When will my Form 990 be publicly available on the IRS website?

Once your organization files Form 990 with the IRS, it becomes part of the public record. However, there is typically a delay between when the form is filed and when it becomes available on the IRS website or through other platforms that host nonprofit data.

Where does the IRS publish Form 990?

The IRS makes Form 990, 990-EZ, and 990-PF filings publicly accessible in two primary ways:

1. IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search (TEOS)
   This tool allows users to view and download images of filed Forms 990.
    
2. IRS Bulk Data Downloads
   These include machine-readable versions of Form 990 filings, typically used by researchers and third-party aggregators like ProPublica or Guidestar.
    

How long does it take?

The IRS does not publish Form 990 immediately after submission. The timeline varies, but here’s what you can generally expect:

• General Timeline
  If you e-filed your return, it may take 2–6 months for your Form 990 to appear on public platforms. The IRS must first process the return before releasing it in its public dataset.
   
• IRS Processing Delays
  Delays can vary based on IRS workload and processing times. Recent years have seen longer timelines due to resource constraints.
   

What you can do?

• Verify IRS Acceptance
  Ensure your return has been accepted by the IRS. If you e-filed through a provider, they should confirm acceptance.
   
• Check TEOS Periodically
  Visit the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search tool to check if your form has been published.
   
• Use Third-Party Tools

Websites like ProPublica Nonprofit Explorer or Candid (Guidestar) often post the same data once it's released by the IRS.
 

Key Reminder

Even though the IRS will eventually publish your Form 990, your organization is also responsible for providing copies upon request, in accordance with public disclosure requirements.