Mandatory Electronic Filing for Form 990-T

The Internal Revenue Service provided the following update on the mandatory electronic filing of Form 990-Ts:

The Taxpayer First Act requires certain exempt organizations to file information and tax returns electronically for tax years beginning after July 1, 2019. Pending conversion of Form 990-T, Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return, to electronic format, the IRS has continued to accept the 2019 tax-year versions of this return on paper.

The 2020 Form 990-T and its instructions have been updated for e-filing of returns with due dates on or after April 15, 2021. As of the beginning of March 2021, several providers have made software available to file Form 990-T electronically. Information about software providers supporting electronic filing of Form 990-T can be found on the Exempt Organizations Modernized e-File (MeF) Providers page.

Any 2020 Form 990-T with a due date on or after April 15, 2021, must be filed electronically and not on paper. A limited exception applies for 2020 Form 990-T returns submitted on paper that bear a postmark date on or before March 15, 2021.

Nicholas Mirkay, Professor of Law, University of Hawaii