FILE 990 BY 5/15/14, DO NOT INCLUDE SS on this FORM

IRS to Exempt Organizations as Filing Deadline Nears:
Remember to File and Don’t Include SSNs on Form 990

The IRS has a few important reminders as the May 15 filing deadline for many tax-exempt organizations fast approaches. Make sure you file Form 990 if you are required to file. Filing the form is very important for many groups who are at risk of losing their tax exemption. Do not include Social Security numbers on Form 990 when you file the form. The IRS also cautions not to include personally identifiable information. Including unnecessary SSNs or other unrequested personal information could lead to identity theft.

Here are some tips to protect your exempt status and the information of your donors, clients, benefactors and administrators:

• Certain organizations must file Form 990, Return of Organization Exempt From Income Tax. The annual form reports information about the mission, programs and finances of the filer. The due date for many groups to file their form is May 15.
• Most groups must file a Form 990-series return or notice with the IRS. If they fail to file their annual report for three consecutive years, the law automatically revokes their federal tax exemption.
• The law also requires that the IRS and most organizations make most parts of their filed forms available to the public. This includes schedules and attachments filed with the form.
• Forms made available to the public include Forms 990, 990-EZ and 990-PF. All are marked “Open to Public Inspection” in the top right hand corner of the first page.
• Generally, the IRS does not ask for SSNs on these forms. The forms’ instructions have a caution to filers not to include them on the form.
• Don’t include personal information that’s not needed on Form 990. For example, including a person’s mailing address may put them at risk. 
• Organizations should e-file their tax forms. E-file lowers the risk of including SSNs or other unneeded personal information.

For more on filing these forms visit Charities & Non-Profits on IRS.gov.

131 Million Returns filed so far 2013. Current 2013 Tax Stats from IRS

As of April 18, almost 46 million returns were e-filed from home computers, more than the total from home computers for all of 2013. The IRS has received more than 131 million returns, of which 88 percent were e-filed.
The IRS also projects that almost 5 million taxpayers will amend their returns by filing Form 1040X during 2014. Taxpayers who need to amend their returns should file this form only after filing the original return. Generally, for a credit or refund, taxpayers must file Form 1040X within 3 years, including extensions, after the date they filed their original return or within 2 years after the date they paid the tax, whichever is later. For most people, this means that returns for tax-year 2011 or later can still be amended. 
This year, many same-sex couples may want to consider filing amended returns. A same sex couple, legally married in a state or foreign country that recognizes their marriage, is now considered married for tax purposes. This is true regardless of whether or not the couple lives in a jurisdiction that recognizes same-sex marriage.
For returns originally filed before Sept. 16, 2013, legally married same sex couples have the option of filing amended return to change their filing status to married filing separately or married filing jointly. But they are not required to change their filing status on a prior return, even if they amend that return for another reason. In either case, their amended return must be consistent with the filing status they have chosen.  Further details are available on IRS.gov.
As all amended returns must be filed on paper, allow up to 12 weeks for Form 1040X to be processed.  Starting 3 weeks after filing their amended returns, taxpayers can use the “Where’s My Amended Tax Return?” tool on IRS.gov to check the status.

[The filing season statistics table follows.]

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2014 FILING SEASON STATISTICS
Cumulative statistics comparing 4/19/13 and 4/18/14
Individual Income Tax Returns:	2013		2014		% Change
Total Receipts	130,203,000		131,170,000		0.7
Total Processed	120,737,000		125,604,000		4.0
E-filing Receipts:
TOTAL	112,665,000		115,969,000		2.9
Tax Professionals	69,474,000		69,992,000		0.7
Self-prepared	43,191,000		45,977,000		6.5
Web Usage:
Visits to IRS.gov	296,468,446		269,820,598		-9.0
Total Refunds:
Number	93,839,000		94,809,000		1.0
Amount	$249.489	billion	$254.702	billion	2.1
Average refund	$2,659		$2,686
Direct Deposit Refunds:
Number	76,135,000		76,714,000		0.8
Amount	$217.189	billion	$217.657	billion	0.2
Average refund	$2,853		$2,837		-0.5

Make Plans Now for Next Years Taxes!

Most people stop thinking about taxes after they file their tax return. But there’s no better time to start tax planning than right now. And it’s never too early to set up a smart recordkeeping system. Here are some tips to help you start to plan for this year’s taxes:

Take action when life changes occur.  Some life events, like a change in marital status, the birth of a child or buying a home, can change the amount of taxes you owe. When such events occur during the year, you may need to change the amount of tax taken out of your pay. To do that, you must file a new Form W-4, Employee's Withholding Allowance Certificate, with your employer. If you receive advance payments of the premium tax credit it is important that you report changes in circumstances, such as changes in your income or family size, to your Health Insurance Marketplace.

Keep records safe.  Put your 2013 tax return and supporting records in a safe place. That way if you ever need to refer to your return, you’ll know where to find it. For example, you may need a copy of your return if you apply for a home loan or financial aid. You can also use it as a guide when you do next year's tax return.

Stay organized.  Make sure your family puts tax records in the same place during the year. This will avoid a search for misplaced records come tax time next year.

Think about itemizing.  If you usually claim a standard deduction on your tax return, you may be able to lower your taxes if you itemize deductions instead. A donation to charity could mean some tax savings. See the instructions for Schedule A, Itemized Deductions, for a list of deductions.

Remember, a little planning now can pay off big at tax time next year.

Tips for Taxpayers Who Missed the Tax Deadline

If you missed the April 15 tax filing deadline, don’t panic. Here’s some advice from the IRS.
• File as soon as you can.  If you owe taxes, you should file and pay as soon as you can. This will help minimize the interest and penalty charges. There is no penalty for filing a late return if you are due a refund.

• IRS E-file is still available.  IRS e-file is available through Oct. 15. E-file is the easiest, safest and most accurate way to file your taxes. With e-file you receive confirmation that the IRS received your tax return. If you e-file and choose direct deposit of your refund, you’ll normally get it within 21 days.
• Pay as much as you can.  If you owe tax but can’t pay it all at once, try to pay as much as you can when you file your tax return. Pay the remaining balance as soon as possible to stop further penalties and interest.
• Make a payment agreement online.  If you need more time to pay your taxes, you can apply for a payment plan with the IRS. The easiest way to apply is to use the IRS Online Payment Agreement tool. You can also mail Form 9465, Installment Agreement Request. The tool and form are both available on IRS.gov.
• A refund may be waiting.  If you’re due a refund, you should file as soon as possible to get it. Even if you are not required to file, you may still get a refund. This could apply if you had taxes withheld from your wages or you qualify for certain tax credits. If you don’t file your return within three years, you could forfeit your right to the refund.

Energy-Efficient Home Improvements Can Lower Your Taxes!

You may be able to reduce your taxes if you made certain energy-efficient home improvements last year. Here are some key facts that you should know about home energy tax credits.
Non-Business Energy Property Credit

• This credit is worth 10 percent of the cost of certain qualified energy-saving items you added to your main home last year. This includes items such as insulation, windows, doors and roofs.
• You may also be able to claim the credit for the actual cost of certain property. This may include items such as water heaters and heating and air conditioning systems. Each type of property has a different dollar limit.
• This credit has a maximum lifetime limit of $500. You may only use $200 of this limit for windows.
• Your main home must be located in the U.S. to qualify for the credit.
• Be sure you have the written certification from the manufacturer that their product qualifies for this tax credit. They usually post it on their website or include it with the product’s packaging. You can rely on it to claim the credit, but do not attach it to your return. Keep it with your tax records.
• This credit expired at the end of 2013. You may still claim the credit on your 2013 tax return if you didn’t reach the lifetime limit in prior years.

Residential Energy Efficient Property Credit

• This tax credit is 30 percent of the cost of alternative energy equipment installed on or in your home.
• Qualified equipment includes solar hot water heaters, solar electric equipment and wind turbines.
• There is no dollar limit on the credit for most types of property. If your credit is more than the tax you owe, you can carry forward the unused portion of this credit to next year’s tax return.
• The home must be in the U.S. It does not have to be your main home.
• This credit is available through 2016.

Use Form 5695, Residential Energy Credits, to claim these credits. For more on this topic refer to the form’s instructions. You can get it on IRS.gov or order it by mail by calling 800-TAX-FORM (800-829-3676).