Final Instructions to New Form 990 Released
[August 2008]

By Monica Gianni and Thomas C. Schroede

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) released Final Instructions to the redesigned Form 990 (Return of Organization Exempt from Income Tax) on August 19, 2008. This is the first major overhaul since 1979 of the information return filed annually by most exempt organizations. The IRS has also released three papers that provide background on and the rationale for the redesign of Form 990, a comparison between the old Form 990 and the new one, and an overview of the specific changes the IRS made to the draft instructions released in April.

This advisory includes a summary of the Final Instructions, a discussion of the redesigned Form 990 and the practical implications for most exempt organizations.

Soliciting Charitable Contributions in Washington State: New Legislation Changes the Rules
[July 2007]

By Jeanette Lodwig

Washington State, like most states, regulates organizations that solicit funds from the public within the state for use for charitable purposes. Most organizations are required to register with the Secretary of State’s office before soliciting funds, and must file reports regarding their solicitation activities.

IRS Tries Again: More Guidance Regarding Health Information Technology Cost-Sharing Arrangements [July 2007]

By Susan Schalla and LaVerne Woods

In an effort to allay concerns regarding its position on health information technology (HIT) cost-sharing arrangements between tax-exempt hospitals and medical staff physicians, the Internal Revenue Service (IRS) has released a series of six questions and answers (Q&As). The Q&As are available on the IRS website.