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Member of Russell Bedford International, a global network of independent professional service firms.
This time of year may have you wondering, how much do charitable donations reduce taxes? And what opportunities are there this year due to tax law changes? The good news is, due to the pandemic, tax rules have been adjusted to enhance the tax benefits of charitable giving. Here’s what you need to know:
The most recent change was incorporated within 2020’s CARES Act, which Congress passed to provide relief to those impacted by the global pandemic. In addition to providing paycheck protection for workers and support for small businesses as they struggled to survive the economic impact of coronavirus, the CARES Act also boosted the limit on cash donations from 60% to 100% in some situations. This increase is only valid for tax year 2020 and is limited to cash contributions given to charities that are not donor-advised funds or supporting organizations. Congress also is allowing a limited (up to $300) 2020 cash charitable contribution deduction for non-itemizers.
If you’re over 70.5 and you like to make charitable contributions directly from an IRA, you are able to donate up to a maximum of $100,000 per year via a Qualified IRA Charitable Contribution (QCD). This contribution will count towards your required minimum distribution, and because the distribution goes directly to the charity, it doesn’t increase your income and it still allows the donor to take advantage of the increased standard deduction.
Speaking of the increased standard deduction, when the 2017 Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TCJA) boosted the standard deduction to $12,400 (for 2020) for individual taxpayers and twice that for married couples filing jointly, it cut the number of people taking itemized deductions, effectively removing an incentive for charitable giving. With only 13.7% of taxpayers estimated to have itemized their 2019 taxes, we have previously written about the benefit of “bunching”. Effectively, individuals can bunch their donations into a single year, thus allowing them to continue giving to the charities that they believe in while still taking an itemized deduction.
While the TCJA’s boost in standard deduction decreased the percentage of people itemizing, at the same time it boosted the deductibility of cash contributions being made from 50% to 60% of the donor’s adjusted gross income, making it more attractive for individual donors to give cash gifts.
Finally, in late 2019 Congress passed the SECURE ACT, which made a couple of notable changes, including pushing the age at which retirement plan participants need to take required minimum distributions (RMDs) from 70½ to 72, and taking away the ability for account holders to designate non-spousal beneficiaries who could hold onto them over the course of their entire lifetimes, taking distributions at will. Under the SECURE Act, those distributions need to be completed within 10 years’ time, making it a potentially better option to making the beneficiary a lifetime-income charitable vehicle in the form of either a remainder trust or a gift annuity funded with the account proceeds.
By indicating a beneficiary who will receive income over the course of their lifetime, you get the advantage of accomplishing the initial intent of giving to the beneficiary, and then upon the beneficiary’s death, whatever is left in either an IRA or a life insurance policy structured in this way gets distributed to the original benefactor’s designated charity.
Charitable contributions are an important part of our individual legacy. And when structured properly, they can also offer tax advantages. For more information on how you can leverage the new tax laws to benefit causes you care about as well as your own personal finances, contact Cray Kaiser today.
Please note that this blog is based on tax laws effective in December 2020, and may not contain later amendments. Please contact Cray Kaiser for most recent information.
Please note that this blog is based on laws effective in August 2020 and may not contain later amendments. Please contact Cray Kaiser for most recent information.
With many nonprofits beginning a new fiscal year on July 1, it’s a great time to stay up to date with the ever-changing nonprofit landscape. This year in particular has presented many challenges amidst the COVID-19 pandemic, including the administrative extension and delays for government agencies. Although deadlines in 2020 continue to be moving targets, we’d like to provide you with the most current provisions and timelines to keep you updated and allow you to be proactive in your tax preparations.
As you may already know, the IRS extended all returns with due dates falling in the April to June window to July 15, 2020. This included all 2019 calendar year nonprofits. Any extensions that were filed only extended the returns to the original extension due dates. For calendar year 990s, the extension deadline is still November 15, 2020 unless Congress makes further adjustments.
Although many organizations are already electronically filing their returns, the IRS has made it mandatory to e-file for tax years beginning July 1, 2019. This applies to all Form 990 and 990-PFs, unless you’re one of the few covered by an exception. Form 990-EZ filers have an additional year to meet the e-file mandate.
The IRS and treasury department announced proposed regulations, 85 FR 23172, under the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (TJCA). These regulations provide guidance for tax-exempt organizations with more than one unrelated trade or business on how to calculate unrelated business taxable income (UBTI). They also provide guidance on identifying separate trades or businesses, including investment activities, as well as certain other amounts included in UBTI.
The CARES Act increased limitations on charitable contributions by individuals and corporations. Individuals were increased from 60% of AGI to 100% and corporations were increased from 10% to 25% of taxable income. For those that do not itemize, the CARES Act provided a permanent deduction which allows qualified contributions of up to $300 for individuals that normally use the standard deduction. For these purposes, donations to supporting organizations and donor advised funds are not considered qualified charitable contributions.
Unfortunately, the Illinois Attorney General’s office has been nearly dormant during the COVID-19 pandemic. Their offices remain closed to walk-ins and there are limited employees working. Therefore, process delays and response turnaround times are expected to be delayed, especially if correspondence is in paper format.
Illinois did not extend the filing deadline related to COVID-19, therefore Annual Reports are still due six months after the close of the organization’s tax year. The first 60-day extension was due by June 30, 2020 for calendar year filers. The second extension is due by August 30, 2020 and requires additional support materials, including copies of the original federal extension, draft financial statements, and a draft copy of the AG990-IL. The additional requirements encourage organizations to get their AG990 returns completed before the second extension deadline.
If you have any questions about these updates and how they impact your nonprofit organization, please don’t hesitate to contact Cray Kaiser. Our nonprofit team is ready to assist you.
The CK team gets many calls about crowdfunding and the taxability around the money raised. We recently shared a blog about the basics of crowdfunding, specifically for nonprofits, but wanted to elaborate a little more about the tax implications and tax consequences of crowdfunding.
Many crowdfunding platforms such as GoFundMe, Kickstarter and Indiegogo have fees ranging from 5% to 9%. Each platform specifies its own charges, limitations, and withdrawal processes. And in addition to those fees, funds raised may be taxable, depending on the purpose of the campaign. Here’s how each type of crowdfunding goal is taxed:
When an entity raises funds for its own benefit and the contributions are made out of detached generosity (and not because of any moral or legal duty or the incentive of anticipated economic benefit), the contributions are considered tax-free gifts to the recipient.
On the other hand, the contributor is subject to the gift tax rules if he or she contributes more than $15,000 to a particular fundraising effort that benefits one individual. In that case, the contributor is required to file a gift tax return. Unfortunately, regardless of the need, gifts to individuals are never tax deductible.
A “gift tax trap” occurs when an individual establishes a crowdfunding account to help someone else in need (the beneficiary) and takes possession of the funds before passing the money on to the beneficiary. Because the fundraiser takes possession of the funds, the contributions are treated as a tax-free gift to the fundraiser. However, when the fundraiser passes the money on to the beneficiary, the money then is treated as a gift from the fundraiser to the beneficiary; thus, if the amount is over $15,000, the fundraiser is required to file a gift tax return and reduce his or her lifetime gift and estate tax exemption. Some crowdfunding sites allow the fundraiser to designate a beneficiary so that the beneficiary has direct access to the funds which keeps the fundraiser from encountering any gift tax problems.
Gifts to specific individuals, regardless of the need, are not considered a charitable contribution under tax law (i.e. raising funds to help pay for someone’s funeral expenses). Another example, which includes a little tax twist, would be raising money to help someone pay for their medical expenses. Because it is a gift, it is not taxable to the recipient, but if the recipient itemizes their deductions, any amount of the gift the recipient spends to pay for their or a spouse’s or dependent’s medical expenses can be included as a medical expense on the recipient’s Schedule A.
Even if the funds are being raised for a qualified charity, the contributors cannot deduct the donations as charitable contributions without proper documentation. Taxpayers cannot deduct cash contributions, regardless of the amount, unless they can document the contributions in one of the following ways:
Thus, if the contributor is to claim a charitable deduction for the cash donation, some means of providing the contributor with a receipt must be provided.
When raising money for business projects, two issues must be contended with: 1) the taxability of the money raised and 2) the Security and Exchange Commission (SEC) regulations that come into play if the contributor is given an ownership interest in the venture.
Maybe. It depends on the aggregate number of backers contributing to the fundraising campaign and the total amount of funds processed through third-party transaction companies (i.e. credit card, PayPal, etc.). These third-party processors are required to issue a Form 1099-K reporting the gross amount of such transactions. There is a de minimis reporting threshold of $20,000 or 200 reportable transactions per year. It all depends on if the third party follows the de minimis rule.
If you have questions about crowdfunding-related tax issues, please contact Cray Kaiser today.
Whether you’re an established nonprofit, a concerned family member, or just someone with an idea and the drive to achieve it, crowdfunding can be an effective way to raise money and awareness. These days all it takes is a cause, an email address, and social media to start raising funds. If done properly you might find yourself meeting your goals in no time. But before you get started with your crowdfunding endeavor, especially as a nonprofit organization, there are a few tips and tax considerations to consider.
Crowdfunding allows people to raise awareness and money for an organization’s cause via online campaigns designed to attract support and donations. But it’s not exclusive to nonprofits – crowdfunding websites can be set up for start-up companies, entrepreneurs, and established businesses too. So, if you’re a nonprofit looking to crowdfund, be sure to pick an online platform that is geared toward or entirely dedicated to nonprofits. You’ll want to make sure the platform speaks to your intentions and your potential donors.
In order to create a crowdfunding page, you will need to be vetted by the sponsoring platform by describing your cause and intentions. You will also have to provide personal information so that they can hold someone accountable for the actions of the site. Many of the available crowdfunding platforms charge a basic fee and the fees vary across providers. Some platforms also share donor information with other businesses so be sure to investigate which platform fits your cause, budget, and donor needs before making a final decision.
Creating your page is only the first step. In order to increase the reach and impact of your campaign, you must also share the crowdfunding site across the multiple social media outlets you belong to such as Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram, etc. Consider other ways that you can spread your message such as an email blast to your existing supporters or a direct mail campaign. Sharing your cause with as many people as possible will help it gain traction as your message is exposed to more and more people. You never know who may come upon your page and feel as passionate about your cause as you are!
Once donations start rolling in, you should set up a separate bank account to segregate all the money raised from the crowdfunding site. Do not comingle any of the funds with a personal or individual account. This can be construed as fraudulent and misleading by donors and potential authorities. Many crowdfunding platforms set up protocols to prevent these types of actions and deter fraudulent people. You should also note that there is normally an adjustment/waiting period for withdrawing the money raised. Sometimes crowdfunding platforms require you to reach your goal before any funds can be withdrawn.
Most states require fundraising registration for any organization or person that plans to solicit the general public for donations in their state. In Illinois, you must register with the Attorney General even if you only plan to raise $1.00. However, there are some exemptions for medical or personal funds raised on behalf of a singular individual. All other organizations soliciting donations must apply for charitable status whether raising funds in-person or online. Unfortunately, this will be the case for many states until they revise their laws for online crowdfunding.
In most cases, the funds you raised will not classify as a charitable donation. You need to go through a very formal process of registering your organization (or cause) as a tax-exempt entity with the IRS and the related state agency in order to receive charitable status. If you haven’t registered for tax exemption, then the revenue raised on the crowdfunding site will be considered gifts with no tax benefit to the donors. Also, if any one donor contributes more than the gift tax exempt threshold (currently $15,000) they will be required to file a gift tax return. This may not be an issue if you are only trying to raise a limited amount of funds. However, if your goal is to turn your cause into an established organization you may want to consider registering for tax exemption.
If you are preparing your own nonprofit crowdfunding imitative and would like assistance with registering your tax-exempt organization or making sure your crowdfunding is properly setup, please contact Cray Kaiser today. Our team would be glad to help you make your nonprofit crowdfunding efforts as impactful as possible!
Click here to read about nonprofit crowdfunding tax consequences.
As the end of the year approaches and the holiday season brings on the spirit of giving, we will all see an uptick in the number of charitable solicitations arriving in our inboxes. And since some charities sell their contributor lists to other charities, frequent contributors may find themselves besieged by requests from unfamiliar organizations.
As a result, here are three tips to keep in mind as you make charitable contributions:
Be careful. Scammers are out there pretending to be legitimate charities. And they’re looking to take advantage of your generosity for their gain.
When making a donation to a charity with which you’re unfamiliar, you should take a few extra minutes to ensure that your gifts are going to a good cause. The IRS has a search feature, Tax Exempt Organization Search, which allows people to find legitimate, qualified charities to which donations may be tax-deductible. Note that you can always deduct gifts to churches, synagogues, temples, mosques, and government agencies — even if the Tax Exempt Organization Search tool does not list them in its database.
Here are some ways to ensure your contributions go to legitimate charities:
Contributions to charitable organizations are deductible if you itemize your deductions on Schedule A. Generally, the deduction is the lesser of your total contributions for the year or 50% of your adjusted gross income. However, the 50% is increased to 60% for cash contributions in years 2018 through 2025. Lower percentages may apply for non-cash contributions and contributions to certain types of organizations. Itemized deductions reduce your gross income when determining your taxable income.
However, with the increase in the standard deduction as a result of the 2017 tax reform, many taxpayers are no longer itemizing their tax deductions (because the standard deduction provides a greater tax benefit). For those in this situation, there are two possible workarounds:
At first glance, this may not appear to provide a tax benefit. However, by excluding the distribution, a taxpayer lowers his or her adjusted gross income (AGI), which helps with other tax breaks (or punishments) that are pegged at AGI levels, such as medical expenses when itemizing deductions, passive losses, and taxable Social Security income. In addition, non-itemizers essentially receive the benefit of a charitable contribution to offset the IRA distribution.
Charitable contributions are not deductible if you cannot substantiate them. Forms of substantiation include a bank record (such as a cancelled check) or a written communication from the charity (such as a receipt or a letter) showing the charity’s name, the date of the contribution, and the amount of the contribution. In addition, if the contribution is worth $250 or more, the donor must also get an acknowledgment from the charity for each deductible donation.
Non-cash contributions are also deductible. Generally, contributions of this type must be in good condition, and they can include food, art, jewelry, clothing, furniture, furnishings, electronics, appliances, and linens. Items of minimal value (such as underwear and socks) are generally not deductible. The deductible amount is the fair market value of the items at the time of the donation; as with cash donations, if the value is $250 or more, you must have an acknowledgment from the charity for each deductible donation.
Note that the door hangers left by many charities after picking up a donation do not meet the acknowledgement criteria; in one court case, taxpayers were denied their charitable deduction because their acknowledgement consisted only of door hangers. When a non-cash contribution is worth $500 or more, the IRS requires Form 8283 to be included with the return, and when the donation is worth $5,000 or more, a certified appraisal is generally required.
Special rules also apply to donations of used vehicles when the claimed deduction exceeds $500. The deductible amount is based upon the charity’s use of the vehicle, and Form 8283 is required. A charity accepting used vehicles as donations must provide Form 1098-C (or an equivalent) to properly document the donation.
No matter what time of year you find yourself making charitable contributions, we encourage you to do it responsibly. Unfortunately, there are complexities when it comes to the spirit of giving and there are individuals out there who are looking to take advantage of well-intentioned people. If you have any questions related to charitable giving, please contact Cray Kaiser today. We’d be happy to help!
Please note that this blog is based on tax laws effective in December 2019, and may not contain later amendments. Please contact Cray Kaiser for most recent information.
Each day in the life of a nonprofit is spent managing limited resources, often requiring staff members to accept responsibility for tasks both inside and outside of their areas of expertise. That means that any interruption to operations such as staff termination, illness or other unforeseen events can greatly impact the ability to achieve the organization’s mission. And in those moments, nonprofits need additional support to keep basic operations running smoothly.
That’s where Cray Kaiser comes in. Our firm has been a significant resource to nonprofits when they’ve faced an unplanned crisis. When staff responsibilities are stretched thin, it’s vital that financial operations remain uninterrupted. But that’s not always the case, especially when the single team member responsible for accounting activities is unavailable.
Below is an example of how we recently worked with a nonprofit organization on their accounting services and the positive impacts it had on their operations.
One day, a local nonprofit organization found all of their accounting and financial reporting functions come to a halt due to an unplanned staff exit. The organization relied upon this single individual to perform a substantial portion of the day-to-day accounting tasks. And then suddenly, at a moment’s notice, the ability to pay vendors, access the accounting system and prepare for the year-end audit was lost.
Vendors were becoming impatient with delayed payments. The board was left unprepared for an upcoming external audit. The ability to secure continued funding was at risk. The problem had escalated to a crisis almost immediately. That’s when CK was called in.
Our first action was to work with the executive team to develop and implement a strategy to restore all accounting functions as soon as possible. Within a few days, we were able to get the backlog of vendor payments current, a check disbursement process streamlined and authorization levels more defined.
Then, our focus and attention shifted to the financial reporting process. Through this process, we found that significant time was spent in managing charitable giving with manual spreadsheets and that the donor reporting was non-existent. We identified and recommended best practices that enabled the organization to streamline reporting, strengthen internal controls and provide donors confidence that funding was allocated to the appropriate programs and activities.
Based upon these recommendations, CK worked with a third-party software provider and the nonprofit organization to implement a new accounting system. The addition of this software helped streamline manual processes and reduce organizational resources devoted to recordkeeping. Now, key donor reports are just a click away and transactional postings are fully integrated, requiring less manual journal entries into the system.
Finally, our nonprofit client was also feeling pressure for an upcoming year-end audit. As auditors ourselves, we had a clear understanding of the work papers and disclosures that would need to be provided during the audit process. This enabled us to assist the organization in planning for the audit by meeting with the new audit firm, preparing work papers and assisting the auditors with key disclosures for the financial statements. This knowledge and experience allowed us to educate the management team on the importance of providing a well-defined audit trail for transactions including up-to-date accounting procedures. At the end of the audit, our client received an unmodified opinion despite the significant personnel change.
Our relationship with this nonprofit client continues to be strong today not just because of the work performed in their time of need, but more importantly, through our efforts of developing strong lines of communication with the management team and board of directors. Throughout the process, we were there to provide vital communications and support, whether it was a conference call or our physical presence in the board meetings.
CK takes great pride in weathering the storm with our clients and being able to share in their successes. As for this client, we continue to provide weekly onsite visits for check processing, monthly reporting and annual audit preparation services. The organization continues to receive unmodified audit opinions and we help keep them updated on new regulations and standards affecting the industry. From time to time we even step in to provide advisory services such as cash management, payroll processing and customized reporting for various committees such as in the case of fundraising efforts.
Accounting services are a growing need for many organizations, whether a nonprofit or a closely held company, and they can be customized to meet your specific goals and objectives (even as they change and evolve).
Please contact Cray Kaiser for additional information on how these services can help you or click here to learn about our Accounting Services.
If your tax-exempt nonprofit organization utilizes annual fundraising events to raise money, you’re not alone. Many nonprofits host dinner galas, golf tournaments, runs/walks, carnivals, concerts, etc. to raise awareness and funds for their cause. And for many small to mid-size nonprofits, these special events are major sources of revenue that support internal operations which deploy the organization’s mission. However, with these events comes additional recordkeeping and IRS reporting responsibilities that many organizations overlook. Here are a few ways to ensure your fundraising event is in compliance with the IRS:
Contributions received from fundraising events are different from ordinary charitable contributions received throughout the year. Ordinary contributions are made without any expected benefit in return and they are fully deductible on a donor’s income tax return.
On the other hand, event contributions are only partially deductible because attendees typically receive something in return for their donation (i.e. meal, golf greens fee, show attendance, etc.). Because of this “quid pro quo” contribution, only the portion over and above the benefit received is considered a charitable donation.
Here’s an example: Your nonprofit is hosting a gala. Tickets cost $150 per person and each attendee will receive dinner and live music. The fair market value of the dinner and music is deemed to be $50. Therefore, the attendee is purchasing a $50 meal (purchased good) and contributing $100 to your organization (charitable contribution).
Due to the infrequent nature and fundraising aspects of special events, the IRS requires them to be reported separately on the Form 990 tax return. The isolation of special events preserves the integrity of the financial information related to the organization’s program activities. This allows readers of the Form 990 to get a clear financial understanding of how the organization utilizes funds for their mission activities.
In order to facilitate this requirement, the organization needs to segregate and track all revenue and direct expenses associated with each fundraising event. In addition to segregating activities, the charitable portion of each attendee’s purchase must be determined. These contributions are then stripped from the fundraising event and shown elsewhere on the Form 990 return. Many times, this leads to the fundraising event reporting a loss on the face of their tax return.
Although uncomfortable to the organization, showing a loss from a fundraising event is a very common occurrence. When the contributions are combined with the net income from the fundraising event, it becomes clear that the events are normally very successful and raise thousands of dollars. But with that success comes added IRS compliance!
If an organization raises over $15,000 from fundraising events, there is an added responsibility of preparing Schedule G with Form 990. This schedule details the revenues and costs associated with each fundraising event.
However, tax return reporting isn’t the only compliance requirement for fundraising events. If the purchase price of a ticket for any fundraising event is greater than $75, the organization must include a statement with or on the face of the ticket stating the fair market value of the benefit received. In the case of our example, the ticket would read:
“Thank you for your cash contribution! You received goods and/or services valued at $50 with your contribution.”
This ensures the donor is aware that his or her deductible contribution is only $100 and ensures that your organization is complying with IRS rules.
If done correctly, fundraising events can be a powerful and exciting way to celebrate your nonprofit’s accomplishments or introduce your mission to new contributors. Fundraising events can also be seen as great networking opportunities or chances to give the casual donor an additional reason to support your cause.
If you would like to learn more about fundraising events or have any questions, please contact the nonprofit team at Cray, Kaiser. We can ensure your organization has the right resources in place to make your next fundraising event a success!
Click here for more nonprofit resources.
Filling out the Form 990 timely and accurately is critical to all nonprofit organizations trying to comply with IRS requirements, validate their exempt purpose, and attract responsible donors. Errors in filling out the form can lead to misinterpretation of your organization or worse: an assumption that you may be one of the fake organizations. Here are 11 common errors to avoid.
In our recent Understanding Nonprofit Audits blog series, we discussed the ins and outs of a nonprofit financial statement audit. Now that the end of the year is approaching, we wanted to inform you of several important changes regarding your financial statements as a nonprofit organization. Here’s what you’ll need to know to have a successful planning and reporting process in 2018 and beyond.
The forthcoming changes aim to reduce the complexity and increase transparency in nonprofit financial statements, especially for potential donors. The update, Accounting Standards Update (ASU) 2016-14, requires new disclosures for your financial statements and may require your organization to adopt additional accounting policies. There are several components to the new format, but the most important changes are:
The number of net asset classes will be reduced from three to two. Previously, net assets have been categorized as unrestricted, temporarily restricted, or permanently restricted. With ASU 2016-14, assets will be categorized as either “donor-restricted” or “without donor restrictions.” In other words, donations are either allocated for a specific purpose per the donor’s instructions or can be used as your nonprofit board chooses. Enhanced disclosures will be required on donor restrictions, requiring you to describe the composition of net assets with donor restrictions.
A nonprofit board may set aside funds for their purposes, such as developing a specific program. Since the board is not a donor, those funds will be categorized as “without donor restrictions.” In that case, you’ll need to make sure that you provide financial statement disclosures which describe how those funds are appropriated based upon the board’s policies.
Your expense reporting will now need to include both the nature and function of your expenditures in one location. For example, you’ll need to determine whether rent expense should be allocated as program, general/administrative, fundraising, or a combination of these functions. You can present that information in either a separate statement, in the statement of activities, or in the financial statement disclosures. Since most nonprofits are reporting this information either on the Form 990 or in the financial statements, chances are you already have a policy in place. However, it may need to be revised for the new reporting standards, so check with your accounting firm for details.
For your investments, ASU 2016-14 requires that you net any investment fees or expenses against your investment returns. For example, direct expenses such as brokerage fees or investment salaries may need to get allocated against the net investment returns. However, you’ll no longer be required to disclose the components of your investment expenses. This is a perfect opportunity for your organization to review your current investment policies for recording investment returns and expenses.
You’ll now need to provide information on the organization’s liquidity by including both qualitative and quantitative information (such as how funds are managed to provide for general expenditures and the availability of such funds). A presentation will need to be provided that identifies those accounts that are easily converted to cash (such as cash equivalents, receivables and other accounts). This new stipulation is intended to give potential donors more transparency into your nonprofit’s liquidity.
The updates to your statement of cash flows is really just an adjustment to how they’re reported. Your statement of cash flows can be reported using either the direct or indirect method. Currently, if you choose the direct reporting method, you have to attach the indirect method reconciliation. After ASU 2016-14 is implemented, you’ll no longer have to attach your indirect method reconciliation with your direct method reporting.
If your nonprofit follows a fiscal year, these changes will be implemented in 2019. If it follows a calendar year, you’ll implement these changes in 2018. Either way, since nonprofit financial statements are in comparative form (the current year’s report is provided alongside the previous year), we recommend planning for these changes as 2017 comes to a close. That way, you’ll have the support and policies in place once the requirements take effect.
Remember, your financial statements are an opportunity to tell your organization’s story to potential donors. The new policies enacted by ASU 2016-14 enable a way for your nonprofit to reveal vital information to donors in a clear, understandable way. We recommend having a conversation with your accounting firm so you have a thorough understanding of the impact of these changes. If you have any questions, please contact us. We’d be happy to help you get your policies and support in place for the new financial statement reporting rules.
Now that you have determined the need for a nonprofit financial statement audit, it is time to select an accounting firm and begin the process. This can be an overwhelming experience, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right team on your side and all the documentation you need prepared ahead of time, you’ll be ready to execute a successful audit.
As soon as the need is determined, you can start the process of selecting an accounting firm for your financial statement audit. In addition to selecting a firm that’s certified to perform audits in the state of Illinois, you’ll want to make sure that you choose a team that truly understands your operations and transactions. It’s critical that the firm has extensive nonprofit experience since the regulations differ significantly from those of for-profit businesses. It is highly recommended to ask all potential accounting firms to provide a copy of their most recent peer review certificate and report.
After your firm has been selected, you’ll start the organizational and preparation processes. Your audit team should clearly communicate what documentation you’ll need to have ready initially. You’ll also meet with your auditors to understand what metrics, such as key balances from your balance sheet, will be important to the process. The auditors will go over your risk assessment and internal controls to ensure that they’re working properly. In a perfect world, those meetings should take place throughout the year so that nothing is missed. Finally, the team will review your accounting and personnel policies to ensure everything is up to date. Based upon these discussions, your audit team will determine the procedures that will take place during the audit.
Once you’re ready to move forward, the most critical element of a successful audit is good communication between the auditors and your internal team. The audit team will relay which key documents will be necessary. Having all of your documentation and reporting ready in advance of any on-site visits will save you time and money. Since most firms bill by the hour, the less time that’s spent on the audit means more resources to devote towards fulfilling your mission.
As a final note, there are going to be updates to the financial statements themselves. There are new reporting standards that will take effect for 2018’s audits. These changes are going to require major revisions to the current accounting policies and reporting for nonprofits. It’s important to start implementing these changes prior to the end of this year so that you’re prepared for next year. Click here for more information.
An unqualified audit report from the audit firm will provide reasonable assurances to your governing bodies, lenders, and donors that you’re running your organization responsibly. It can help open doors for more funding so that you’ll be able to pursue your mission to the fullest. Contact us today if you have questions about whether you need an audit or to see how we can make the process as seamless as possible.
