TY 2021 ReasonableCauseExplanation
Name:
CNM Employees Union Local 4974
Explanation:
CNM Employees Union Local 4974 (aka CNM EU) attempted to file this 2021-2022 990EZ on July 25, 2022. But our organization was surprised to learn in early September, 2022, that CNM EU did not have an approved application for non-profit status on file with the IRS. Because of this, the 2021-2022 990 EZ filing was sent back to our accountant. We learned that previous filings CNM EU had submitted to the IRS had been accepted because CNM EU was listed as being an affiliate of a larger Union: the American Federation of Teachers (AFT). We learned that when CNM EU had disaffiliated from AFT in 2015, the officers in charge at that time neglected to apply to the IRS for non-profit status. We also discovered that we needed to file for an employee identification number (or EIN) as well because the one we had been using in the past was used by AFT. This was an unwelcome surprise. None of the current officers of CNM EU were aware of these problems. Our accountant at the time advised us to follow the advice of an IRS employee whom she spoke to about CNM EU's situation. She was advised to file a six-month extension for this 990EZ and requested that a new EIN which was assigned under the name Central New Mexico Employees Union Local 4974. She also advised that we apply for non-profit status by filing form 1024 which was submitted on December 30, 2022. We were hoping that this non-profit application would be approved by the IRS before the six-month extension was up, after which we could file the 990EZ. After the 1024 filing was submitted, our accountant unfortunately decided to no longer accept work from CNM EU. As Treasurer, I took it upon myself to complete this 990 EZ. My intent was to electronically file the 990 EZ before the sixth month extension deadline of May 15, 2023. On around May 10, 2023, as I was finishing up preparation of this filing, I talked to a helpful IRS employee working the non-profit helpline named Belle (badge number 1002872326). She informed me that filing this 990 EZ by May 15 would be a problem because CNM EU was "between" employee identification numbers. She explained that because our six-month extension was filed under our old EIN (85-0446147), the IRS system would not register that we filed a request for a six-month extension. There was another problem as well. The new EIN was so recently established that the IRS system would indicate that a 990EZ filing for fiscal year 2021-2022 was not required. When I asked Belle what course of action to take, she advised that she was going to insert the need for a filing requirement for CNM EU. She advised that we wait four weeks from the date of our phone conversation before filing this 990EZ. She said that this would be the best way forward because were between EIN's, and that we should file the 2021-2022 990 EZ in four weeks, which would be June 7, 2023. I followed her instructions and have waited exactly four weeks since this phone call to file this 990 EZ which is why it is late. For your reference, here is information about the old name and EIN of CNM EU that we used to file previous 990 EZ forms, along with the new name and EIN this current filing is under. (The EIN notice we recieved is dated 12/20/2022). Previous Filings Name: CNM Employees Union EIN: 85-0446147 Current Filing Name: CNM Employees Union Local 4974 EIN: 92-1403197 If you have any questions about this matter, please call CNM EU at (505) 205-0096, or email me at cnmeutreasurer@gmail.com and we can arrange to speak in person. Sincerely, John Moss Treasurer, CNM Employees Union Local 4974