This is a hands-on tour. You will click through the live demo yourself, step by step, while this guide tells you exactly what to do. By the end you will have worked through the Form 990 sections and seen how the app assembles your prepared return.
Put the demo on one side and this walkthrough on the other so you can read a step and do it without flipping back and forth. Two monitors works best. On one screen, snap each window to half: click the demo window and press ⊞ + ←, then this window and press ⊞ + → (on Windows). The demo opens in a new tab when you click Launch the demo above.
The demo is a fully working copy of the Form 990 Preparation Assistant loaded with sample answers. There is no sign-in and nothing you do is saved to a real account, so click freely and experiment. You will see a red DEMO MODE bar across the top with a Reset button if you ever want a clean slate.
Form 990 is the annual information return every 501(c)(3) must file with the IRS. The app figures out which version applies to you, guides you through the sections in plain language, and helps you prepare a complete, accurate return. It prepares your return; it does not file it for you.
Your task: handle this year's 990. Your fiscal year has closed and the filing deadline is coming. We will work through the return so you are ready to file on time and without errors.
When the demo opens you land on the Dashboard, which lays out the parts of your return and your progress. The top bar has a Profile for your organization details and links to the Dashboard and this walkthrough.
Do this: Read the dashboard to see the return's sections, then open Profile to see the organization details behind your answers.
Why it matters: a clear map of the return turns an intimidating IRS form into a checklist you can finish.
Not every nonprofit files the same form. Based on your size, you may file the 990-N postcard, the 990-EZ, or the full 990. The app helps you confirm which version applies before you start entering data.
Do this: Review the section that determines your form version, and note which return the sample organization files.
Why it matters: filing the wrong version, or missing the threshold, is a common and avoidable mistake.
Work through revenue, expenses, and your program accomplishments. The app explains each line so you know what belongs where, and it carries your numbers through the return.
Do this: Open the financial section and review the sample figures, then read the program-accomplishments section, which tells your story to the public.
Why it matters: the 990 is public. Donors and watchdogs read it, so accurate numbers and a clear program story protect your reputation.
The 990 asks about your board, policies, and compensation, and may require additional schedules depending on your activities. The app flags which schedules apply and walks you through them.
Do this: Open the governance section to see the policy questions, then review any schedules the app has flagged for the sample organization.
Why it matters: the governance questions are where having real policies, like a conflict-of-interest policy, pays off on the public record.
Once the sections are complete, the app pulls your answers together into a prepared return you can review and export to complete your filing on time.
Do this: Use the export or summary view to see your assembled return in one place. Remember the app prepares your return; you submit it to the IRS yourself.
Why it matters: having everything organized in one package makes filing on time straightforward, and on-time filing keeps your tax-exempt status safe.
You just worked through the Form 990 sections and saw how the app assembles your prepared return, using the same steps you would follow for your real annual filing. Explore any other part of the demo, or reset it and try it your own way.