If an organization does not have canceled checks, it may be able to

show payment with certain financial account statements

prepared by financial institutions.These include account

statements prepared for the financial institution by a

third party. Account statements must be highly legible.

The following defines acceptable account statements.

IF payment is by: THEN statement must show:

check check number, amount, payee’s 

name, and date the check amount 

was posted to the account by the 

financial institution

electronic amount transferred, payee’s name,

funds transfer and date the transfer was posted to 

the account by the financial institution

credit card amount charged, payee’s name, and 

transaction date
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50(c1)(3)

Exempt organizations must keep records as long as

they may be needed to administer provisions of the

Internal Revenue Code. Generally, this means you

must keep records that support an item of income

or deduction on a return until the period of limitations for that return runs out. The period of limitations is the period of time in which an organization

can amend its return to claim a credit or refund, or

the IRS can assess additional tax. The most common limitations period is three years after the date

the return is due or filed, whichever is later.

Records and Timeframe Periods

Timeframes for keeping records vary depending on

the types of records and returns.

Permanent Records – Some records should be 

kept permanently. These include the application 

for recognition of exempt status, the determination 

letter recognizing exempt status, and organizing

documents, such as articles of incorporation and

by-laws, with amendments.

Employment Tax Records – If an organization has

employees, it must keep employment tax records

for at least four years after the date the tax

becomes due or is paid, whichever is later.

Records for Non-Tax Purposes – When records are

no longer needed for tax purposes, an organization

should keep them until they are no longer needed

for non-tax purposes. For example, a grantor, 

insurance company, creditor, or state agency 

may require that records be kept longer than the

IRS requires.

How long should 

you keep records?
8

Accounting Timeframe 

Periods and Methods

Organizations must keep books, report, and file

returns based on an annual accounting period

called a tax year.

Accounting Periods – A tax year is usually 12 consecutive months. There are two kinds of tax years.

calendar tax year -This is a period of 12 consecutive months beginning January 1 and ending

December 31. 

fiscal tax year -This is a period of 12 consecutive

months ending on the last day of any month

except December. 

Accounting Methods – An accounting method is 

a set of rules used to determine when and how

income and expenses are reported. An organization

chooses an accounting method when it files its first

annual return. There are two basic accounting

methods:

cash method - Under the cash method, an organization reports income in the tax year received. 

It usually deducts expenses in the year paid. 

accrual method - Under an accrual method, an

organization generally records income in the tax

year earned, even though it may receive payment

in a later year. It records expenses in the tax year

incurred, whether or not it pays the expenses 

that year. 

For more information about accounting periods

and methods, see Publication 538 and the instructions to Forms 990 (Return of Organization Exempt 

From Income Tax), 990-EZ (Short Form Return of

Organization Exempt From Income Tax), and 990-PF

(Return of Private Foundation).
50(c

1)(3)

9

Most tax-exempt organizations must file an annual 

tax-exempt organization return in the Form 990 series.

Section 501(c)(3) organizations also generally file

Schedule A and Schedule B, Schedule of Contributors,

of Form 990. In addition, exempt organizations 

must file returns and reports generally filed by other

taxpayers, such as employment tax returns. 

Form 990 Series

Most 501(c)(3) organizations must file an annual return

detailing their income, expenditures, and activities. All

private foundations and most nonexempt charitable

trusts must file Form 990-PF, Return of Private

Foundation. Unless excepted from the annual return

requirement, other 501(c)(3) organizations file Form 990,

Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax, or

Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization

Exempt From Income Tax. An organization may file

Form 990-EZ if its gross receipts are less than $100,000

during the year, and its total assets are less than

$250,000 at the end of the year. Otherwise, it must file

Form 990.

Form 990 Filing Exceptions

Organizations not required to file Form 990 or 

Form 990-EZ are:

■ churches and certain church-affiliated organizations

■ certain organizations affiliated with governmental units

■ organizations (other than private foundations) whose

annual gross receipts are normally less than $25,000

(from sources within the U.S., for foreign organizations)

■ organizations covered by a group return

See the instructions to Forms 990 and 990-EZ for 

complete details on filing exceptions.

What federal tax reports 

and returns must be filed?
10

Schedules A and B

Section 501(c)(3) organizations that file Form 990 

or 990-EZ must file Schedule A of that return.

Schedule A reports information about: compensation

of officers, directors, key employees, and independent contractors; the basis for the organization’s

public charity classification; lobbying expenditures;

and certain other activities, as noted on Schedule A

instructions. Private schools must fill out a special

questionnaire. Organizations must also file

Schedule B if they report contributions over a certain

amount on Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-PF.

See the instructions to Schedule B for complete

information.

NOTE: FILING PENALTIES FOR 990 SERIES

If a return is not filed, the IRS may assess penalties on

the organization of $20 per day until it is filed.This penalty also applies when filer fails to include required information or to show correct information.The penalty for a

return may not exceed the lesser of $10,000 or 5 percent

of the organization’s gross receipts (more for organizations whose gross receipts exceed $1 million).The IRS

may impose penalties on organization managers who do

not comply with a written demand that the information

be filed.

Form 990-T

In addition to filing Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF, an

exempt organization must file Form 990-T, Exempt

Organization Business Income Tax Return, if the

organization has $1,000 or more of gross receipts

from an unrelated trade or business during the

year. The organization must pay quarterly estimated

tax on unrelated business income, if the organization expects its tax for the year to be $500 or more.

Form 990-W, Estimated Tax on Unrelated Business
50(c

1)(3)

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Taxable Income for Tax-Exempt Organizations, is a

worksheet to determine the amount of estimated

tax payments required. An organization may be

subject to interest and penalty charges if it files a

late return, fails to pay tax when due, or fails to 

pay estimated tax, if required. See Publication 598,

Tax on Unrelated Business Income of Exempt

Organizations, Form 990-T instructions, and Form

990-W instructions for further information.

Employment Tax Returns

Like other employers, 501(c)(3) organizations that

pay wages to employees must withhold, deposit,

and pay employment tax, including federal income

tax withholding and Social Security and Medicare

(FICA) taxes. Section 501(c)(3) organizations do not

pay federal unemployment (FUTA) taxes. Any person that fails to withhold and pay employment tax

may be subject to penalties.

Exempt organizations do not generally have to

withhold or pay employment tax on payments 

to independent contractors, but they may have 

information reporting requirements. If an organization incorrectly classifies an employee as an 

independent contractor, it may be held liable for

employment tax for that worker. For help in determining if workers are employees or independent 

contractors, see Publication 15-A, Employer’s

Supplemental Tax Guide. See Publication 557 

for details on employment tax exemptions for

501(c)(3) organizations generally and Publication

1828, Tax Guide for Churches and Religious

Organizations, for employment tax exemptions for

churches and church-controlled organizations.
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There are a number of disclosure requirements for

501(c)(3) organizations as noted below. Detailed

information on federal tax law disclosure requirements for 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organizations can 

be found in Publication 557, on the IRS Web site at

www.irs.gov, and in the final regulations (Treasury

Decision 8818 published in the Internal Revenue

Bulletin 1999-17 (April 26, 1999)).

NOTE: PENALTIES

Penalties apply to organizations that do not comply with

disclosure requirements, and to persons responsible for

the failure to comply.

Public Inspection of Annual Returns 

and Exemption Applications

A 501(c)(3) organization must make certain documents available for public inspection and copying

upon request and without charge (except a reasonable charge for copying). The organization must 

disclose its exemption application (Form 1023)

along with all supporting documents and a copy 

of the exemption ruling letter issued by the IRS.

The IRS makes these documents available for 

public inspection and copying. Private foundation

returns filed on or after March 13, 2000, are also

subject to these disclosure rules.

What disclosures must a

501(c)(3) organization make?
501

Annual Information Return – An organization must

disclose its annual information return (Form 990

series), with schedules, attachments, and supporting

documents filed with the IRS. However, the organization does not have to disclose Schedule B of Form 990

or Form 990-T and does not need to identify its contributors. Returns need to be available for disclosure

for only three years after the due date or filing date of

the return, whichever is later.

Exemption Application – An organization must disclose its exemption application (Form 1023) along

with each of the following documents:

■ all documents submitted with Form 1023

■ all documents the IRS requires the organization 

to submit in support of its application

■ the exemption ruling letter issued by the IRS

Certain information may be withheld from public

inspection. Organizations may place reasonable

restrictions on the time, place, and manner of 

in-person inspection and copying. Organizations 

may charge a reasonable fee for providing copies. 

For details on public inspection rules and procedures

for 501(c)(3) organizations, see Publication 557 and 

the instructions to Forms 990 and 1023. 

Sale of Free Government Information

If an exempt organization offers to sell goods or 

services that are available free from the federal 

government, the organization must disclose that 

fact in a conspicuous and easily recognized format. 

An organization that intentionally disregards this

requirement is subject to a penalty.

(c)(3)

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14

Charitable Contributions –

Substantiation and Disclosure

There are two general rules that organizations need

to be aware of to meet substantiation and disclosure requirements for federal income tax return

reporting purposes:

■ a donor must obtain a written acknowledgement

from a charity for any single contribution of $250 or

more before the donor can claim a charitable contribution on his or her federal income tax return.

■ a charitable organization must provide a written

disclosure to a donor who makes a payment in

excess of $75 partly as a contribution and partly for

goods and services provided by the organization.

See Publication 1771, Charitable Contributions—

Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements, for

details on the federal tax law for organizations such

as charities and churches that receive tax-deductible

charitable contributions and for taxpayers who

make contributions.
501

IRS assistance 

and information

The IRS offers help through assistors and with

reading material that is accessible either online, 

via mail, by telephone, and at IRS walk-in offices 

in many areas across the country. IRS forms and

publications can be downloaded from the Internet

and ordered by telephone.

Specialized Assistance 

for Tax-Exempt Organizations

Get help with questions about applying for tax

exemption, annual filing requirements, and information about exempt organizations through the

IRS Exempt Organizations (EO) division: 

EO Web site www.irs.gov/eo

EO customer service (877) 829-5500

EO customer service Internal Revenue Service

mailing address TE/GE Customer 

Account Services

P.O. Box 2508

Cincinnati, OH 45201

(c)(3)

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General IRS Assistance

Get materials on the latest tax laws, assistance 

with forms and publications, and filing information

through the following IRS resources:

IRS Web site www.irs.gov

federal tax questions (800) 829-1040

small business 

federal tax questions (800) 829-4933

order IRS forms 

and publications (800) 829-3676

IRS Tax Fax (703) 368-9694

Dial from a fax machine, 

and follow voice prompts 

to get forms faxed back 

to you.

Tax Publications for 

Exempt Organizations

Get publications via the Internet 

and free through the IRS at (800) 829-3676:

Pub 15, Circular E, Employer’s Tax Guide 

Pub 15-A, Employer’s Supplemental Tax Guide 

Pub 463, Travel, Entertainment, Gift,

and Car Expenses 

Pub 538, Accounting Periods and Methods 

Pub 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization

Pub 578, Tax Information for Private Foundations

and Foundation Managers 

Pub 583, Starting a Business and Keeping Records

Pub 598, Tax on Unrelated Business Income of

Exempt Organizations 

Pub 1771, Charitable Contributions –

Substantiation and Disclosure Requirements 

Pub 1828, Tax Guide for Churches and Religious

Organizations
Forms for Exempt Organizations

Get forms via the Internet or through your fax

machine (see IRS Tax Fax, page 16):

Form 990, Return of Organization 

Exempt From Income Tax 

Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of 

Organization Exempt From Income Tax 

Form 990-PF, Return of Private Foundation or

Section 4947(a)(1) Nonexempt Charitable Trust

Treated as a Private Foundation

Schedule A, of Form 990 or 990-EZ,

Supplementary Information – Organization 

Exempt Under Section 501(c)(3) 

Schedule B, of Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF,

Schedule of Contributors 

Form 990-T, Exempt Organization 

Business Income Tax Return 

Form 990-W, Estimated Tax on Unrelated Business

Taxable Income for Exempt Organizations 

Form 1023, Application for Recognition of

Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the 

Internal Revenue Code

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Department of the Treasury

Internal Revenue Service

www.irs.gov

Publication 4221 (09-2003)

Catalog Number 37054E