IRS Update

Issue Number:    2010-19

Inside This Issue

1. IRS Commissioner Encourages Small Organizations At Risk of Losing Exemption to Take Action
2. Register Now for Fall Workshops for Small and Midsize 501(c)(3) Organizations
3. Have You Met Coach?
4. New Website Allows Public to Comment on Paperwork Burdens Online
5. Nationwide Tax Forums
6. Employer-Provided Health Coverage — Not Taxable

  1.  IRS Commissioner Encourages Small Organizations at Risk of Losing Exemption to Take Action
Read the remarksof IRS Commissioner Douglas Shulman encouraging small organizations at risk of losing their tax-exempt status to take advantage of a one-time relief program designed to bring them back into compliance and preserve their tax-exempt status. 
Last week the IRS announced that small nonprofit organizations that failed to file required returns for 2007, 2008 and 2009 can preserve their exempt status by filing returns by October 15, 2010.  Find more information about the relief program on IRS.gov. 
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  2.  Register Now for Fall Workshops for Small and Mid-Size 501(c)(3) Organizations
Registration is now available for Fall workshops for small and mid-size 501(c)(3) organizations:

• September 22-23: Southfield, MI, hosted by Lawrence Technological University
• October 5-7:  Cincinnati, OH
• October 20:   Raleigh, NC, hosted by the Institute for Nonprofits at NC State University
• October 21:  Wilmington, NC, hosted by QENO at University of North Carolina-Wilmington
• December 7-9:  Phoenix, AZ

Click on the city of your choice for registration information.
Each one-day workshop, presented by experienced Exempt Organizations specialists, will explain what 501(c)(3) organizations must do to keep their tax-exempt status and comply with tax obligations. This popular introductory workshop is designed especially for administrators or volunteers who are responsible for an organization's tax compliance as well as those interested in careers in the nonprofit sector. 
Go to our Calendar of Eventsfor more information about upcoming workshops.
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  3.  Have You Met Coach?
  <#="" p=""> Coach is a brilliant, straight talking IRS agent who lives in StayExempt, our virtual workshop designed to help 501(c)(3) organizations understand their compliance obligations.
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  4.  New Website Allows Public to Comment on Paperwork Burdens Online
The Department of the Treasury has launched a new website that allows the public to electronically submit comments on how to simplify government forms and reduce time required to complete submissions.  The public is invited to comment on  Paperwork Reduction Act issues such as whether a form asks for information already collected on another form and whether the government has a real need for the requested information.       
As a pilot project, www.pracomment.govis currently soliciting comments on Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.  This website will be used to solicit comments on other forms as well.
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  5.  Nationwide Tax Forums
There's still time to register for the Nationwide Tax Forums.  Tax Forums will be held in

• New York, NY (8/10-8/12)
• Las Vegas, NV (8/24-8/26)
• San Diego, CA  (8/31-9/2)

Exempt Organizations will offer a seminar on Charities and Their Volunteers Working Together to Help the Public and a workshop on the Ten Top Things to Know About the Form 990. 
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  6.  Employer-Provided Health Coverage — Not Taxable
Starting in tax year 2011, the Affordable Care Actrequires employers to report the value of the health insurance coverage they provide employees on each employee's annual Form W-2. This reporting is for informational purposes only, to show employees the value of their health care benefits so they can be more informed consumers. The amount reported does not affect tax liability, as the value of the employer contribution to health coverage continues to be excludible from an employee's income and it is not taxable.
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If you have a technical or procedural question relating to Exempt Organizations, visit the Charities and Nonprofitshomepage on the IRS.gov Web site.
If you have a specific question about exempt organizations, call EO Customer Account Services at 1-877-829-5500.
Subscribeto EO Update.