IRS Issues Guidance on Obtaining E-Filing Waivers

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November 17, 2005

IRS Notice 2005-88 sets forth steps that colleges and universities can take to seek waivers from electronic filing, which is required for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2005. Generally, the waiver will be available to organizations that are unable to meet the electronic filing requirements due to technology constraints or financial considerations. The notice also outlines the specific steps taxpayers should follow when requesting waivers from the IRS.

Electronic filing of information returns by large tax-exempt organizations like colleges and universities is required by regulations issued last January. For tax year 2005 returns that are due in 2006, affected tax-exempt organizations are those with $100 million or more in assets that file 250 or more returns a year.

Electronic filing has been available to tax-exempt organizations since 2004. So far this year, the IRS has received about 3,600 electronically filed information returns from tax-exempt organizations.