Lancaster Law Blog : Lancaster PA Lawyer & Attorney : Russell Krafft & Gruber Law Firm : Pennsylvania : Lancaster's Legal Link

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A couple of months ago in my post Reminder for Nonprofits: Form 990 Due on May 17, I warned that some nonprofit organizations could lose their tax-exempt status if they failed to timely file their informational returns for the last three consecutive years. Unfortunately, thousands of nonprofits failed to heed this warning and did not file in time. Fortunately, in a rare display of mercy, the IRS has extended the due date to October 15, 2010.

The relief is limited to organizations that can file a Form 990-N, which is merely an e-Postcard with minimal information required, or a Form 990-EZ. In general, an organization can file a Form 990-N if their annual gross receipts are less than $25,000. If its annual gross receipts are less than $100,000 but more than $25,000, a nonprofit can file a Form 990-EZ. Organizations with annual gross receipts greater than $100,000, which are required to file a Form 990, and private foundations, which are required to file a Form 990-PF, are unable to take advantage of the extension and must re-apply for tax-exempt status if it has been lost.

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The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette has some good news for nonprofit organizations: Study shows  big jump in online contributions for nonprofit groups.  Here are a few highlights from the article: 

• While online donations are up, they still only account for a small portion (5.7%) of total contributions to nonprofits,  hence traditional fundraising methods are still essential.
• Check to see if there is an organization in your area dedicated to helping regional nonprofits raise money, both  online and offline.   There may also be similar organizations dedicated to helping certain categories of charitable missions.
• Much like a pledge-drive on public television, online donations tend to be spurred when matched with an event, such as a matching campaign or concert.
• Make sure the technology used to collect online donations is sound and in good working order.  You don’t want to lose donations because of a server crash or software bug.
• Smaller organizations tend to benefit more from online donations than larger organizations because less resources are necessary. 
• Fundraising will always be a challenge for non-profit organizations, but utilizing new technology and trends is one way to supplement traditional fundraising efforts.

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A while back, I wrote an article called FACTA Guidelines for Disposing Client Information. This article discussed how the Fair and Accurate Credit Transactions Act of 2003 (FACTA) requires businesses to dispose of records and documents containing consumer information. Since then, some of my business clients have asked for clarification on issues relating to customer credit card information.

It doesn't seem that long ago that, when paying with a credit card, your card was placed in an awkward contraption that imprinted your card information onto several receipts. Many of you will also remember ripping out the carbon paper or having the clerk call an 800 number to authorize the transaction. These days, with internet shopping and machines that instantly authorize cards, it is much more difficult to stay on top of who has the ability to track your credit card information. FACTA is a response to that uncertainty.

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On July 13, 2010, I will again be serving as a faculty member for the Seminar “Landlord Tenant Law; Beyond the Basics”, which will be held in Harrisburg. This is the second year that I have served on the faculty and I am looking forward to interacting with my colleagues and other professionals who handle landlord and tenant problems on a regular basis.

This seminar presents an opportunity to update lawyers, property managers and other real estate professionals about the status of landlord/tenant issues and any recent changes to the law. Last year, it provided every participant with an opportunity to ask questions and discuss particular issues that they encounter in their everyday dealings with tenants and landlords. If you are interested in attending this seminar you can register at the Sterling Education website.

It is my hope and expectation that this year's seminar will be as successful and productive as last year and I am looking forward to it.