Form 990-N e-Postcard

IRS Form 990-N
Electronic Filing System
(e-Postcard)

Publication 5248 (7-2016) Catalog Number 68747U Department of the Treasury Internal Revenue Service www.irs.gov

Steps for using the Form 990-N Electronic Filing System
(e-Postcard)
REMINDER
An organization cannot file Form 990-N until after the end of its tax year. For example:
• Calendar Year Filers
If your organization wishes to file Form 990-N for tax year 2016 and uses a calendar year (Jan.
though Dec.) as its tax year, it must wait until January 1, 2017, to file Form 990-N.

• Fiscal Year Filers

If your organization wishes to file Form 990-N for tax year 2016 and uses a fiscal year (for
example, Oct. 1, 2015 through Sept. 30, 2016) as its tax year, it must wait until Oct. 1, 2016, to
file Form 990-N.
The IRS determines the filing year using the beginning date of the organization’s fiscal period.

HOW TO FILE
Open the electronic filing page at https://sa.www4.irs.gov/epostcard/.

First Time Users: Select GET STARTED.
Returning Users: Enter your Username and select LOG IN. Skip to STEP 6 of this user guide. If you
registered before February 18, 2016, you must register again as a First Time User. Your user name
and password from Urban Institute will not work.

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REGISTRATION: FIRST TIME USERS ONLY
STEP 1
Enter your contact information, then select SEND EMAIL CONFIRMATION CODE

STEP 2
Enter the confirmation code found in your email, then select CONTINUE. If you don’t receive an
email, check your spam or junk email folder.

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STEP 3A
Choose a USER ID and PASSWORD on the “Security Profile” page:
User ID field: Ensure that you use only letters, numbers or a hyphen. This character limit does not
apply to password fields.
Password field: Ensure that you use only letters, numbers, ! or #.

STEP 3B
Choose a SITE PHRASE. This phrase will appear on your login page before you input your
password. When you see the phrase you created while logging in, you can be assured you’re not on
a scam or fake page. You may use spaces within the site phrase.

STEP 3C
Choose a SITE IMAGE. This image will appear on your login page before you input your password.
When you see your selected image while logging in, you can be assured you’re not on a scam or fake
page.

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STEP 3D
Choose four challenge questions. These questions may appear when you logon using a new
computer or location. When you have selected and answered four questions, select CONTINUE.

STEP 4
The “User Profile Successfully Created” page will appear. Select CONTINUE.

STEP 5
Select CONTINUE on the “Online Services” page.

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CREATE AN ELECTRONIC FORM SUBMISSION
STEP 6
Select MANAGE E-POSTCARD PROFILE to create a new Form 990-N electronic filing submission.

STEP 7
From the drop down shown below, select either Exempt Organization or Preparer in the “User Type”
field.
• Exempt Organization: Select if you are only completing 990-N for your organization.
• Preparer: Select if you expect to help multiple organizations.

• Example: a preparer can be a paid preparer, such as a CPA, volunteer or someone aiding
exempt organizations at a local library. By selecting Preparer, you can use your login to
add as many organizations as you wish.

After selecting the user type, select CONTINUE.

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STEP 8
Enter an EIN for the organization you’re filing for, then click ADD EIN. You may also delete EINs
already associated with your profile. To continue, select CREATE NEW FILING.

STEP 9
Select the EIN you wish to file for from the drop down menu. Once you have selected the EIN, select
CONTINUE.

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STEP 10
Complete the “Organization Details” page. If you don’t understand the request, click the question
mark icon for an explanation. When you have completed each line, select CONTINUE.

STEP 11
Complete the “Contact Information” page. If you don’t understand the request, click the question mark
icon for an explanation. When you have completed each line, select one of the following:
• SAVE FILING: Select if you are missing any requested information. This will allow you to return
to complete it later.
• SUBMIT FILING: Select when you are sure all required information has been input.

NOTE WHEN REGISTERING OR FILING: Text fields cannot exceed 35 characters and must contain
only numeric, alpha or hyphen characters unless noted otherwise. Periods, slashes, etc. will cause
registration or filing errors.
Also, enter website addresses using “www” – not

.

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STEP 12
The filing “Confirmation” will display the filing status as “Pending.”
Click on the word PRINT in the bottom paragraph to print a copy for your records. Once you leave the
page, you won’t be able to print this filing.
Select MANAGE FORM 990-N SUBMISSIONS to view or submit additional filings.

MANAGING FORM 990-N SUBMISSIONS
STEP 13
On the “Manage Form 990-N Submission” page, your submission will show the status of “Pending.”
• After seven minutes, refresh the page (F5 key for Windows; Command-R for Mac) and the
GET UPDATED STATUS button will be visible.
• Select GET UPDATED STATUS to see if your submission was accepted or rejected.

• If your submission was rejected, select the submission ID hyperlink for additional details.

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TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE
If technical issues prevent you from registering or filing with the Form 990-N electronic filing system,
try the suggestions below. If the problem still exists after trying all the suggestions, contact IRS
Customer Account Services at 877-829-5500 (a toll-free number).
Take the following steps to prevent problems during the registration and filing processes:
• Close multiple browsers when registering.
Errors may occur if you have additional internet browsers open during the registration process.
Please close other internet browser windows.
• Do not use a smart phone to register or file your Form 990-N.
• Use correct text characters when registering and filing.
Ensure that you use only letters, numbers or a hyphen when entering text fields. This character
limit does not apply to password fields. When choosing a password on the “Security Profile”
page, ensure that you only use letters, numbers, ! or #.
• Check your spam or junk email folders.
When registering or requesting a user-identification reminder, check your spam or junk email
folders for a response. The email may have been filtered out by your email program.
• If the suggestions above don’t resolve the issue, sign out of the filing system (if logged
in), close all programs and shut down your computer. Wait a minute, restart your
computer and try again.
This step is required before calling the Customer Account Services line (877-829-5500) for
technical help.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
• Annual Electronic Filing Requirement for Small Exempt Organizations – Form 990-N (e-Postcard)
• Form 990-N FAQs

• Maintaining 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status – Interactive training for officers and staff

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