Beware of fake charities IRS cautions taxpayers on scams involving disasters, charitable causes andencourages taxpayers to donate to recognized charities to help disaster victims. IRS’ annual “Dirty Dozen” also lists a variety of common scams taxpayers may encounter.

Understanding Disaster Relief Tax Law and Contribution Deductibility The IRS offers two courses – Disaster Relief – Parts 1 and II – for charitable organizations providing disaster relief. Topics include how charities may provide disaster relief, deductibility of contributions and tax treatment of relief recipients. Organization leadership and volunteers should review the Tax-Exempt Organization Workshop that includes important information on the benefits, limitations and expectations of tax-exempt organizations.

Revisions made to IRS Online Registration System for 501(c)(4) Certification Organizations required to submit Form 8976, Notice of Intent to Operate Under Section 501(c)(4), will notice a new look and improved navigation at the Online Registration System for 501(c)(4)

The IRS reminds Form 990-T Corporate Filers of new tax law provisions that could affect the tax rate applicable to their UBTI. Specifically, fiscal 2017 corporate filers should apply a blended rate to their UBTI for the entire 2017 taxable year, including any UBTI from amounts paid or incurred after December 31, 2017 that increase UBTI under new Section 512(a)(7).

The Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) introduced a flat 21 percent corporate tax rate for tax years beginning after December 31, 2017. However, corporations with fiscal tax years beginning in 2017 and ending in 2018 calculate their tax by blending the rates in effect before 2018 with the rate in effect after 2017. An exempt organization that’s a corporation with a 2017 fiscal year calculates its tax liability by applying the pre-2018 rate and the post-2017 rate to the corporation’s taxable income for the entire tax year. It prorates

The IRS Tax Exempt & Government Entities Division (TE/GE) has a wide range of job opportunities available. Apply today to become part of our team and help us oversee a vital part of the nation’s tax system.

Thursday, June 20, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. in #410 Social Science and Business (SSB) building (located on the UMSL north campus)

In the highly competitive world of grants, learn the art and science of creating excellent grant applications. Share perspectives and embrace practical examples that will give you an edge in writing proposals and obtaining funding. You will leave this interactive session with tools and techniques you can put to immediate use as you seek funds from the private sector. Hands-on activities will be more meaningful if you come to class with a project in mind – it can be for any project at any amount.  From the initial research to thanking the donor, this comprehensive session is good for beginners and seasoned grantwriters alike. The class will also explore the growing area of Donor Advised Funds and their potential impact on foundation giving. Lunch included (in

“Issue 1” in yesterday’s EO Update stated that organizations should report their correct organization type. The IRS wishes to clarify that the intent of this tip was to remind filers to accurately and fully complete information about their public charity status on Schedule A. As indicated in the instructions to Schedule A, the public charity status an organization indicates on Schedule A can be the same as stated in the organization’s tax-exempt determination letter from the IRS (“exemption letter”) or subsequent IRS determination letter, or it can be different. SeeInstructions for Schedule A for more information.

A tax-exempt organization using the calendar-year as its tax year must file a Form 990-series return by May 15th, unless it has filed Form 8868,Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File an Exempt Organization Return.

The IRS suggests organizations consider these three tips to help ensure a complete return and reduce the chances we’ll send your return back or need to request additional information:

Issue 1: Report your organization’s correct organization type.Many organizations report the incorrect organization type in Part I ofSchedule A, Public Charity Status and Public Support, which all 501(c)(3) organizations must file with Form 990 or 990-EZ.

Solution: Look at the letter we sent your organization recognizing you as exempt (your “determination” letter) to verify your correctorganizational type.

Issue 2: Employment taxes. Many organizations forget to file required employment tax returns, such as Forms W-2, 940, 941 or 945.

Solution: Learn about employment

Thursday, May 9 from 1-5 p.m. in # 402 J.C. Penney Conference Center (on the UMSL north campus)

Do you want to strengthen your board and committees’ effectiveness and contribution to organizational success, while forging a more satisfying, effective board-executive relationship?

Do you wish you could organize your board, executive, and staff responsibilities and relationships to best suit your organization’s size and resources?

Does each of these parties’ roles, work and relations need to change to align with a transition or a changing stage in your organization’s development?

Do you wish board and committee work, for both their members and the staff supporting them, could be more productive and fulfilling?

This workshop is designed for staff executives, board leaders and members, or people aspiring to such roles who want to find answers to these questions.  To enable them to successfully address these questions , participants will take away a practical

Many tax-exempt organizations must file information returns by May 15

• Form 990-series returns are due on the 15th day of the fifth month after an organization’s tax year ends
• For an extension of time to file, use Form 8868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time to File an Exempt Organization Return
• What happens if my Form 990 is missing information or a schedule, or is the wrong return?
• To avoid errors, file electronically using one of the eFile business providers

Online training for small and mid-size 501(c)(3) organizations

• The Small to Mid-Size Tax Exempt Organization Workshopis a great resource for charities at StayExempt.irs.gov. 

IRS Nationwide Tax Forums offer:

• Continuing education via educational seminars
• Case Resolution Program
• Opportunities to talk with IRS subject
  

As of January 1, 2019, the IRS stopped mailing lists of parent and subsidiary accounts to central organizations (group ruling holders) for verification and return. Central organizations with accounting periods ending June 30, 2019, must submit updates by April 1, 2019. See Group Exemption Rulings and Group Returns for details.

Friday, March 29, 2019 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. in #410 SSB/Social Science and Business building (on the UMSL north campus. Note different building than where most of our classes take place)

Do you frequently have groups contacting your organization for volunteer projects? Maybe you have a big project or special event that requires a group of volunteers? Or you would like to engage a group of skills-based volunteers at your organization? This interactive class will guide you through the important steps of planning and organizing a volunteer group to ensure that everyone has a meaningful volunteer experience. It will highlight best practices in developing a group volunteer project, working with a group volunteer leader as well as coordinating a project’s day of logistics.

Instructor Alexandra Brownfield applies her volunteer management expertise, industry experience, and steadfast energy to advise organizations on building effective volunteer programs. A graduate of Saint