Tax Information
- Student groups shall be responsible for all applicable tax requirements, including, but not limited to, collection and payment of sales taxes and filing and payment of income taxes.
- Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) may have tax filing requirements with the Internal Revenue Service and the State of Minnesota on an annual basis.
- Campus Life Programs (CLPs) do not have tax filing requirements, as they are part of the University.
Filing Taxes
2021 guidance from the UMN Office of General Counsel recommends that Registered Student Organizations (RSOs) that generate more than $5,000 in income in a year must file taxes with the IRS. If you are unsure whether your organization has filed income taxes before, visit GuideStar by Candid for information.
The majority of RSOs are eligible to file an abbreviated online tax return, Form 990-N (also known as the ePostcard), which is for organizations that generate less than $5,000. There is no paper form related to the 990-N, only an online submission. Before completing the 990-N, assemble the required information:
- The organization's Employee Identification Number (EIN);
- The tax year (either fiscal or calendar year filer);
- Legal organization name and mailing address;
- Any other names the organization may use;
- Name and address of a principal officer;
- Website address (BulldogConnect page is acceptable);
- Confirmation that the organization's annual receipts are under $5,000; and
- If applicable, a statement that the organization has terminated or is terminating.
Form 990-N must be filed no later than the fifteenth day of the fifth month after the close of the organization's tax year. The tax year begins in the month when the organization's EIN was originally issued (see below). Once it is filed, Form 990-N is considered public information.
ℹ️ Organizations that have gross receipts of more than $5,000 (or prefer to file hard copies of tax returns) must file Form 990 or Form 990-EZ.