The IRS Just Opened a New Digital Door for Nonprofits — Here’s Why It Matters
By Richard J. Locastro, CPA, J.D., Partner, Nonprofit Tax & Katelyn Miller, CPA, MST, Principal, Nonprofit Tax
On April 6, 2026, the IRS expanded access to its online Business Tax Account (BTA) portal to include tax-exempt organizations. For nonprofits that have long dealt with the frustration of paper-based IRS interactions, or time-intensive phone support, this is welcome news.
What Is the Business Tax Account?
The BTA is a secure, centralized platform that allows eligible users to manage their federal tax responsibilities online. Rather than calling the IRS and sitting on hold or waiting weeks for a written response, authorized officers of your organization can now log in and handle a range of routine tasks directly. The portal has been available to certain business entities for a while now, including sole proprietors and corporations, but tax-exempt organizations are a recent addition to the list.
Who Can Set Up Access?
The IRS requires a designated official (“DO”) to register on behalf of the organization. The DO is someone authorized to act in a leadership capacity, such as the Executive Director, President, CEO, CFO, Treasurer, or Secretary of your organization. Board chairs and trustees can also register. The DO can authorize other designated users to have access to certain functions within the BTA platform, for additional ease and convenience. Organizations should evaluate internally who should have access and how the platform fits into existing controls and procedures.
How a BTA is Helpful
Once your organization has BTA access, here’s what you can do:
- View tax balances, make payments, and see payment history
- Download select digital notices
- View eligible transcripts, such as payroll and income
- Request a tax compliance check
- See the business name and address on file with the IRS
Our Recommendation
We encourage our tax-exempt clients to set up their BTA account with the IRS. As the IRS continues to build out the platform, having access already established means you’ll be ready to take advantage of new features as they become available. In an environment where demonstrating compliance quickly and accurately is increasingly important — whether for a grant application, a federal contract, or simply good governance — this is a great tool to have in your back pocket.
To register, visit the IRS Business Tax Account page at irs.gov/businesses/business-tax-account.
Contact us
If you have questions about registering or want help thinking through who in your organization should be the DO, GRF’s Nonprofit Tax Team is happy to walk you through it. Please contact us for additional information or assistance.
