The rule: Every tax-exempt organization must file an annual return (990 series) on the 15^th day of the fifth month following their year end. That means calendar based charitable groups have until May 15^th to file.

The penalty: If the organization does not file their annual return for three consecutive years, they automatically have their tax-exempt status revoked.

Who should worry: Any tax exempt organization except churches and church related organizations. So soccer booster clubs, PTAs, youth sports organizations, community organizations and more need to do this every year.

The small organizations: If your average annual receipts are $50,000 or less, you can simply file Form 990-N (e-postcard).

Privacy: Remember not to include your Social Security number with any filings. Often these tax Forms are in public domain. So any private information is available for identity thieves.

What’s Your Status? The IRS offers an online tool to check the status of your organization. Here is the link. A quick check of organizations you are members of can lead to a quick phone call to ensure they get their filings done.