CharityBrief

EIN52-0899215

All organizations › Virginia › Public Broadcasting Service

Public Broadcasting Service

Updated October 30, 2026. Based on Internal Revenue Service records. Published by Humblebee.

Exempt under
501(c)(3)[1]
IRS ruling date
December 1970[2]
Publication 78 data
Listed (PC)[3]
Total revenue, period ending Jun 2025
$696,585,777[4]

Public Broadcasting Service is listed in IRS records as an organization in Arlington, Virginia, exempt under section 501(c)(3)[5][1]. The IRS master file lists total revenue of $696,585,777 for the tax period ending June 2025[4].

IRS status

The IRS lists Public Broadcasting Service as exempt under section 501(c)(3), classification: Educational Organization[1]. The IRS master file gives a ruling date of December 1970[2]. Its foundation code is 15: Organization that receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)[6]. It appears in Publication 78 data with status code PC, A public charity, deductibility limitation 50% (60% for cash contributions)[3].

Item IRS record
EIN[5] 52-0899215
Location in IRS records[5] Arlington, Virginia
Exempt under[1] Section 501(c)(3)
IRS classification[1] Educational Organization
Ruling date[2] December 1970
Foundation code[6] 15: Organization that receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi)
Deductibility code[7] 1: Contributions are deductible
Publication 78 data[3] Listed, status PC
NTEE code[8] A320: Arts, Culture and Humanities, Television
Filing requirement[9] 990 (all other) or 990EZ return
Fiscal year ends[10] June
Latest e-filed return[11] Form 990, tax period ending June 2025

Finances as reported to the IRS

On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, Public Broadcasting Service reported total revenue of $544,038,860 and total expenses of $541,696,112[12]. Revenue lines on that form include contributions, gifts and grants of $272,318,709 and program service revenue of $219,005,856[13]. Net assets at year end were $411,695,303[12]. Total revenue on its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2022 was $542,977,687[14], which is higher than the $502,085,658 reported for the tax period ending June 2021[15].

IRS master file, newer period. For the most recent return in the IRS master file, for the tax period ending June 2025, the IRS lists total revenue of $696,585,777 and total assets of $752,838,793.[4]

June 2021: total revenue $502.1M$502.1MJune 2021: total expenses $448.6M$448.6MJun 2021June 2022: total revenue $543.0M$543.0MJune 2022: total expenses $506.8M$506.8MJun 2022June 2023: total revenue $544.0M$544.0MJune 2023: total expenses $541.7M$541.7MJun 2023
  • Total revenue
  • Total expenses
Amounts as reported on each return, rounded in the chart. Exact figures are in the table below[12].
Tax period ending Form Total revenue Total expenses Net assets at year end
June 2021[15]Form 990$502,085,658$448,645,167$399,560,415
June 2022[14]Form 990$542,977,687$506,773,194$404,445,280
June 2023[12]Form 990$544,038,860$541,696,112$411,695,303

Totals as reported on each return. The IRS publishes these extracts one to two years after filing.

Balance sheet, tax period ending June 2023

Line Amount
Total assets[16] $641,227,961
Total liabilities[16] $229,532,658
Net assets or fund balances[16] $411,695,303

Employees. Public Broadcasting Service reported 657 employees on Form W-3 for calendar year ending with or within the tax period ending June 2023 (Form 990, Part V, line 2a).[17]

Compensation over $100,000. On the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, Public Broadcasting Service reported 313 individuals who received more than $100,000 of reportable compensation from the organization (Part VII, line 2).[18]

Form 990 checklist. In the Form 990 checklist (Part IV) for the tax period ending June 2023, Public Broadcasting Service answered yes to: it engaged in lobbying activities.[19]

Questions people ask

What is the EIN of Public Broadcasting Service?
The IRS master file lists its employer identification number (EIN) as 52-0899215[5].
Is Public Broadcasting Service a 501(c)(3) nonprofit?
The IRS lists it as exempt under section 501(c)(3), classification: Educational Organization[1]. It appears in Publication 78 data with status code PC[3].
Are contributions to Public Broadcasting Service tax-deductible?
The IRS deductibility code is 1: Contributions are deductible[7]. Publication 78 lists deductibility limitation 50% (60% for cash contributions)[3].
Where is Public Broadcasting Service located?
The IRS master file lists it in Arlington, Virginia[5].
What revenue did Public Broadcasting Service report?
The IRS master file lists total revenue of $696,585,777 for the tax period ending June 2025[4]. Its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023 reported total revenue of $544,038,860[12].

Facts and sources

  1. The IRS lists Public Broadcasting Service as exempt under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, classification: Educational Organization. IRS EO Business Master File
  2. The ruling date in the IRS master file (the month and year of the IRS letter recognizing the exemption) is December 1970. IRS EO Business Master File
  3. Public Broadcasting Service (EIN 52-0899215) appears in the IRS Publication 78 data, the list of organizations eligible to receive tax-deductible charitable contributions, with status code PC (A public charity, deductibility limitation 50% (60% for cash contributions)). IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search data
  4. For the most recent return in the IRS master file, for the tax period ending June 2025, the IRS lists total revenue of $696,585,777 and total assets of $752,838,793. IRS EO Business Master File
  5. The IRS Exempt Organizations Business Master File lists Public Broadcasting Service with employer identification number (EIN) 52-0899215, located in Arlington, Virginia. IRS EO Business Master File
  6. IRS foundation code 15 for Public Broadcasting Service: Organization that receives a substantial part of its support from a governmental unit or the general public 170(b)(1)(A)(vi). IRS EO Business Master File
  7. IRS deductibility code 1 for Public Broadcasting Service: Contributions are deductible. IRS EO Business Master File
  8. The IRS master file assigns Public Broadcasting Service the National Taxonomy of Exempt Entities (NTEE) code A320: Arts, Culture and Humanities, Television. IRS EO Business Master File
  9. IRS filing requirement code 01 for Public Broadcasting Service: 990 (all other) or 990EZ return. IRS EO Business Master File
  10. Public Broadcasting Service's accounting period (fiscal year) ends in June, according to the IRS master file. IRS EO Business Master File
  11. The IRS Form 990 series e-file data released in 2026 includes a Form 990 from Public Broadcasting Service for the tax period ending June 2025. IRS Form 990 e-file data
  12. On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, Public Broadcasting Service reported total revenue $544,038,860, total expenses $541,696,112, net assets or fund balances at year end $411,695,303. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  13. Revenue lines on the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023: contributions, gifts and grants $272,318,709 (Part VIII, line 1h); program service revenue $219,005,856 (Part VIII, line 2g); investment income $7,725,003 (Part VIII, line 3); total revenue $544,038,860 (Part VIII, line 12). IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  14. On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2022, Public Broadcasting Service reported total revenue $542,977,687, total expenses $506,773,194, net assets or fund balances at year end $404,445,280. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  15. On its Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2021, Public Broadcasting Service reported total revenue $502,085,658, total expenses $448,645,167, net assets or fund balances at year end $399,560,415. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  16. Balance sheet at the end of the tax period ending June 2023 (Form 990, Part X): total assets $641,227,961, total liabilities $229,532,658, net assets or fund balances $411,695,303. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  17. Public Broadcasting Service reported 657 employees on Form W-3 for calendar year ending with or within the tax period ending June 2023 (Form 990, Part V, line 2a). IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  18. On the Form 990 for the tax period ending June 2023, Public Broadcasting Service reported 313 individuals who received more than $100,000 of reportable compensation from the organization (Part VII, line 2). IRS SOI Form 990 extracts
  19. In the Form 990 checklist (Part IV) for the tax period ending June 2023, Public Broadcasting Service answered yes to: it engaged in lobbying activities. IRS SOI Form 990 extracts

All figures are as the organization reported them to the IRS for the stated tax period. Say the tax period with every figure. Finance figures come from the IRS SOI annual extracts, which lag filing by one to two years. The IRS master file can list a newer period: keep the two apart and name each period. To see an organization's own filings, use the IRS Tax Exempt Organization Search.