Your Form 990 Is a Public Document. It Should Reflect the Excellence of Your Mission.
Your Form 990 is not just a tax filing. It is the most detailed public window into how your organization operates—and anyone can read it. Donors, grantors, board members, journalists, watchdog organizations, and the IRS all use your 990 to evaluate your organization’s governance, compensation practices, financial health, and mission alignment.
At Milestone, we prepare nonprofit tax filings with the care and strategic attention that a public document demands. We do not treat your 990 as an afterthought—we treat it as one of the most important communications your organization produces all year.
We ensure your return is filed correctly and on time, while helping you stay compliant with funding obligations and regulations. Our nonprofit CPA services are available year-round, not just during tax season. We help boards strategize to empower their mission.
Most CPA firms treat tax prep, bookkeeping, and advisory as separate engagements with separate teams. We integrate them into a unified financial strategy so that your tax planning informs your business decisions, your accounting informs your tax planning, and nothing falls through the cracks.
Complete preparation including all required schedules, narrative descriptions, accomplishments, expense reporting, and governance disclosures. We ensure your 990 tells the story of your mission.
Minimum distribution calculations, excise tax on net investment income, self-dealing analysis, and expenditure responsibility reporting. Private foundations face additional scrutiny—we ensure every requirement is met.
If your nonprofit generates income from activities unrelated to its exempt purpose, you may owe unrelated business income tax. We analyze your revenue streams and prepare Form 990-T when required.
Our FAQ section answers your top inquiries about trust and estate tax preparation services.
The IRS assesses a penalty of $20 per day for each day the return is late, up to $10,000 for small organizations. More critically, if you fail to file for three consecutive years, your tax-exempt status is automatically revoked.
Most 501(c)(3) organizations must file Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N depending on gross receipts. Churches and certain religious organizations are generally exempt from the filing requirement, though some choose to file voluntarily for transparency.
Income from a regularly carried-on trade or business that is not substantially related to your exempt purpose may be subject to UBIT. Common examples include advertising revenue, certain rental income, and debt-financed investment income. We analyze your revenue streams to determine exposure.
Yes. We advise on structuring articles of incorporation and bylaws for tax-exempt qualification, prepare and file Form 1023 or 1023-EZ, register with the California Attorney General and FTB, and set up the financial systems and governance documents you need from day one.
Request a free consultation and let our nonprofit accountants help you stay compliant, accountable, and growth-ready.
