Club Treasurer Financial Checklist for July
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District Treasurer – IRS Filing Reminder
If your Lions club’s fiscal year ended on June 30, 2025, it is now time to prepare and submit the appropriate IRS paperwork. The filing requirements depend on your club’s gross receipts and total assets. Clubs with annual gross receipts of less than $50,000 are only required to submit the Form 990-N, commonly called the e-Postcard. Clubs whose receipts are greater than $50,000 but remain below $200,000, and whose total assets are less than $500,000, have the option of filing either Form 990-EZ or Form 990. Any club with receipts of $200,000 or more, or assets of $500,000 or more, must file the full Form 990. If your club operates an affiliated foundation that is a separate legal entity, that foundation must also file its own IRS return.
Before a Form 990-N can be submitted, the filer must register with the IRS at IRS.gov. This registration is only required once if the same club officer continues to handle the filing each year. However, when the responsibility changes hands, the new designee must complete their own registration before they will be able to file.
The deadline for filing is set by the IRS as the fifteenth day of the fifth month following the close of the fiscal year. Because Lions clubs operate on a July 1 to June 30 fiscal calendar, the deadline for fiscal year 2025 is November 15, 2025. It is important to note that the Form 990-N cannot be extended; it must be filed by the due date.
The consequences of not filing are serious. A club that fails to meet the annual reporting requirement for three consecutive years will automatically lose its federal tax-exempt status. While reinstatement may be possible, it requires a new application to the IRS, and the process is neither immediate nor guaranteed. Protecting your club’s exemption depends on meeting this straightforward annual obligation.
Every Lions club and district, whether or not it has employees, is required to have an Employer Identification Number (EIN). This number identifies the organization to the IRS and must be used when filing. Clubs without an EIN can apply by completing Form SS-4, which is available from the IRS, or by applying directly online at IRS.gov. Applications may also be submitted by telephone or by fax, depending on the instructions provided for your state.
Please remember that Lions Clubs International is not authorized to give specific guidance on how your club should file. For general questions, you may consult the Lions Tax FAQ, or for official direction, visit the IRS website at irs.gov/charities-non-profits. The IRS also offers the EO Update newsletter, which provides timely information relevant to exempt organizations. If you have more detailed questions, you should contact a local tax professional or reach out directly to the IRS.
In short, filing on time is essential. Mark November 15, 2025 on your calendar, and ensure your club submits the required Form 990, 990-EZ, or 990-N so that your tax-exempt status remains secure.
Written By Lion Steve Dogiakos
Steve has been the Cabinet Treasurer for District 37 since July 2024. Steve is also the Treasurer for the Choteau Lions Club, the Choteau Lions Club Foundation and is the President of The Montana Dinosaur Center in Bynum.
