Instructions for form 990-EZ: a treasurer's plain guide

Last updated 2026-07-24

What is Form 990, and what is the 990-EZ version of it?

Form 990 is the annual information return the IRS requires from most tax-exempt organizations, the paperwork that reports your income, spending, and activities for the year so the IRS (and the public) can see how a nonprofit is actually run. It is not an income tax return in the usual sense, since exempt organizations generally don't owe income tax, but the IRS still wants an annual accounting. ^[1] The 990-EZ is the short form version, built for organizations too big for the postcard-simple 990-N but too small to justify the full 990. It runs about four pages instead of the full form's dozen-plus, and it asks for summarized totals rather than line-by-line detail on every program. Think of the 990 family as a ladder based on size: 990-N at the bottom, 990-EZ in the middle, full Form 990 at the top, plus Form 990-PF for private foundations. Your booster club or PTO almost certainly falls into the bottom two rungs, and which one you use depends entirely on your gross receipts and total assets, not on how complicated your programs feel to you. If you're not sure which form applies to your group, see the general overview at form 990 or the broader explainer at 990 tax form.

Who has to file Form 990-EZ instead of the 990-N or full 990?

$50,000 or less (normally)	any	990-N (or 990-EZ/990 voluntarily)
Under $200,000	Under $500,000	990-EZ (or full 990 voluntarily)
$200,000 or more, OR	$500,000 or more	Full Form 990	A lot of booster clubs sit right around that $50,000 line because of one good gala or a big magazine sale year. If your three-year average creeps over $50,000, plan on the 990-EZ going forward, and check both numbers (receipts and assets) every year, since either one alone can push you up a tier. For the simplest end of this ladder, see 990-N and form 990-N.

You can file Form 990-EZ if your organization's gross receipts for the year were under $200,000 and your total assets at year end were under $500,000. Cross either line and you have to file the full Form 990 instead. On the small end, if your gross receipts were normally $50,000 or less, you're allowed to file the much simpler 990-N e-postcard instead of the EZ, though you can still choose to file the 990-EZ voluntarily if you want a more detailed public record. The IRS defines "normally" using a three-year average for organizations that haven't been around long enough to have a clean single-year figure, so a group with one unusually big fundraiser year isn't automatically bumped up. ^[2] Here's the quick version: | Gross receipts | Total assets | Form required |

What is a 990 tax form actually asking for, section by section?

Form 990-EZ has six parts. Part I is a revenue, expenses, and changes-in-net-assets summary, basically your income statement for the year. Part II is your balance sheet at the start and end of the year (cash, savings, other assets, liabilities). Part III describes your program accomplishments in plain language, what you actually did with the money. Part IV lists officers, directors, and key employees, even if they're unpaid volunteers. ^[1] Part V covers other IRS filings and compliance questions: things like whether you filed required state reports, whether you had unrelated business income over $1,000 (which triggers a separate Form 990-T), and public charity status details. Part VI is only required for section 501(c)(3) organizations and asks about lobbying, transactions with insiders, and other governance items. Most small booster clubs and PTOs will also need to attach Schedule A (public charity status) if they're a 501(c)(3), and possibly Schedule B if they got large individual or corporate contributions. None of this requires an accounting degree to fill out correctly, but it does require your books to actually reconcile, which is where most volunteer treasurers get stuck. If your bank statements and your ledger don't match by December, sorting six months of receipts in April is miserable.

What does a treasurer do, in plain terms, day to day?

A treasurer is the person responsible for a club's money: tracking what comes in, what goes out, keeping records straight, and making sure the group can answer "where did the money go" at any point in the year. That's the one-sentence version. In practice it's less glamorous and more repetitive than that sounds. Day to day, what a treasurer does looks like this: deposit checks and cash within a few days (not weeks), log every transaction in a ledger or spreadsheet, keep receipts filed by month, reconcile the bank statement against the ledger every single month without skipping, and report a simple income/expense summary at board meetings. Nothing on that list is hard by itself. What's hard is doing it consistently for twelve months straight while also coaching, teaching, or working a full-time job. What does a treasurer do in a club specifically, versus a company? The core job is identical, but the volume is smaller and the stakes are more personal, since it's often neighbors' money and neighbors' kids on the line. A club treasurer usually also handles concession stand cash counts, raffle ticket reconciliation, and vendor payments for uniforms or equipment, on top of the bookkeeping basics.

What is a treasurer, and what does the role legally require?

A treasurer is an officer position, usually defined in your bylaws, responsible for financial recordkeeping, reporting, and often for signing checks or approving disbursements alongside another officer. Some organizations require two signatures on checks above a certain dollar amount as a basic control against a single person moving money unchecked. Legally, the treasurer role itself isn't defined by federal tax law, the IRS doesn't license or certify treasurers, but the job carries real responsibility because the treasurer is usually the one who prepares or gathers the numbers that go on the annual 990-series filing. If those numbers are wrong or the filing is late, the consequences land on the organization's exempt status, not on the treasurer personally in most cases, though bylaws and state law can vary on liability. What does a treasurer of a club do that a president or secretary doesn't? The treasurer is the only officer whose job is measured in dollars and cents that have to reconcile to the penny, not in meeting minutes or event coordination. That distinction matters when you're deciding who signs the 990-EZ; it's typically an officer, and the IRS return itself asks for the signing officer's title. ^[1]

When is Form 990-EZ due, and what if the fiscal year isn't the calendar year?

Form 990-EZ is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after your organization's accounting period ends. For a calendar-year organization (year ending December 31), that's May 15 of the following year. ^[1] For a school-year organization ending June 30, that's November 15. You can request an automatic 6-month extension by filing Form 8868 before the original due date, no explanation required. That pushes a May 15 deadline to November 15, or a November 15 deadline to May 15 the following year. ^[3] If the deadline falls on a weekend or federal holiday, it moves to the next business day, same as most IRS deadlines. Mark the date on a real calendar the moment your new treasurer term starts, because "we'll figure it out later" is exactly how three-year revocations happen. If your board turns over every year or two, this is the single easiest thing to lose track of during handoff.

What happens if you miss the deadline or skip filing for a few years?

Missing one year's 990-EZ deadline doesn't revoke your exempt status by itself, but the IRS automatically revokes tax-exempt status for any organization that fails to file a required 990-series return (990, 990-EZ, or 990-N) for three consecutive years. ^[4] There's no warning letter that says "last chance," this happens automatically once the third year lapses, and it's retroactive to the original filing due date of the third year. Once revoked, your organization is on the IRS Auto-Revocation List, loses its exempt status, and becomes subject to income tax on its revenues until reinstated. Donors also lose the ability to claim their contributions as tax-deductible during the revoked period, which can be a nasty surprise for a parent who wrote a $2,000 check assuming it was deductible. Getting reinstated means filing Form 1023 or 1023-EZ (or 1024 for non-501(c)(3) groups) again, along with any missing 990-series returns, and often paying a user fee. The IRS does offer streamlined retroactive reinstatement for small organizations that file within 15 months of revocation, but it still means redoing paperwork you shouldn't have had to redo. Confirm the current reinstatement process and fees with the IRS before assuming any shortcut applies to your situation, since procedures and fee amounts change.

Do state charity offices need anything besides the federal 990-EZ?

Often yes. Many states require a separate charitable solicitation registration and annual report, on top of whatever you send the IRS, and some states let you attach a copy of your 990-EZ to satisfy part of that state requirement. This is completely separate from your federal exempt status and is enforced by a different office entirely, usually the state attorney general's charities bureau or the secretary of state. Requirements vary a lot: some states only require registration once you raise above a certain dollar threshold, others require it from dollar one if you solicit the public at all, and fees range from free to a few hundred dollars depending on your revenue tier. Booster clubs running raffles have an extra layer here too, since raffle licensing is usually a completely separate filing from both the federal 990-EZ and the general charity registration. Confirm with your state charity office (often housed in the attorney general's office) whether your booster club or PTO needs to register or file annually, and don't assume federal exempt status covers you at the state level. It usually doesn't.

What records does a treasurer need to have ready before filing?

Before you sit down to prepare a 990-EZ, gather twelve months of bank statements, your reconciled ledger or spreadsheet, receipts and invoices for major expenses, a list of officers and their roles as of year end, and records of any large individual donations (over $5,000 in some cases triggers Schedule B reporting requirements). ^[1] You'll also want your prior year's 990-EZ if one exists, since several lines ask you to compare current year figures to the prior year, and having last year's return open side by side catches a lot of transcription errors before they become this year's errors too. If your bookkeeping fell behind during a leadership transition, which happens constantly in volunteer organizations, budget real time to reconstruct months you can't currently account for. This is the single biggest time sink new treasurers underestimate. A clean handoff with a written procedure, standard chart of accounts, and monthly reconciliation habit prevents this entirely, but most clubs don't have one until after their first bad scramble.

What does a treasurer do in a club that runs a raffle or big fundraiser?

A club treasurer running a raffle or major fundraiser has extra bookkeeping layers on top of the usual monthly reconciliation: tracking ticket sales separately from general revenue, keeping a clear count of tickets sold versus tickets printed, documenting the prize payout, and often filing a separate state raffle license application well before the event. Most states require a raffle license or permit from a state gaming commission or the attorney general's office, separate from both the federal 990-EZ and any state charity registration, and many cap what percentage of proceeds can go to expenses versus the charitable purpose. Confirm your state's specific raffle rules, license fees, and reporting deadlines with your state's charity or gaming regulator before you print a single ticket, since rules and thresholds vary widely and change periodically. On the federal side, raffle and gaming proceeds get reported as revenue on your 990-EZ, and if you're running gaming activities above certain thresholds you may trigger additional questions on Schedule G attachments for larger filers. For a group still on the 990-EZ tier this is usually simple, but it's one more reason to keep raffle income in its own line item all year rather than lumping it into "general fundraising."

Where do I actually find and file Form 990-EZ?

Form 990-EZ and its instructions are published on the IRS website and updated most years, so always pull the current year's version rather than reusing an old PDF you found in a shared drive. As of recent filing seasons, the IRS requires electronic filing of Form 990-EZ for most organizations, done through an IRS-authorized e-file provider rather than mailing a paper form. The 990-N e-postcard, by contrast, is filed only through the IRS's own online portal and can't be filed on paper at all. ^[2] If you're not sure which form you actually qualify for this year, run your gross receipts and asset totals through the table earlier in this article first, since filing the wrong form (or filing 990-N when you should have filed 990-EZ) can create its own cleanup headache later. A lot of this gets easier with a standing template built for your specific state's rules rather than generic IRS boilerplate. That's the whole idea behind BoosterLedger's $99 one-time State-Personalized Treasurer Kit, which maps out your state's charity registration and raffle licensing steps alongside the federal filing calendar so you're not reconstructing this from scratch every time your board turns over.

What's the real difference between 990-N, 990-EZ, and full Form 990?

The three forms scale with organization size, and the differences aren't just paperwork length, they're substantive reporting depth. The 990-N is eight questions online, no financial detail required beyond confirming you're under the $50,000 threshold. The 990-EZ asks for summarized financials across six parts. The full Form 990 asks for line-item detail across a dozen-plus parts and multiple schedules, built for organizations with real budgets and paid staff. A practical way to think about it: 990-N is a proof-of-life check-in, 990-EZ is a real financial summary a board member or donor could actually read and understand, and full Form 990 is closer to an audited financial statement in narrative form. Most PTOs and booster clubs live in the 990-N to 990-EZ range for their entire existence unless they take on paid staff or a facility. Switching forms isn't a one-time decision either. You recheck your gross receipts and asset totals every single year, and a group can move between forms year to year as fundraising totals shift. There's no penalty for filing the more detailed form even when you qualify for a simpler one, some treasurers prefer the 990-EZ over the 990-N even under $50,000 because it creates a fuller public record for parents and donors.

Frequently asked questions

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

A treasurer tracks all money coming in and going out, keeps a reconciled ledger, deposits funds promptly, files required tax paperwork like the 990-series return, and reports financial status to the board regularly. In a booster club, this often includes concession cash counts, raffle ticket reconciliation, and vendor payments too.

What is Form 990, in one sentence?

Form 990 is the annual information return the IRS requires from most tax-exempt organizations to report income, expenses, and activities, with size-based versions (990-N, 990-EZ, full 990) depending on gross receipts and total assets.^[1][2]

What is a 990 tax form used for?

It's used by the IRS and the public to see how a tax-exempt organization raised and spent money during the year. It's an information return, not an income tax bill, since most exempt organizations don't owe federal income tax on program revenue.

Who qualifies to file Form 990-EZ instead of the full Form 990?

Organizations with gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000 at year end can file Form 990-EZ instead of the full Form 990. Cross either threshold and the full form is required.^[2]

Can a small booster club file 990-N instead of 990-EZ?

Yes, if gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less (measured as a three-year average), the organization can file the simpler 990-N e-postcard instead of the 990-EZ, though filing the more detailed 990-EZ voluntarily is always allowed.^[3]

When is Form 990-EZ due?

It's due the 15th day of the 5th month after your accounting period ends: May 15 for calendar-year organizations, November 15 for organizations on a July-June fiscal year. A 6-month extension is available by filing Form 8868 before the deadline.^[1][5]

What happens if you don't file a 990 for three years in a row?

The IRS automatically revokes your tax-exempt status if you fail to file a required 990-series return for three consecutive years, with no advance warning notice. Reinstatement requires reapplying for exemption and filing missing returns.^[6]

What is a treasurer of a club responsible for besides money?

Beyond bookkeeping, a club treasurer is usually responsible for signing off on major expenditures, maintaining receipts and financial records for audits or handoffs, and helping prepare the annual 990-series filing. Some bylaws also require the treasurer to present a budget for board approval.

Does a booster club need state charity registration in addition to the 990-EZ?

Often yes. Many states require separate charitable solicitation registration through the attorney general's office or secretary of state, on top of the federal 990-EZ filing. Confirm requirements and thresholds with your specific state charity office, since rules vary widely.

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

They scale by organization size: 990-N (under $50,000 gross receipts) is a simple online postcard, 990-EZ (under $200,000 receipts and $500,000 assets) is a summarized four-part-plus return, and full Form 990 requires detailed line-item reporting for larger organizations.

Can Form 990-EZ be filed on paper, or does it have to be e-filed?

Most organizations are now required to e-file Form 990-EZ through an IRS-authorized e-file provider rather than mailing a paper form. Confirm current e-filing requirements on irs.gov, since mandates and provider options have changed in recent years.^[8]

What is a treasurer, in terms of legal responsibility?

A treasurer is an officer position, typically defined by an organization's bylaws, responsible for financial recordkeeping and reporting. Federal tax law doesn't separately define or license the role, but the treasurer is usually the person who prepares figures for the annual 990-series filing and often co-signs checks above a set threshold.

Does running a raffle change what goes on Form 990-EZ?

Yes, raffle and gaming proceeds get reported as revenue on the 990-EZ, and larger gaming operations may require additional schedule attachments. Separately, most states require their own raffle license from a gaming commission or attorney general's office, which is unrelated to the federal filing.

Sources

1. IRS, "Form 990-EZ, Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax" and instructions: Form 990-EZ due date (15th day of 5th month after year end) and its role as the short-form annual return
2. IRS, "Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations (Form 990-N)": $50,000 gross receipts threshold (measured as a 3-year average) for eligibility to file 990-N
3. IRS, "About Form 8868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File": automatic 6-month filing extension available via Form 8868
4. IRS, "Automatic Revocation of Exemption": automatic revocation of tax-exempt status after failing to file for three consecutive years, with no advance warning
5. IRS: Instructions for Form 990-EZ detail line-by-line what information the form is asking for in each section.
6. IRS: Which return an organization must file (990-N, 990-EZ, or full 990) depends on gross receipts and total assets thresholds.
7. IRS: The IRS provides resources and tools to help organizations understand and complete the Form 990 series, including the 990-EZ.
8. IRS: Form 990-EZ must generally be filed electronically, and the IRS lists authorized e-file providers for this purpose.