If you are an officer of a radio club, here's an article posted on the
ARRL News Web site today that might be of importance to your club.
Because of the time-sensitive nature of the May 15, 2010 deadline, I
wanted to promptly get it in the hands of local club officers
throughout the Midwest Division. The ARRL News story has links to IRS
information and forms, at:

http://www.arrl.org/news/many-radio-...status-in-2010

73, Cliff K0CA

Many Radio Clubs Could Lose Tax-Exempt Status in 2010
ARRL News 05/03/2010

Changes made three years ago to the federal tax laws could cause many
radio clubs to lose their tax-exempt status this year. Clubs that are
tax-exempt under Section 501(c) of the Internal Revenue Code must file
the required IRS annual returns or reports before the deadline, which
is May 15 for those with calendar years.

"Many clubs have, at some time in the past, applied for tax-exempt
status as charitable organizations under Section 501(c)(3), as civic
leagues under Section 501(c)(4) or as recreational clubs using Section
501(c)(7)," said ARRL Southwestern Division Director Marty Woll,
N6VI." Years ago, any club with gross receipts averaging less than
$25,000 per year was not required to file annual returns with the IRS;
however, after 2006, such clubs had to file a Form 990-N, a simple
'electronic postcard' with minimal information, by the 15th day of
the fifth month after the close of each fiscal year. Some clubs may not
have been aware of this new requirement or didn't bother to comply.
Even those that filed in a prior year may have neglected to keep up
with the required filings as officers changed from year to year."

Section 6033(j) of the Code provides that failure to file Form 990,
990-EZ or 990-N for three consecutive years results in revocation of
tax-exempt status as of the filing due date for the third return. That
filing date for calendar year 2009 is less than two weeks away. "If
you are a club officer and are uncertain who is responsible for IRS
filings, or whether such filings are current, you should determine your
fling status as soon as possible and take immediate steps to file the
current and any missed prior-year IRS forms," Woll explained.
"Going forward, your club's board should assign the responsibility
for compliance filings with a designated officer and document that
responsibility in the written 'job description' for the position so
that subsequent holders of the office are made aware of the
requirements. If you have questions about your club's status, you may
wish to consult a CPA or other tax advisor."

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ARRL Midwest Division
Director: Cliff H Ahrens, K0CA

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