Form 990-EZ is a shorter annual information return available to qualifying tax-exempt organizations that meet the applicable financial thresholds and other rules. Organizations should use the current IRS filing-threshold guidance for the tax year in question.

Most tax-exempt organizations have an annual IRS filing obligation even with no tax due, filing Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-N, or 990-PF depending on size and classification; returns are generally due the 15th day of the fifth month after the tax year ends (May 15 for calendar-year organizations). Build the filing calendar from the organization's own tax-year end and assign responsibility for each deadline. Missing required federal filings for three consecutive years automatically revokes tax-exempt status, so annual compliance shouldn't depend on one volunteer's memory; state annual reports and charitable-registration renewals are separate obligations to track too.

Exact state requirements can differ, so the current state filing instructions control any state-specific step.

How Beacon Nonprofit can help: Beacon can provide the approved formation documents, EIN-related information, bylaws, and exemption records created through the setup process. Those records can support later Form 990-EZ preparation, but Beacon's published formation packages focus on creating the organization and obtaining initial exemption support rather than preparing the nonprofit's recurring annual information return. Beacon's role is administrative formation and filing support: government agencies control approval, processing times, and legal or tax determinations, and specialized operational matters may require a qualified professional outside Beacon's service scope. Depending on the selected package, the Beacon records available to the organization can include the approved state formation documents and, with BeaconComplete, EIN assistance, corporate bylaws, registered agent service, and the 501(c)(3) application materials prepared through the service.