After receiving the Certificate of Incorporation and a stamped copy of the Articles of Incorporation, the organization must file them with the office of the Recorder of Deeds of the county in which the registered corporation is located. It must be filed within 15 days of receipt.
HOW TO OBTAIN ILLINOIS STATE’S INCOME TAX EXEMPTION:
Organizations that are 501(c) tax-exempt, are automatically exempt from Illinois income taxes.
HOW TO OBTAIN ILLINOIS STATE’S SALES AND USE TAX EXEMPTION:
File Form STAX-1 Application for Sales Tax Exemption, together with: a copy of the Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and IRS 501(c) (3) determination letter, most recent financial statement, brief narrative describing the organization’s purposes, functions, and activities; and, brochures or other printed materials regarding the organization.
Send to: Illinois Department of Revenue Sales Tax Exemption Section 3-520 101 West Jefferson St. Springfield, IL 62702
HOW TO REGISTER WITH THE ILLINOIS STATE’S ATTORNEY GENERAL:
File Charitable Organization Registration Statement Form CO-1, together with: Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, lists of all officers and directors, copies of all contracts with professional fundraisers and IRS Form 990 for previous 3 years (if no federal forms were filed – file Form AG990-IL for the previous 3 years. If it is in existence for less than 1 year – file Form CO-2).
Send to: Office of the Attorney General Charitable Trusts Bureau 100 West Randolph Street, 11th Floor Chicago, IL 60601
The filing fee is $15
Religious organizations: request exemption from future annual reports by filing Form CO-3 at the time of registration.
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.
ILLINOIS STATE’S ATTORNEY GENERAL:
File Attorney General Form AG990-IL, together with a copy of the IRS Form 990
Note that the due date is 6 months after the end of the fiscal year.
Send to: Office of the Attorney General Charitable Trusts Bureau Attn: Annual Report Section 100 West Randolph Street, 11th Fl. Chicago, IL 60601-3175
The filing fee is $15.
The late-filing fee is $100
Audit: if gross contributions exceed $300,000 or if the fundraiser raised contributions in excess of $25,000, the audited financial statements are required.