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Official form guide
Form 990-PF: Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Trust Treated as Private Foundation
IRS Form 990-PF is the annual return for private foundations and Section 4947(a)(1) trusts, used to report investment income, charitable distributions, and compute tax. It is due the 15th day of the 5th month after the foundation’s tax year.
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IRS Form 990-PF - Return of Private Foundation or Section 4947(a)(1) Trust Treated as Private Foundation
IRS Form 990-PF is the annual return for private foundations and Section 4947(a)(1) trusts, used to report investment income, charitable distributions, and compute tax. It is due the 15th day of the 5th month after the foundation’s tax year.
Risk Radar
Scan points- 1Missing the filing deadline can cause a $6,500 penalty and loss of tax‑exempt status.
- 2Filing after the 15th day of the 5th month following the tax year end.
- 3Omitting the required signature before submission.
- 4Submitting a prior‑year return electronically instead of paper‑filing.
- 5Leaving Part I, column (d) cash receipts method blank when required.
Plain English
Form 990-PF tells the IRS how much investment income a private foundation earned and what charitable gifts it made. It also calculates any tax the foundation owes on that income. The form must be filed each year after the foundation’s fiscal year ends.
Submission Date
- Filing date: 2026-01-15 18:10:39
- Preparation window: collect IDs, supporting records, and signatures in advance.
- Final review: verify names, dates, and required fields before submission.
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What this form is for
- Use this form when filing the annual information return for a private foundation or a section 4947(a)(1) trust.
- Check Form 1041 instead when the trust has taxable income.
Form selector
Use this form or another form?
Initial exemption application
Required to obtain 501(c)(3) status before private foundation filing
✓ Confirm exemption application is pending
Trust with taxable income
990-PF cannot replace 1041 when trust has taxable income
✓ Verify trust’s taxable income status
Small tax‑exempt organization not a private foundation
Simplified e‑Postcard filing for organizations with ≤ $50,000 gross receipts
✓ Confirm gross receipts are ≤ $50,000
Deadline or filing window
The filing deadline is triggered by the end of the foundation’s tax year. The return is due the 15th day of the 5th month after that date. No automatic extension is mentioned in the official source.
Checklist
What you need before filling it out
Name and address of foundation (line A)
Legal name and mailing address · Form line A
Employer identification number (line B)
EIN issued by IRS · Form line B
Exemption application pending checkbox (line C)
Proof of pending 501(c)(3) application · Form line C
Foreign organization checkbox (line D1)
Documentation of foreign status · Form line D1
Investment income tax calculation (part I)
Schedule of investment income and tax rates · Form Part I
Before you submit
- 1Verify the calendar year or tax year dates are entered correctly in the header.
- 2Confirm the foundation’s name and address match official records.
- 3Ensure the EIN entered matches IRS records.
- 4Check the appropriate exemption‑application‑pending box if applicable.
- 5Mark foreign organization boxes only if criteria are met.
- 6Review investment income figures and compute tax per instructions.
- 7Sign the authorized officer’s signature line.
- 8Attach required schedules for charitable distributions.
- 9Include any required electronic funds transfer deposit information.
- 10Ensure the form is dated the day of filing.
- 11Keep a copy for your records.
- 12Mail or e‑file to the IRS address indicated in the instructions.
How to file this form
- 1Gather the foundation’s financial statements and investment income data.
- 2Complete Form 990-PF fields, including name, EIN, and tax calculations.
- 3Attach required schedules and supporting documents.
- 4Sign the form and date it.
- 5Submit the return electronically or mail to the IRS address.
- 6Obtain the acceptance confirmation or mailing receipt as proof of filing.
Known limitations
- 1Do not file for public charities that are not private foundations.
- 2Do not use when the organization’s gross receipts are ≤ $50,000; use Form 990‑N instead.
- 3Do not use when a section 4947(a)(1) trust has taxable income; file Form 1041 instead.
Field map
Compact field-by-field guide
Organization Info
2 items
Legal name of the tax-exempt organization and its EIN.
Current mailing address and website URL if applicable.
Revenue
1 items
Sum of all revenue including contributions, program service revenue, investment income, and other revenue.
Expenses
1 items
Sum of all expenses including program services, management, and fundraising.
Assets
1 items
Total assets minus total liabilities at end of the reporting period.
Compliance
1 items
Certification of continued compliance with tax-exempt requirements.
Signatures
1 items
An authorized officer of the organization must sign.
Almost done reviewing the fields?
Fillable formOpen in Editor->The edition is identified as 20 25 per Instructions p.1, and the source points to the IRS website for the latest information.
What changed or needs a fresh check
- Edition date — confirm it reads 20 25
- Fee — Not stated in the official source
- Mailing address — Not stated in the official source
- Signature — Not stated in the official source
Quick Facts
Downloads
After you file
- 1Retain a signed copy of Form 990-PF for at least three years.
- 2Keep all supporting schedules and financial records for the same period.
- 3Expect an acknowledgment notice from the IRS within 60 days.
- 4If the IRS sends a notice of deficiency, respond within the timeframe indicated.
- 5Update any public disclosure website with the filed return.
- 6Correct any errors by filing an amended Form 990-PF.
Sources
- SRCInstructions p.1 — edition identified as 20 25.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — purpose of Form 990-PF: to figure tax on investment income and report charitable distributions.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — Form 990-PF substitutes Form 1041 when the trust has no taxable income.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — who must file: private foundations exempt under section 501(a) (6033(a)).
- SRCInstructions p.2 — who must file: taxable private foundations (6033(d)).
- SRCInstructions p.2 — who must file: organizations with pending exemption applications on due date.
- SRCForm p.1 — do not enter social security numbers on this form.
- SRCInstructions p.4 — electronic funds transfer required for depository tax deposits.
- SRCInstructions p.6 — some states accept Form 990-PF to satisfy state filing requirements.
- SRCInstructions p.2 — automatic revocation after 3 consecutive years of failure to file.
Common confusion points
Do I need to include Social Security numbers?
The form explicitly prohibits SSNs because they become public.
→ Verify no SSNs appear on any line.
When is the electronic funds transfer required?
Instructions p.4 states all depository tax deposits must use EFT.
→ Confirm EFT details are included with the payment.
What if my organization is a foreign foundation?
Foreign organization checkboxes exist on line D.
→ Mark only if criteria are met and attach computation if 85% test applies.
Is the exemption‑application‑pending box for all foundations?
It applies only when the exemption application is still pending on the due date.
→ Check the application status before checking.
Which tax year should I report?
The form is for the calendar year 2025 or a tax year beginning in 2025 and ending in 20 (as shown on the header).
→ Ensure dates match the foundation’s fiscal year.
Can I use this form to satisfy state filing requirements?
Some states accept Form 990-PF in lieu of their own reports.
→ Verify state requirements before relying on the federal form.
Workflow map
Related forms and next steps
Before
Current
After
Often used with
⚠ If something goes wrong
- Form 1041 — file when a section 4947(a)(1) trust has taxable income.
Questions about IRS Form 990-PF
What is IRS Form 990-PF used for?
Form 990-PF tells the IRS how much investment income a private foundation earned and what charitable gifts it made. It also calculates any tax the foundation owes on that income. The form must be filed each year after the foundation’s fiscal year ends.
Who must file IRS Form 990-PF?
Private foundations exempt under section 501(a), taxable private foundations under section 6033(d), and organizations pending private‑foundation status must file IRS Form 990-PF.
What information does IRS Form 990-PF require?
The form gathers identification in Part I, financial activity in Part II, net‑asset changes in Part III, capital gains and losses in Part IV, excise tax on investment income in Part V, and activity statements in Part VI‑A and VI‑B.
When is IRS Form 990-PF due?
Form 990-PF must be filed by the 15th day of the 5th month following the close of the foundation’s tax year; if that day falls on a weekend or legal holiday, the deadline moves to the next business day.
Where do I file IRS Form 990-PF?
File electronically for the current tax year and the two prior years; returns for earlier years must be paper‑filed.
How do I complete IRS Form 990-PF?
First complete Part I with the foundation’s identification and accounting method, then fill Part II with financial statements. Continue with Part III analysis of net assets, Part IV capital gains, Part V excise tax, and Part VI activity statements. Sign the return before filing electronically or by mail.
What happens if IRS Form 990-PF is filed incorrectly?
Failure to file on time can trigger a maximum penalty of $6,500 and, after three consecutive missed years, the foundation automatically loses its tax‑exempt status.
Do I need to include Social Security numbers?
The form explicitly prohibits SSNs because they become public. Verify no SSNs appear on any line.
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