Write-Offs:

By Elizabeth Schwinn

• The IRS wants the public to comment on whether changes should be made to several different types of forms charities file with the revenue service, including Form 990, the federal informational return; Form 1024, through which charities apply for tax exemption; and Form 8868, through which charities request an extension of time to file their returns. Comments on Forms 990 and 1024 must be received by March 15, and comments on Form 8868 must be received by March 23. They should be mailed to: Robert Coar, Internal Revenue Service, Room 6411, 1111 Constitution Avenue, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20224.
• The IRS has written new guidelines for its agents to help them understand how the agency limits and regulates nonprofit housing for the elderly, noting that the industry has grown substantially in recent years. The advice will be available in printed form later this year in the tax agency’s Continuing Professional Education textbook for fiscal 2004. In the meantime, the chapter can be found online at http://www.irs.gov/charities/index.html.