WASHINGTON - The Internal Revenue Service has launched a new Internet-based version of its popular Exempt Organizations Workshop covering tax compliance issues confronted by small and mid-sized tax-exempt organizations, including charities and churches.

The target audience for the free online workshop, Stay Exempt – Tax Basics for 501(c)(3)s, is organizations that have no tax experts on staff or have no or limited contact with outside advisors on tax compliance issues.

“The Exempt Organizations division has offered face-to-face workshops for small and mid-sized organizations since 2001,” said Lois G. Lerner, Exempt Organizations director. “These have been remarkably popular and have played an important role in our effort to increase compliance with the law through effective outreach and education.”

“However because of the cost and time involved in producing the live workshops, we can offer only a few each year in major cities. With this new online program, anyone, anywhere can access a ‘virtual workshop’ whenever it’s convenient for them,” Lerner added.

The workshop consists of five interactive modules on tax compliance topics:

• Tax-Exempt Status – How can you keep your 501(c)(3) exempt?
• Unrelated Business Income – Does your organization generate taxable income?
• Employment Issues – How should you treat your workers for tax purposes?
• Form 990 – Would you like to file an error-free return?
• Required Disclosures – To whom do you have to show your records?

Each module contains learning objectives as well as interactive exercises to keep the sessions lively. Users can complete the modules in any order and repeat them as many times as they like. Users also will find dozens of links to IRS forms and publications that provide details about the topics in the modules. The IRS website does not require registration and its visitors will remain anonymous. Comments on ways to improve the workshop are encouraged.