A 990 is the tax form that nonprofits file instead of the 1040 or 1120 that for-profit businesses use
The Form 990 is the annual tax return that nonprofit organizations file with the IRS. Unlike a for-profit business, which reports income and pays corporate tax, a nonprofit files a 990 to show the IRS how it spent money and whether it operated within the rules that let it stay tax-exempt. The form is public — anyone can look up a nonprofit's 990 online through the IRS or through sites like GuideStar or ProPublica.
If you work at a nonprofit, volunteer for one, donate to one, or are thinking about giving money to one, understanding what a 990 shows you matters. It tells you whether the organization actually spent donations on its stated mission or whether most money went to overhead and salaries. It also shows whether the nonprofit is in good standing with the IRS or whether it has problems.
Key Takeaways
- Nonprofits file Form 990 with the IRS each year to show how they spent money and prove they still meet the rules for tax-exempt status.
- The 990 is public information — you can look up any nonprofit's form online to see their revenue, expenses, and executive salaries.
- Not all nonprofits file the same form: organizations with less than $50,000 in annual revenue file a shorter version called the 990-N, while larger ones file the full 990 or 990-EZ.
- The form is due 5.5 months after the nonprofit's fiscal year ends, though nonprofits can ask for a two-month extension.
Which nonprofits have to file a 990
Most nonprofits with tax-exempt status from the IRS must file some version of the 990. The threshold is $50,000 in annual gross revenue. If a nonprofit brings in $50,000 or more in a year, it must file. If it brings in less than $50,000, it files a much shorter form called the 990-N, which is basically a postcard saying "we exist and we're still operating."
Some organizations are exempt from filing at all. Churches and certain religious organizations do not file 990s. Neither do nonprofits that exist only to fund other nonprofits, or organizations that are part of a larger group filing a consolidated return. If you are unsure whether a specific nonprofit files, the IRS website has a tool to check an organization's tax status.
The difference between 990, 990-EZ, and 990-N
The IRS offers three versions of the 990 form, and which one a nonprofit files depends on its size and complexity.
| Form | Annual Revenue Threshold | What It Shows |
|---|---|---|
| 990-N | Less than $50,000 | A simple electronic notice that the nonprofit exists and is still operating. No financial details required. |
| 990-EZ | $50,000 to $200,000 | A shorter form showing basic revenue, expenses, and whether the nonprofit had a surplus or deficit. Fewer than 10 pages. |
| 990 | $200,000 or more | The full form. Shows detailed revenue sources, program expenses, management salaries, related-party transactions, and governance practices. Usually 10 to 15 pages plus schedules. |
A nonprofit can also choose to file the full 990 even if it qualifies for the 990-EZ. Some do this to be more transparent or because their finances are complex enough that the shorter form does not fit.
What information appears on a 990
The 990 is divided into sections, each showing a different part of how the nonprofit operates. The first section lists basic facts: the organization's name, address, mission statement, and whether it is still tax-exempt. Then come the financial sections.
The revenue section shows where money came from — donations, grants, program fees, investment income, or other sources. The expense section breaks down how much the nonprofit spent on its programs (the work it says it does) versus management and fundraising. The IRS and donors both watch this ratio closely. A nonprofit that spends 80 percent of its budget on programs and 20 percent on overhead is generally seen as efficient; one that spends 40 percent on programs is seen as wasteful.
The 990 also lists the names and compensation of the five highest-paid employees and contractors. This is where you can see what the executive director or program officers earn. The form also asks whether the nonprofit has conflicts of interest, whether it follows its own bylaws, and whether it has proper insurance and financial controls in place.
When the 990 is due and how to find one
Nonprofits must file their 990 by the 15th day of the fifth month after their fiscal year ends. Most nonprofits use a calendar year (January through December), so their 990 is due May 15. Some use a different fiscal year, so the deadline shifts. Nonprofits can ask the IRS for a two-month extension, which moves the deadline to July 15 for calendar-year filers.
To find a nonprofit's 990, start with the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search on the IRS website. Type in the nonprofit's name and you will see whether it is registered as tax-exempt. From there, you can often download recent 990s directly. If not, try GuideStar (now part of Candid) or ProPublica's Nonprofit Explorer, both of which host copies of 990s filed in the last several years. Most 990s are available within a few months of filing.
What a 990 does not tell you
The 990 is useful but has limits. It shows how much money came in and went out, but not always where individual donations went or how a specific program performed. It shows salaries but not whether those salaries are reasonable for the market or the role. It shows whether the nonprofit filed on time, but not whether the information on the form is accurate — the IRS does not audit every 990.
The 990 also does not show you the nonprofit's day-to-day operations, the quality of its work, or whether it actually solved the problem it says it is working on. A nonprofit can have a clean 990 and still run poorly. To get a fuller picture, you would want to look at the nonprofit's website, talk to people who have used its services, and read any independent reviews or evaluations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I see a nonprofit's 990 if it is a small organization?
If the nonprofit has less than $50,000 in annual revenue, it files the 990-N, which contains almost no financial information — just confirmation that it exists. The full 990 or 990-EZ, which show detailed finances, are only filed by organizations with $50,000 or more in revenue. You can still check whether a small nonprofit is registered as tax-exempt through the IRS search tool.
What if a nonprofit did not file its 990 on time?
The IRS can revoke a nonprofit's tax-exempt status if it does not file for three consecutive years. Before that happens, the nonprofit usually receives warnings. If you notice a nonprofit has not filed in several years, that is a red flag — it may no longer be operating or may have lost its tax-exempt status.
Does a high executive salary mean the nonprofit is bad?
Not necessarily. A nonprofit running a large operation or serving a major city may need to pay competitive salaries to hire skilled staff. What matters more is the ratio: whether the nonprofit spends most of its money on programs or on overhead. A nonprofit with a $200,000 executive director salary but $10 million in program spending is different from one with the same salary and only $2 million in program spending.
Can a nonprofit change its 990 after filing?
Yes. If a nonprofit discovers an error after filing, it can file an amended 990 using Form 990-X. The amended form is also public, so the correction becomes part of the record. This is different from a for-profit business, where amended returns are often kept private.