If you run a nonprofit organization, you may be selected for an Internal Revenue Service (IRS) audit at some point. An audit may be the result of random selection or of a specific trigger, such as compensation issues or expense discrepancies. Regardless of the reasons, you should be prepared to explain your practices to the IRS. Here are a few policies which a nonprofit should have in place:
In addition to having these policies, you should also:
At the beginning of an audit, the auditor will request a copy of the board meeting minutes for the year being audited. The minutes should reflect any discussions and decisions made by the board on operations, including contracts and expenditures that are subject to board approval. It is very important that all compensation decisions are documented and that there are objective standards, such as national surveys, used to make compensation decisions.
At the end of the day, the IRS wants to make sure your organization is operating for the greater good, and not for the benefit of any one individual or private interest. An audit is not something to fear—but you do want to be prepared.
The Form 990 is an annual informational return sent to the IRS documenting a nonprofit’s activities. This is the form that is most likely to trigger an audit. Make sure the information on your Form 990 is completely accurate and representative of your current organization. It is a best practice, even noted by the IRS, that a nonprofit’s board of directors reviews the 990 before filing.
At the end of the day, the IRS wants to make sure your organization is operating for the greater good, and not for the benefit of any one individual or private interest. An audit is not something to fear—but you do want to be prepared.