WHO – Wisconsin Homecare Organization

The Internal Revenue Service (IRS) this week released the 2009 Form 990, schedules and instructions that have been revised to clarify certain reporting requirements for tax-exempt organizations.

Most of the changes are intended just to clear up any confusion that can lead to compliance issues for filing organizations, and are summarized in a table posted on the IRS website.

Several changes were made in Part VI of the new form, which deals with governance and disclosure. The instructions for the 2009 form now clarify that if two officers, directors or trustees serve in similar positions with another tax-exempt organization, that involvement does not create a reportable business relationship between the two organizations. The new instructions also explain that filing organizations must report significant changes to their organizational documents in Part VI of the new form, and on Schedule O, which is used to share supplemental information.

Changes were also made to Part VII of the form, dealing with compensation. The new instructions clarify that the current five highest compensated employees to be reported in the Section A table do not include officers, directors, trustees or key employees. The instructions also explain how compensation to foreign persons from the filing organization should be reported.

The 2009 Form 990, schedules and instructions can all be downloaded directly from the IRS website.