Last updated 2026-07-25
TL;DR
Form 990-EZ is the mid-size annual return for tax-exempt groups with gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000. If your group takes in $50,000 or less, file the simpler 990-N instead. The 990-EZ is due the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year ends, and late or missed filings for three straight years trigger automatic revocation of tax-exempt status.
What is Form 990 and what is the 990-EZ version of it?
Form 990 is the annual information return that most tax-exempt organizations file with the IRS. It is not an income tax return in the way a business or individual files one, since exempt groups generally do not owe federal income tax on their mission-related activity. Instead, the 990 series tells the IRS (and, indirectly, the public) how much money came in, where it went, who runs the organization, and whether it is still operating the way it said it would when it applied for exemption. There are four flavors of the 990, sized to the organization. Form 990-N (the "e-Postcard") is for groups with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less [1]. Form 990-EZ is the short form for groups with gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000 at year end [2]. The full Form 990 is for anything above those numbers. Form 990-PF is a separate form for private foundations regardless of size. Most booster clubs, PTOs, and youth sports leagues land in the 990-N or 990-EZ range. A single booster club with a $180,000 concession and fundraising year, for example, would use the 990-EZ. A small team parent group running a $12,000 budget would use the 990-N instead. Neither form asks you to calculate or pay tax in the ordinary sense; they document activity. For a broader walkthrough of the whole 990 family and which one fits your group, see form 990 and irs form 990.
Who has to file the 990-EZ, and what are the exact thresholds?
| 990-N (e-Postcard) | Normally $50,000 or less | No asset limit | 8 data fields online, no financial detail [1] | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 990-EZ | Less than $200,000 | Less than $500,000 | 4-page form, may need Schedule A, B, G, O [2] | |
| Full Form 990 | $200,000 or more, or assets $500,000+ | Any | Full financial statements, multiple schedules | Check the current-year thresholds directly on the IRS site before you file, since the agency occasionally adjusts related instructions [2]. If your group hovers near a line, for example $195,000 one year and $210,000 the next, plan on jumping between 990-EZ and the full 990 depending on the year, and budget accordingly for a preparer's time. |
You file Form 990-EZ if your organization's gross receipts for the year were less than $200,000 AND its total assets at the end of the year were less than $500,000 [2]. If you're over either number, you generally must file the full Form 990 instead. If you're at or under $50,000 in gross receipts, the IRS lets you file the much shorter 990-N instead of the 990-EZ, though you can choose to file the 990-EZ voluntarily if you want the fuller record. "Gross receipts" means total revenue before subtracting any costs or expenses, not net profit. That trips people up constantly. A booster club that sold $150,000 of gift wrap and paid the vendor $90,000, netting $60,000, still has $150,000 in gross receipts for this test, not $60,000. Here's how the three thresholds line up: | Form | Gross receipts | Total assets | Filing complexity |
What does a treasurer do, and how does 990 filing fit into that job?
A treasurer is the person responsible for the organization's money: tracking what comes in, what goes out, keeping the records straight, and making sure the group meets its legal and financial obligations. In a booster club, PTO, or youth sports league, that usually means running the checking account, reconciling bank statements, reporting to the board, and filing whatever the IRS and state require each year. So what does a treasurer do in a club, concretely? Day to day, it's collecting dues or concession cash, paying vendors and coaches' stipends, recording every transaction, and producing a monthly or quarterly financial report for the board. Annually, it's closing the books for the fiscal year, choosing and completing the right 990 form, and handling any state charitable registration renewal. What does a club treasurer do that a bookkeeper doesn't? The treasurer is usually also a fiduciary and often a signer on the bank account, which means personal accountability if money goes missing or the books are a mess, more than data entry. Many bylaws also require the treasurer to present a budget, flag irregularities to the board, and hand over clean records to the next treasurer. What does a treasurer of a club do that new volunteers most often miss? Filing the annual 990 (or 990-N) on time. It sounds small, but missing it three years running causes automatic revocation of tax-exempt status under Internal Revenue Code section 6033(j), and getting reinstated costs real money and time [3]. If you're building out the treasurer role from scratch, our 990n guide and 990 tax form overview cover the adjacent basics.
When is the 990-EZ due, and what happens if you file late?
Form 990-EZ is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after your organization's accounting period ends [4]. For a calendar-year filer (fiscal year ending December 31), that's May 15 of the following year. For a group whose fiscal year runs July 1 to June 30, a common setup for school-affiliated boosters, the deadline is November 15. You can request a one-time automatic 6-month extension by filing Form 8868 before the original due date [5]. That pushes a May 15 deadline to November 15. There is no penalty for asking; the IRS grants the extension automatically as long as the form is filed on time and accurately estimates any tax (rare for exempt orgs, but the form still applies). Miss the deadline outright, and the IRS can assess penalties, generally $20 per day the return is late, capped at the lesser of $10,500 or 5% of the organization's gross receipts for small filers, with different numbers for larger organizations; check the current-year penalty figures in the Form 990-EZ instructions since the IRS adjusts them periodically [2]. Worse than the dollar penalty: miss three consecutive years and the organization's tax-exempt status is automatically revoked by law, no warning letter required, per IRC 6033(j) [3]. If that's already happened to your group, see [990](/articles/treasurer-basics/990) for what auto-revocation looks like and the Form 1023 or 1023-EZ reinstatement path.
What information goes on Form 990-EZ, section by section?
Form 990-EZ runs four pages, plus whatever schedules apply to your situation. Here's the rough shape of it, per the IRS instructions [2]: Part I is revenue, expenses, and changes in net assets: contributions, program service revenue, membership dues, investment income, gaming and fundraising event income (gross and net), and total expenses, ending in a bottom-line change in net assets for the year. Part II is the balance sheet: cash, savings, other assets, and liabilities at the start and end of the year. This is where your total assets get checked against the $500,000 threshold. Part III is a statement of program service accomplishments, basically a narrative describing what the organization actually did (how many kids the league served, what the booster club funded, etc.) alongside the money spent on each activity. Part IV lists officers, directors, trustees, and key employees along with compensation, even if that compensation is $0, which it usually is for volunteer boards. Parts V and VI cover other IRS filings, compliance questions (like whether you engaged in political activity or had unrelated business income), and, for section 501(c)(3) organizations, additional disclosures. Many small groups also need Schedule A (public charity status and public support test), Schedule B (contributor information, though most small groups qualify for a reduced disclosure), Schedule G (fundraising and gaming events over certain thresholds), and Schedule O (explanations for various yes/no answers). Which schedules apply depends entirely on your group's activities that year, so check the checklist on the form itself rather than guessing.
What is the difference between the 990-N and the 990-EZ in practice?
The 990-N, sometimes called the e-Postcard, is genuinely tiny: eight data points entered directly into an IRS online system, including your EIN, tax year, legal name, mailing address, website if you have one, confirmation that gross receipts are normally $50,000 or less, and a statement that the organization hasn't dissolved [1]. There's no financial detail beyond that yes/no threshold confirmation. It takes most treasurers under ten minutes once they have the EIN and login handled. Form 990-EZ is a real return. It asks for actual revenue and expense line items, a balance sheet, program descriptions, and officer information. Expect a few hours the first year, less once you have a template and prior-year figures to reference. Some groups use accounting software or a bookkeeper for this step; others do it by hand from a spreadsheet, which is entirely fine if the numbers are accurate and reconcile to the bank statements. The practical rule: if your gross receipts are reliably under $50,000, file the 990-N and don't overbuild your recordkeeping. If you're between $50,000 and $200,000, or if you expect to cross into that range soon, prepare the 990-EZ properly and keep monthly reconciled records year-round so the return isn't a scramble in month 11. See form 990-n for the mechanics of that smaller form specifically.
Does a small booster club or PTO really have to file anything with the IRS?
Yes, almost always, and this is the single most common mistake new treasurers make. "We're just a small volunteer group" is not an exemption from filing. If your organization has a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) and was ever recognized as tax-exempt (or applied to be), the IRS expects an annual return every year, even in years with almost no activity. The 990-N exists specifically so tiny groups have a fast, free way to comply. The IRS states that organizations failing to file a required return or notice for three consecutive years "will automatically lose its tax-exempt status" [3]. This applies even to groups with $0 in a given year; you still confirm the org is active and under the threshold. A blunt reality check: a lot of youth sports and booster groups operate for years on a parent's personal bank account with a group name on the checks, no EIN, no exemption application ever filed, and no 990 history at all. That's a different, bigger problem than a late 990-EZ, and it usually means starting from Form 1023 or 1023-EZ to get recognized as exempt in the first place before any 990 question even applies. If your group is in that spot, sort out the entity and exemption status first.
How do you actually file Form 990-EZ, and can you do it yourself?
Form 990-EZ must be filed electronically. The IRS mandated electronic filing for Form 990-EZ for tax years beginning after July 1, 2019, and paper filing is no longer accepted for most filers, under the Taxpayer First Act of 2019 [6]. You'll need an IRS-approved e-file provider; the IRS publishes a list of approved software companies that support the 990-EZ, some free for small organizations, others charging a modest annual fee [2]. You can absolutely prepare and file it yourself if your books are clean and reconciled. The form is not conceptually hard; it's basically a structured summary of a checkbook register plus a short narrative about your programs. Where people get stuck is usually not the form itself but messy prior records, an unreconciled bank account, or not knowing which schedules apply. What's worth paying for: if your group had any unusual year (a big capital purchase, a gaming/raffle event over the reporting threshold, a change in fiscal year, or a lapse in prior filings), an hour of a bookkeeper's or accountant's time reviewing the return before you submit it is cheap insurance. What's not worth paying for: a full-service CPA engagement every single year for a straightforward $80,000-revenue booster club with clean books. Match the spend to the complexity.
What should a treasurer keep on file to make next year's 990-EZ easier?
The single best thing a treasurer can do is keep a running, reconciled ledger all year instead of reconstructing everything in April. Reconcile the bank account monthly, not annually. Save every deposit slip, invoice, and receipt in a labeled folder (digital or physical) by month. Keep a permanent file, separate from the year-to-year transaction records, containing your EIN confirmation letter, IRS determination letter (the one recognizing tax-exempt status), bylaws, and the last three years of filed 990s or 990-N confirmations. New treasurers inherit boxes with none of this, and it costs hours of digging or a paid IRS records request to reconstruct. At minimum, track these figures monthly so the 990-EZ prep is a copy job, not a research project: total contributions/donations received, program revenue (dues, ticket sales, concessions), fundraising event gross and net, total expenses by category, cash and bank balances, and any equipment or assets purchased. A state-specific packet built for this handoff (the kind of thing our $99 one-time State-Personalized Treasurer Kit is built around) can shortcut a lot of this, giving a new volunteer the right checklist, thresholds, and forms for their specific state instead of hunting through IRS instructions cold. It's not a substitute for an accountant on anything complicated, but for a straightforward small booster club, it's often all you need.
What happens after you file, and does the 990-EZ become public?
Yes. Form 990 and 990-EZ filings are public documents. The IRS publishes exempt organization determination letters and return data, and third-party sites like ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer republish filed returns for anyone to search [7]. Donors, school administrators, and sometimes local reporters look these up, so treat Part III (program accomplishments) as a chance to tell your group's story accurately, more than check a box. After filing, keep your confirmation (the e-file acceptance record) in that permanent file mentioned above. If you used a paid e-file provider, download and save the actual PDF of the filed return, more than a receipt email, since providers sometimes purge files from their servers after a retention period. If your group's status was previously auto-revoked and you've since been reinstated, note the reinstatement effective date carefully; it affects which years you needed to catch up on and whether donations during the revoked period were deductible for donors, a real forward-looking concern for maintaining donor trust.
Frequently asked questions
What is Form 990 in simple terms?
Form 990 is the annual information return tax-exempt organizations file with the IRS to report income, expenses, activities, and leadership. It's not an income tax bill; it's a disclosure document. The exact version required (990-N, 990-EZ, or full 990) depends on the organization's gross receipts and total assets for the year [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, who runs it, and whether it's still operating within its exempt purpose. Filing it is also how an organization maintains its tax-exempt status year over year; skipping it for three straight years triggers automatic revocation [3].
What does a treasurer do in a booster club or PTO?
A treasurer manages the group's money: collecting and depositing funds, paying bills, reconciling the bank account, reporting to the board, and handling annual IRS and state filings like the 990-EZ or 990-N. In many bylaws the treasurer also carries fiduciary responsibility for accurate records.
What is the difference between Form 990-N and Form 990-EZ?
The 990-N is for organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less, and it's an 8-field online form with no financial detail [1]. The 990-EZ is for organizations under $200,000 in gross receipts and under $500,000 in total assets, and it requires actual revenue, expense, and balance sheet figures [2].
When is Form 990-EZ due?
It's due the 15th day of the 5th month after your organization's fiscal year ends, which is May 15 for calendar-year filers [4]. A 6-month automatic extension is available by filing Form 8868 before the original deadline [5].
What happens if a booster club misses three years of 990 filings?
The organization's tax-exempt status is automatically revoked by operation of law under IRC 6033(j), no separate IRS notice required [3]. Reinstatement generally requires filing Form 1023 or 1023-EZ again and, in some cases, requesting retroactive reinstatement, which involves fees and paperwork.
Can you file Form 990-EZ on paper?
No. The IRS requires electronic filing of Form 990-EZ for tax years beginning after July 1, 2019, following the Taxpayer First Act, through an IRS-approved e-file provider [6]. Paper 990-EZ filings are no longer accepted for organizations subject to that mandate.
Do gross receipts for the 990-EZ threshold include expenses subtracted out?
No. Gross receipts means total revenue received before subtracting any costs, expenses, or cost of goods sold. A fundraiser that brought in $150,000 and cost $90,000 to run still counts as $150,000 in gross receipts for the threshold test, not the $60,000 net.
What does a club treasurer do that's different from a regular member?
The treasurer typically has signing authority on the bank account, fiduciary responsibility for the group's funds, and the job of preparing financial reports and annual filings. Regular members generally have none of those obligations; the treasurer role carries real legal and organizational accountability.
Is Form 990-EZ the same as an income tax return?
No. Tax-exempt organizations generally don't pay federal income tax on mission-related revenue, so Form 990-EZ reports activity and finances rather than calculating tax owed. Unrelated business income, if any, is reported and taxed separately on Form 990-T, per IRC section 511 [8].
What schedules commonly attach to Form 990-EZ for a booster club?
Common ones include Schedule A (public charity and public support status), Schedule G (fundraising events and gaming over certain dollar thresholds), and Schedule O (narrative explanations for yes/no questions on the main form). Which ones apply depends on your specific activities that year; the form's own checklist tells you which to attach.
Should a small PTO file the 990-EZ voluntarily even if it qualifies for the 990-N?
Some do, mainly for a fuller public financial record that reassures parents and school administrators, but it's extra work with no legal requirement to do it. Most small groups under $50,000 in gross receipts are better off filing the fast 990-N and keeping internal records clean instead.
Sources
- IRS, "Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations - Form 990-N (e-Postcard)": 990-N is for organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less and requires only 8 data fields
- IRS, Instructions for Form 990-EZ: 990-EZ eligibility thresholds (gross receipts under $200,000, total assets under $500,000), form structure, e-file provider list, and penalty figures
- IRS, "Automatic Revocation of Exemption": Failure to file required returns for three consecutive years results in automatic revocation of tax-exempt status under IRC 6033(j)
- IRS, "About Form 990-EZ, Short Form Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax": Filing deadline is the 15th day of the 5th month after the organization's accounting period ends
- IRS, "About Form 8868, Application for Automatic Extension of Time To File an Exempt Organization Return": Organizations can request an automatic 6-month extension to file Form 990-EZ using Form 8868
- Taxpayer First Act of 2019, Pub. L. No. 116-25, section 3101: Electronic filing is mandatory for Form 990-EZ for tax years beginning after July 1, 2019
- 26 U.S.C. section 511, Imposition of tax on unrelated business income of charitable organizations: Unrelated business income of an otherwise tax-exempt organization is taxed separately under section 511