Thanks for mentioning the national org - I didn't think about that! I just checked our member portal and it looks like they actually do have some resources specifically for chapter treasurers. Apparently they even host a monthly zoom call where they answer tax questions from chapter officers. Do you know how soon after our fiscal year ends we need to file? Our fiscal year follows the academic year and ended May 31st.

The 990-N is due by the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year ends. So with your May 31st fiscal year end, you'd need to file by October 15th. That's good news about your national organization resources! Those monthly calls could be incredibly valuable, especially if you have any fraternity-specific questions that general tax advice wouldn't cover. Many national Greek organizations have dealt with these exact issues across hundreds of chapters for decades, so they often have very specific guidance that's tailored to your situation.

Yeah this is important. My fraternity had to file a 990-EZ even though our income was under 50k because we were classified as a social club not a charitable org. Found out the hard way after doing the 990-N incorrectly for 2 years.

Do we need to request transcripts before filing amendments? I assumed I just need my original return copy. Also, how far back can you amend returns? I might have similar issues with my 2021 taxes.

You don't absolutely need transcripts before filing amendments, but they're extremely helpful to ensure you have the exact information the IRS has on file. Having your own copy of your return is good, but the transcript shows how the IRS actually processed it, which sometimes differs from what you submitted. For amended returns, you generally have 3 years from the original filing date or 2 years from when you paid the tax, whichever is later. So for 2021 taxes (typically filed in 2022), you should still be within the amendment window for the 2025 filing season. I'd recommend grabbing the transcript though - it makes the amendment process much smoother when you can see the IRS's internal codes and processing marks.

That's a good point about tax preparers! My accountant uses checkmarks and little symbols all over my returns before submitting. I always thought it looked so messy but I guess that's their system.

Thanks for bringing this up! I double-checked, and you're right - the documents are actually from my tax preparer's office, not directly from the IRS. They sent me copies of what they submitted. That makes so much more sense why there are these little marks all over them. I feel kinda silly now for worrying, but at least I understand what I'm looking at. Guess my preparer was just marking things they verified before submitting. Learning something new about taxes every day!

Thanks for sharing your experience! Did you end up having to file an amended return, or were you able to get it resolved by just responding to the IRS notice?

I didn't need to file an amended return. I just responded to the IRS notice with a detailed explanation and a copy of my 1099-R. I highlighted Box 1 and Box 5 showing the identical amounts and explained these were after-tax contributions being returned. The IRS accepted my explanation and canceled the proposed adjustment about 6 weeks later. They sent a letter confirming no additional tax was due. Just make sure to respond within the deadline given on the notice, and keep copies of everything you send them.

I called about a similar issue last year. If you can actually reach someone (big if), they can be helpful. I got through after 3 attempts and about 90 minutes on hold. The agent was able to see that my 1099-R boxes matched and noted my account that no additional tax was due. Still got a confirmation letter about a month later.

Good point about state taxes! I live in a state with no income tax so I totally forgot about this aspect.

Thanks for the detailed explanation. This is getting me really worried now. If he's been doing this for the full 9 years I've worked there, could I be in trouble with the IRS too? I've always just reported what was on my W-2.

You shouldn't face penalties if you've been reporting the income shown on your W-2s. The IRS generally recognizes that employees rely on these documents for their tax filing. The primary responsibility for accurate payroll reporting falls on the employer. However, now that you're aware of the issue, you should work with a tax professional to determine if amendments are needed for recent tax years. Most tax pros recommend focusing on the last three years, as that's typically how far back the IRS looks unless fraud is suspected. The good news is that if your reported income was higher than your actual income, you might be entitled to tax refunds for overpayment once the record is corrected.

Wow, I didn't even catch that math error. You're right - the numbers are even more off than I realized. I thought I was just missing out on pay for those phantom 47 hours, but it sounds like there might be issues with my actual hourly rate calculation too.

Exactly. Based on the numbers you provided, if your gross pay on your W-2 is $6,753 for 450 hours, that's only about $15/hour - not the $18 you mentioned. And if your take-home is $5,642, that's about 16.5% being withheld, which seems low for combined federal, state, and FICA taxes. I suspect your boss might be pocketing some of what should be your wages while also potentially underpaying the employer portion of taxes. This is unfortunately common in cash-heavy small businesses. Document everything moving forward - dates, times, amounts paid - and consider reporting this to your state's department of labor and the IRS whistleblower program.