INITIAL FILING REQUIREMENTS TO BECOME GEORGIA NONPROFIT
- HOW TO INCORPORATE IN GEORGIA STATE:
- File the Articles of Incorporation (+1 copy). File Transmittal Form 227
- Send to: Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations Division, 313 West Tower #2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334-1530
- Note this form can also be filed online.
- The filing fee is $100
- For more information,
- Website: sos.georgia.gov
- Phone: (404) 656-2817
- File a Notice of Intent to Incorporate and a $40 publication fee to the newspaper which is the official “legal organ” (The term ‘legal organ’ refers to a newspaper or journal that has been chosen by the county-specific Judge of Probate Court, Sheriff, and Clerk of Superior Court) of the county in which the organization will be located.
- To access a list of legal organs, please go to the website: www.sos.state.ga.us/elections.
- Note this must be done no later than the next business day after filing the Articles of Incorporation.
- File an Initial Annual Registration Form with the Secretary of State
- Filing fee of $50.
- For more information,
- Note it must be filed within 90 days of Incorporation.
- File the Articles of Incorporation (+1 copy). File Transmittal Form 227
- HOW TO OBTAIN 501(c) (3) TAX-EXEMPT STATUS:
- Submit Form 1023 online through pay.gov.
- Filing fee is $600 ($275 for 1023-EZ Form, as of July 1st, 2016)
- For more information,
- Website: www.irs.gov/charities (general information) AND https://www.irs.gov/forms-pubs/about-form-1023 (Form 1023-related information).
- Call:
- (800) 829–3676 (Form related questions)
- (800) 829–1040 (general information)
- Submit Form 1023 online through pay.gov.
- HOW TO OBTAIN GEORGIA STATE’S INCOME TAX EXEMPTION:
- File a copy of the organization’s Federal Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-PF, together with: Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, a Statement of Activities, and a copy of IRS Determination letter 501(c) (3).
- Send to: Georgia Income Tax Division, Tax Exempt organizations, P.O. Box 740395, Atlanta, GA 30374-0395
- There is no filing fee.
- For more information
- Website: etax.dor.ga.gov
- Phone: (404) 417-2402
- File a copy of the organization’s Federal Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-PF, together with: Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, a Statement of Activities, and a copy of IRS Determination letter 501(c) (3).
- HOW TO OBTAIN GEORGIA STATE’S SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTIONS:
- Generally, there are no exemptions. Specific exemptions are only for hospitals (including psychiatric), in-patient hospices, and nursing homes. To excess the list of the specific exemptions, refer to the Code of Georgia online: www.legis.state.ga.us
- For more information
- Website: https://dor.georgia.gov/tax-exempt-nonprofit-organizations
- Phone: (404) 417-4490
- HOW TO REGISTER WITH THE SECRETARY OF STATE:
- File the Charitable Organization Registration Form C100, together with: IRS Form 990 and a Financial Statement (both dated within 1 year of filing) before engaging in solicitation.
- Send to: Office of the Secretary of State, Professional Licensing Boards & Securities Division, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217-2858
- Note this form can be filed online.
- The filing fee is $35
- Other forms: If revenues are over $0 – provide financial statement and Form C100.
If revenues are over $500,000 – provide review audit and Form C100.
If revenues are over $1,000,000 – provide complete audit and Form C100. - For more information,
- Website: sos.georgia.gov.secirities
- Phone: (478) 207-2440
- File the Charitable Organization Registration Form C100, together with: IRS Form 990 and a Financial Statement (both dated within 1 year of filing) before engaging in solicitation.
ANNUAL FILING REQUIREMENTS TO MAINTAIN A GEORGIA NONPROFIT
- GEORGIA STATE’S SECRETARY OF STATE:
- File Annual Registration Form
- Note that the due date is April 1st.
- Send to: Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations Division, St. 315, Flag West Tower, #2 Martin Luther King, Jr. Drive, Atlanta, GA 30334-1530
- The filing fee is $30
- For more information,
- Website: sos.state.ga.us
- Phone: (404) 656-2817
- File Annual Registration Form
- GEORGIA STATE’S SECRETARY OF STATE:
- File Renewal of Registration Form
- Note that the due date is on or before the anniversary date of initial registration
- Send to: Office of the Secretary of State, Division of Securities & Business Regulation, 237 Coliseum Drive, Macon, GA 31217
- The filing fee is $20
- Note some nonprofit organizations are exempt from filing this form. For details, go to the website: sos.state.ga.us/securities
- For more information,
- Phone: (478) 207-2440
- File Renewal of Registration Form
- INTERNAL REVENUE SERVICE:
- File the Annual Return Form 990
- Note that the due date is 4 and a half months is after the end of the fiscal year.
- Send to: Internal Revenue Service 1160 W 12th Street Ogden, UT 84201
- There is no filing fee.
- For more information,
- Website: irs.gov/charities
- Call:
- (800) 829-3676 (Form related questions)
- (800) 829-1040 (general information)
- For Public Charities: Please go to the IRS website to determine which of the three forms to file: Form 990, Form 990-EZ, or Form 990-N.
- For Private Foundations: You are required to submit the Form 990-PF.
- File the Annual Return Form 990
- GEORGIA STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE:
- File a copy of 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF
- Note that the due date is 4 and a half months after the end of the fiscal year.
- Send to: Georgia Department of Revenue, P.O. Box 740395 Atlanta, GA 30374-0395
- There is no filing fee.
- For more information,
- Website: https://dor.georgia.gov/
- Phone: (877) 423-6711
- File a copy of 990, 990-EZ, or 990-PF
- GEORGIA STATE’S DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE:
- File Form 600-T
- Note that the due date is 4 and a half months after the end of the fiscal year.
- Send to: Georgia Department of Revenue Processing Center P.O. Box 740397 Atlanta, GA 30374-0397
- There is no filing fee
- Note form 600-T is required only if the organization has income that is unrelated to its exempt purposes. This income is taxed at a rate of 6%.
- For more information,
- Website: https://dor.georgia.gov/
- Phone: (877) 423-6711
- File Form 600-T