3 Tips to Help Prevent Accounting and Tax Errors

By: Emily Smikal

Although failing to file a?Form?990?with the IRS when required to do so is probably a more serious mistake, filing it with data errors isn’t recommended. Similarly, your not-for-profit should strive to be as accurate as possible when preparing accounting and other tax documents. Carelessness can cost you support from donors and grantmakers and, in extreme cases, threaten your exempt status. Here’s how to avoid financial?errors.

Follow Processes and Procedures

First, make sure your not-for-profit has formally documented its accounting processes. All aspects of managing your not-for-profit’s money should be reflected in a detailed, written accounting manual. This should include how to accept and deposit donations and pay?bills.

Your organization may depend on accounting software for daily functioning. But even with the assistance of technology, mistakes happen. Your staff should follow certain procedures, such as double-checking entries and reconciling bank accounts, to ensure transactions entered into accounting software are complete and?accurate.

Avoid Common Pitfalls

Next, keep an eye on?unrelated business income?(UBI). IRS officials have cited “failing to consider obvious and subtle” UBI tax issues as the biggest tax mistake not-for-profits make. Organizations commonly fail to report UBI — or they underreport it. Be sure to follow the guidance in?IRS Publication?598,?Tax on Unrelated Business Income of Exempt Organizations. And if you need more help,?contact?us.

Correctly classifying workers as employees (vs. independent contractors) is another area where not-for-profits commonly make errors in judgment and practice. You’re required to withhold and pay various payroll taxes on employee earnings but don’t have the same obligation for contractors. If the IRS can successfully argue that one or more of your contractors meet the criteria for being classified as employees, both you and the contractor possibly face financial consequences.

For Peace of Mind

Finally, if your not-for-profit doesn’t already regularly back up accounting and tax information, start doing so. Otherwise, your data may not be safe in the event of a fire, natural disaster or cyberattack. Back up data automatically using cloud-based or other offsite storage solutions.

For extra peace of mind,?contact us. We can help prepare your organization’s tax filings and review financial statements for accuracy and adherence to?Generally Accepted Accounting Principles.

To learn more about how PKF Texas serves not-for-profit organizations, visit?www.PKFTexas.com/NotForProfit.