Glossary
Compliance & Tax

UBIT (Unrelated Business Income Tax)

By: Alec Hollingsworth
Updated:  
June 2, 2025

DEFINITION:

UBIT is a federal tax on income nonprofits earn from activities unrelated to their main exempt purpose.
UBIT, or Unrelated Business Income Tax, is a tax imposed on income generated by tax-exempt organizations from activities that are unrelated to their exempt purpose. While nonprofits are generally exempt from federal income tax, if they regularly conduct a trade or business that is not substantially related to their charitable, educational, or other exempt purpose, the income from such activities may be subject to UBIT. The goal is to prevent unfair competition between nonprofits and taxable businesses by ensuring that unrelated business activities are taxed appropriately. Calculating UBIT requires identifying unrelated income, allowable deductions, and filing IRS Form 990-T when applicable.

Key Takeaways

  • UBIT applies to nonprofit income from unrelated business activities.
  • Proper tracking is essential to avoid IRS penalties.
  • Requires filing Form 990-T if thresholds are met.

Why It Matters

Nonprofits must track and report unrelated business income to avoid IRS penalties and maintain tax-exempt status.

Real World Example

A charitable organization operates a café open to the public, which is not directly related to its mission of providing after-school programs for children. Although the café generates revenue, this income is considered unrelated business income because it does not further the organization’s primary purpose. As a result, the nonprofit must calculate the net income from the café, apply relevant deductions, and report the income on IRS Form 990-T. The organization uses its accounting software to distinguish this income from program-related revenue, ensuring compliance with UBIT regulations while maintaining its tax-exempt status.

How Aplos Helps

Aplos helps nonprofits track revenue sources, properly categorize unrelated business income, and generate financial reports. This streamlines UBIT compliance by making it easy to identify and report taxable income, which supports accurate Form 990-T preparation directly from your Aplos financial data.
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Frequently Asked Questions

What triggers UBIT for a nonprofit?

UBIT is triggered when a nonprofit regularly carries out a trade or business that is not substantially related to its exempt purpose.

What IRS form do I use to report UBIT?

Nonprofits must report unrelated business income using IRS Form 990-T if gross income from unrelated businesses is $1,000 or more.

Does all income from a nonprofit's activities count as unrelated?

No. Only income from regularly carried out activities that are not substantially related to the nonprofit’s exempt purpose is subject to UBIT.

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