Nonprofit planning, setup & tax services

Build your nonprofit. Keep it compliant as it grows.

Planning and practical support for nonprofit founders and organizations—from formation and exemption through accounting, payroll, annual filings, governance, and growth.

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One missionA connected nonprofit foundation
Purpose & structure
Board & governance
Exemption application
Accounting & controls
Payroll & reporting
Form 990 & compliance
The planning difference

Tax-exempt status is the beginning. Strong governance, records, reporting, and operating discipline help protect the mission.

01

A strong nonprofit requires more than filing formation documents.

Purpose, governance, exemption, accounting, payroll, fundraising, and annual compliance must work together.

01

Formation & Structure

Coordinate state formation, charitable purpose, governing documents, registered-agent details, and the organization’s intended activities.

02

Tax-Exemption Applications

Prepare and support Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ applications when appropriate, with careful attention to eligibility and disclosures.

03

Accounting & Internal Controls

Establish fund-aware bookkeeping, reconciliations, documentation, approvals, and reporting that support accountability.

04

Payroll & Compensation

Coordinate payroll, worker classification, reasonable compensation, employment filings, and benefit considerations.

05

Form 990 & State Filings

Prepare annual information returns and coordinate applicable state registrations, renewals, and reporting.

06

Reinstatement & Ongoing Advisory

Help organizations address automatic revocation, prepare reinstatement applications, evaluate effective-date options, and rebuild ongoing compliance.

02

A nonprofit compliance plan should evolve with the organization.

Regular checkpoints keep governance, finances, payroll, fundraising, and filing obligations aligned.

Q1JAN–MAR

Review the compliance calendar

Confirm board responsibilities, annual filings, registrations, payroll deadlines, budgets, and restricted-fund obligations.

Q2APR–JUN

Prepare annual filings

Reconcile the prior year, complete the applicable Form 990, review state filings, and document board approval.

Q3JUL–SEP

Review programs & controls

Evaluate new programs, fundraising activities, grants, compensation, internal controls, and any unrelated business income.

Q4OCT–DEC

Prepare for the next year

Approve the budget, update policies, confirm donor and grant reporting, clean the books, and refresh the compliance calendar.

The connected nonprofit framework

Every operating decision touches the mission.

New programs, fundraising, compensation, grants, and growth should be evaluated through governance, financial, tax, and compliance lenses.

01GovernanceBoard oversight, minutes, policies, conflicts, approvals, and accountability
02FundingDonations, grants, restricted funds, sponsorships, and fundraising activities
03AccountingFund-aware books, reconciliations, controls, budgets, and financial reporting
04People & PayrollEmployees, contractors, reasonable compensation, benefits, and payroll filings
05Tax ComplianceForm 990, state filings, unrelated business income, and reinstatement needs
06Mission GrowthNew programs, partnerships, geographic expansion, and sustainable operations
ForMyTax Field GuideThe Nonprofit Startup & Compliance Guide

Start the mission with a stronger administrative foundation.

A practical guide to formation, exemption applications, governance, accounting, payroll, annual filings, and protecting tax-exempt status.

  • Formation checklist
  • Form 1023 considerations
  • Board and governance
  • Accounting and controls
  • Form 990 compliance
  • Reinstatement basics
Explore Tax Guides
Browse practical resources for complex tax decisions.
Nonprofit organization · Illinois

A clearer path from formation to ongoing compliance.

Starting and operating a nonprofit involved more financial and tax responsibilities than we initially expected. ForMyTax helped us understand the formation process, tax-exempt requirements, recordkeeping, accounting, and ongoing filing obligations. Their explanations made the process feel manageable and helped our team establish a stronger administrative foundation.
Holy Mission · Nonprofit Organization
Nonprofit planning and tax FAQ

Questions from formation through annual compliance.

Eligibility for Form 1023-EZ depends on the IRS eligibility worksheet and the organization’s facts. The shorter form is not automatically the best choice; activities, funding plans, public understanding, and the value of a fuller IRS record should be considered.

No. State formation creates the entity, while federal recognition of exemption generally requires a separate IRS application unless a specific exception applies. State tax and charitable-registration requirements are also separate.

The applicable return—Form 990-N, 990-EZ, 990, or another filing—depends on the organization’s classification, financial activity, and circumstances. Filing thresholds and exceptions should be reviewed each year.

A nonprofit may pay reasonable compensation for genuine services, but approval, conflicts, documentation, payroll treatment, and private-benefit rules require careful attention. Compensation should never be treated as a distribution of profits.

An organization automatically revoked for three consecutive years of nonfiling generally must submit a new exemption application and the applicable user fee. Reinstatement is usually effective from the application date, although eligible organizations may request retroactive reinstatement to the revocation date. The appropriate process depends on the organization’s filing history, prior revocations, return requirements, and ability to satisfy the applicable IRS conditions.

Give the mission a foundation built to last.

Schedule a conversation about formation, exemption, governance, accounting, payroll, annual filings, and the organization’s next stage.

Schedule a Nonprofit Consultation →