1. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Contact: Lisa Maruyama
Kill Date: May 15, 2010 (808) 529-0454 (d)
(808) 384-5568 (cell)
lmaruyama@hano-hawaii.org
1,842 Nonprofits in Hawaii Must Take Action by May 15 to Preserve
Tax-Exempt Status
Honolulu – The Hawai`i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations (HANO) encourages all
nonprofit organizations in Hawaii and especially smaller nonprofits with annual revenue
under $25,000, to take simple, immediate steps to ensure they do not lose their tax-
exempt status.
Congress passed a law that changed the rules so now all nonprofits must file a
form with the Internal Revenue Service. As a result, current government records show
that 1,842 nonprofits in Hawaii could face the costly and time-consuming prospect of
losing their status as tax-exempt organizations if they do not act. For many small
nonprofits with annual revenue below $25,000, that means filing an electronic version of
IRS form 990-N (also known as the ePostcard) by May 15. Larger organizations must
file Form 990 or 990-EZ.
HANO recommends that people involved in small nonprofits double-check the list
from the special link of the Urban Institute’s National Center for Charitable Statistics at
http://nccsdataweb.urban.org/PubApps/990search.php to find out if they are in
compliance. “Organizations that lose their tax-exempt status may not receive tax-
deductible contributions,” said Lisa Maruyama, HANO president and CEO. “It would be
an expensive distraction for small volunteer groups to pay $750 and take the time to
reinstate their tax status.”
(more)
One South King Building
P.O. Box 240382 • Honolulu, HI 96824-0382
info@hano-hawaii.org • hano-hawaii.org
(808) 529-0466

2. HANO News Release
1,842 Nonprofits in Hawaii Must Take Action by May 15
May 13, 2010
Page Two
For more details, visit HANO’s website at www.hano-hawaii.org or the website of
HANO’s national organization, the National Council of Nonprofits at
http://www.councilofnonprofits.org/annual-filings.
The Hawai`i Alliance of Nonprofit Organizations is a statewide professional
alliance that works to strengthen and unite Hawaii’s nonprofit sector as a collective
voice to improve the quality of life in Hawaii.
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info@hcsc-hawaii.org | P.O. Box 240382, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96824-0382| (808) 529-0466

3. info@hcsc-hawaii.org | P.O. Box 240382, Honolulu, Hawai‘i 96824-0382| (808) 529-0466