Do Sororities Have to File Taxes?
Many sororities are organized as tax-exempt social or fraternal organizations. That means they may not owe federal income tax, but they may still have an annual IRS filing requirement.
For most sororities, the filing requirement depends on the chapter’s gross receipts, total assets, and whether the chapter files independently or is included in a national sorority’s group return.
How to File Your Sorority’s Taxes
1. Confirm Your Sorority’s Status
Start by finding out whether your chapter has its own EIN and tax-exempt status, or whether it is covered under a national sorority’s group exemption.
If your chapter is included in a parent organization’s group return, you may not need to file separately. If your chapter operates independently, it will likely need to file its own annual Form 990-series return. Search your chapter's EIN to determine if you're eligible to file using our Free EIN Search Tool.
2. Choose the Correct IRS Form
Your sorority will usually file one of the following:
- Form 990-N: For small organizations with gross receipts normally $50,000 or less.
- Form 990-EZ: For organizations with gross receipts under $200,000 and total assets under $500,000.
- Form 990: For larger organizations with gross receipts of $200,000 or more, or total assets of $500,000 or more.
Choosing the right form is important because filing the wrong return can delay compliance or create issues for future officers.
3. Gather Your Financial Records
Before filing, collect your sorority’s financial information for the year, including:
- Member dues
- Fundraising income
- Event income
- Bank statements
- Expenses
- Vendor payments
- Officer information
- Beginning and ending balances
Keeping organized records makes filing easier and helps protect your chapter if questions come up later.
4. Review Any Outside Income
Sororities should pay close attention to income from nonmembers, public events, advertising, or other activities outside normal chapter operations.
Some outside income may be considered unrelated business income, which could create additional filing requirements.
5. File by the Deadline
For most tax-exempt organizations, the annual Form 990-series return is due by the 15th day of the 5th month after the tax year ends.
For sororities that use a calendar year, the deadline is usually May 15.
Missing filings can create penalties, and organizations that fail to file for three consecutive years can lose their tax-exempt status. Select Create Account to start your return today!