ABCs of the Form 990
This comprehensive 990 course (the ONLY full day 990 course in the country) is authored and instructed by Eve Borenstein, who taught on the Form 990 for almost two decades prior to her extensive involvement with the IRS’ 990 Redesign Project. Her continuing work with the IRS on the current years’ Forms and instructions informs this course’s practical approach and materials, all to the end of assisting participants who prepare or review the Form. The course applies field experience with hundreds of clients, along with intimate knowledge of “problem” definitions (and IRS’ corrections), to the task of approaching the Form from a PREPARER’s perspective. Written materials (including illustrated Forms) and the instructor’s presentation style illuminate and reinforce the data and definitions that together must be mastered to accurately and completely prepare the 2010 and 2011 Forms 990. Starting first with the 12-page core form, and then moving into the Form's most nine commonly required Schedules -- A, B, C, D, G, I, L, M and O, the course notes common traps and critical nuances.

Major Topics:
  • ● Revamped definitions and mandates for identifying managers and reporting on their compensation
  • ● Appropriately reporting on exempt program accomplishments and changes in activities and/or methods (and intersection with statute of limitations)
  • ● Handling the “Governance” Part’s mandatory disclosures and pitfalls
  • ● Interconnections of the core form and its universal attachment (Schedule O) with the Form’s 15 other Schedules
  • ● Use of Schedule O and the Form’s other Schedules last Parts (blank lines) for public relations purposes
  • ● Basic definitions in play for reporting on transactions with interested persons on Schedule L
  • ● Ascertaining the existence and reporting obligations with respect to reporting on taxpayer’s related organizations in Schedule R
  • ● Reporting on fundraising events and sales on Schedule G
  • ● 501(c)(3) organizations’ unique reporting with respect to lobbying activities (Schedule C) and public charity confirmation (Schedule A)
  • ● Emphasizing problems with respect to reporting overall on those who hold current or former "trustee/director, officer, key employee, or five highest-compensated employee” status

Objectives:
    ● Understanding the basic premises and data by which taxpayers and preparers can interact to accurately prepare Form 990
  • ● Minimizing resource expenditure in accessing taxpayer’s documentation of key arenas
  • ● Mastering the Form’s essential points and definitions (a knowledge base that is essential for those who want to move into the Form 990 Advanced Schedules class, the complementing full day course that is separately offered)

Desirable prerequisite:
  • Some familiarity with exempt organization mandates

National Form 990 expert Eve Borenstein has applied her intimate involvement with the IRS' Redesign Project and her many years of 990-teaching experience to the design of this now- updated-for-2012 class. Created new-in-2010, this course takes participaants through the entire Form, stressing "must know" points for all preparers (but leaving discussion of the more complex Schedules' nuances to the companion class, Form 990 Advanced Schedules). Borenstein’s 990 class offerings in 2009-2011 (both that last referenced course and this one) consistently scored overall evaluation marks of 4.85+ along with instructor’s knowledge scores of 4.95-5.00. Designed to meet the needs of beginner AND intermediate participants, many participants return to take this class for "refresher" value! Common comments on course evaluations run along the following lines "the course was abundantly useful, and enjoyable, even fun," and "Excellent! Thank you for your energy and vast knowledge!" Copies of evaluations sheets from State Societies are available on request!

Level: Intermediate/Advanced
CPE Credit: 8 hours

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