Code of Federal Regulations · Section
§ 301.6012-2 — -2 Required Use Of Electronic Form For Income Tax Returns Of Certain Political Organizations
26 C.F.R. § 301.6012-2
(a) Income tax returns of certain political organizations required electronically. (1) Any organization required to file an income tax return on Form 1120-POL, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Political Organizations, under § 1.6012-6 of this chapter must file its income tax return, along with all other related forms, schedules, and statements that are required to be attached to the Form 1120-POL, including amended and superseding returns, electronically if the organization is required by the Internal Revenue Code or regulations to file at least 10 returns of any type (as defined in paragraph (d)(2) of this section) during the calendar year.
(2) The Commissioner may direct the type of electronic filing and may also exempt certain returns from the electronic requirements of this section through revenue procedures, publications, forms, instructions, or other guidance, including postings on the IRS.gov website. Returns filed electronically must be made in accordance with the applicable revenue procedures, publications, forms, instructions, or other guidance.
(b) Exclusions from electronic-filing requirements—(1) Waivers. The Commissioner may grant waivers of the requirements of this section in cases of undue hardship. One principal factor in determining hardship will be the amount, if any, by which the cost of filing the return electronically in accordance with this section exceeds the cost of filing the return on paper. A request for a waiver must be made in accordance with applicable IRS revenue procedures, publications, forms, instructions, or other guidance, including postings to the IRS.gov website. The waiver request will specify the type of filing (that is, a return required under § 1.6012-6 of this chapter) and the period to which it applies.
(2) Exemptions. The Commissioner may provide exemptions from the requirements of this section to promote effective and efficient tax administration. A submission claiming an exemption must be made in accordance with applicable IRS revenue procedures, publications, forms, instructions, or other guidance, including postings to the IRS.gov website.
(3) Additional exclusion. If the IRS's systems do not support electronic filing, taxpayers will not be required to file electronically.
(c) Failure to file. If an organization fails to file an income tax return electronically when required to do so by this section, the organization has failed to file the return. See section 6651 for the addition to tax for failure to file a return. In determining whether there is reasonable cause for failure to file the return, § 301.6651-1(c) and rules similar to the rules in § 301.6724-1(c)(3) (undue economic hardship related to filing information returns electronically) will apply.
(d) Meaning of terms. The following definitions apply for purposes of this section:
(1) Magnetic media or electronic form. The terms magnetic media or electronic form mean any media or form permitted under applicable regulations, revenue procedures, or publications. These generally include electronic filing, as well as magnetic tape, tape cartridge, diskette, and other media specifically permitted under the applicable regulations, procedures, publications, forms, instructions, or other guidance.
(2) Income tax return for certain political organizations. The term income tax return for certain political organizations means a Form 1120-POL, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Political Organizations, along with all other related forms, schedules, and statements that are required to be attached to the Form 1120-POL, including amended and superseding returns.
(3) Calculating the number of returns. For purposes of this section, an organization is required to file at least 10 returns if, during the calendar year ending with or within the organization's taxable year, the organization is required to file at least 10 returns of any type, including information returns (for example, Forms W-2 and Forms 1099), income tax returns, employment tax returns, and excise tax returns. In the case of a short-period return, an organization is required to file at least 10 returns if, during the calendar year in which the organization's short taxable year ends, the organization is required to file at least 10 returns of any type, including information returns (for example, Forms W-2 and Forms 1099), income tax returns, employment tax returns, and excise tax returns.
(e) Example. The following example illustrates the provisions of this section:
(1) During the calendar year ending December 31, 2023, Organization X was required to file one Form 1120-POL, U.S. Income Tax Return for Certain Political Organizations, four (quarterly) Forms 8872, Political Organization Report of Contributions and Expenditures, two Forms W-2, Wage and Tax Statement, one Form 940, Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment (FUTA) Tax Return, and four Forms 941, Employer's Quarterly Federal Tax Return. Because X is required to file 12 returns during the calendar year, X is required to file its Form 1120-POL electronically for its taxable year ending December 31, 2023.
(2) [Reserved]
(f) Applicability date. The rules of this section apply to income tax returns required to be filed for taxable years ending on or after December 31, 2023.
Authorizing Statute
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Confidentiality and disclosure of returns and return information26 U.S.C. § 6103
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Restrictions applicable to deficiencies; petition to Tax Court26 U.S.C. § 6213
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Signing of returns and other documents26 U.S.C. § 6061
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Assessment, collection, and payment26 U.S.C. § 6232
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Period of limitations on making adjustments26 U.S.C. § 6235
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Validity and priority against certain persons26 U.S.C. § 6323
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Definitions26 U.S.C. § 7701
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Partner’s return must be consistent with partnership return26 U.S.C. § 6222
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Alternative to payment of imputed underpayment by partnership26 U.S.C. § 6226
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Notice of qualification as executor or receiver26 U.S.C. § 6036
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Partners bound by actions of partnership26 U.S.C. § 6223
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Abatements26 U.S.C. § 6404
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Commissioner of Internal Revenue; other officials26 U.S.C. § 7803
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Extension of time for filing returns26 U.S.C. § 6081
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Treaty-based return positions26 U.S.C. § 6114
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Timely mailing treated as timely filing and paying26 U.S.C. § 7502
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Interest and penalties26 U.S.C. § 6233
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Certified professional employer organizations26 U.S.C. § 7705
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Accelerated cost recovery system26 U.S.C. § 168
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General requirement of return, statement, or list26 U.S.C. § 6011
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Disclosure of reportable transactions26 U.S.C. § 6111
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Rules and regulations26 U.S.C. § 7805
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Persons required to make returns of income26 U.S.C. § 6012
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Return of S corporation26 U.S.C. § 6037
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Reimbursement to State and local law enforcement agencies26 U.S.C. § 7624
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Determination at partnership level26 U.S.C. § 6221
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Partnership adjustment by Secretary26 U.S.C. § 6225
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Authority to release levy and return property26 U.S.C. § 6343
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Disclosure or use of information by preparers of returns26 U.S.C. § 7216
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Departmental regulations5 U.S.C. § 301
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Tax imposed26 U.S.C. § 1
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Notice of proceedings and adjustment26 U.S.C. § 6231
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Payment of tax by commercially acceptable means26 U.S.C. § 6311
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Sale of seized property26 U.S.C. § 6335
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Procedural requirements26 U.S.C. § 6751
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Low-income housing credit26 U.S.C. § 42
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Special rules26 U.S.C. § 1474
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Returns by exempt organizations26 U.S.C. § 6033
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Definitions and special rules26 U.S.C. § 6241
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Administrative appeal of liens26 U.S.C. § 6326
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Expenses of detection of underpayments and fraud, etc.26 U.S.C. § 7623
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Information concerning resident status26 U.S.C. § 6039E
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Identifying numbers26 U.S.C. § 6109
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Administrative adjustment request by partnership26 U.S.C. § 6227
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Authority to make credits or refunds26 U.S.C. § 6402
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Judicial review of partnership adjustment26 U.S.C. § 6234
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Failure to file notice of redetermination of foreign tax26 U.S.C. § 6689
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Income from discharge of indebtedness26 U.S.C. § 108