Form 1023-Ez First Year Report: Fill & Download for Free

Nonprofit organizations generally must have a board of directors. Find three other people who have knowledge, skills, and abilities that can help the organization and are willing to serve on the board of directors to oversee the organization.Hold the first official meeting of your organization’s board of directors. Elect a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. The president will lead the organization and organize meetings. The vice president leads when the president is unavailable. The treasurer is in charge of overseeing the finances of the organization, preparing financial reports, and making sure all returns are filed promptly with governmental agencies. The secretary keeps important documents and records minutes of meetings. Determine the organization’s mission, vision, and methods of fundraising. Determine who will accept mail on the organization’s behalf (registered agent). Determine what resources (financial and otherwise) the organization needs to fulfill its mission. Prepare the organization’s first year’s budget.Formally incorporate the organization. It is virtually always best to incorporate in the state in which the organization primarily operates. For example, to incorporate in Virginia, you could complete a Form SCC819 (Articles of Incorporation) to incorporate, and send it to the Virginia State Corporation Commission with a $70 filing fee. https://www.scc.virginia.gov/publicforms/207/scc819.pdf After preparing the Articles of Incorporation, have a formal vote to adopt the Articles of Incorporation. (Keep in mind that most states use the term “non-stock corporation” instead of nonprofit organization)Write the organization’s bylaws. Bylaws detail how the organization operates. Bylaws generally include the name of the organization, the mission of the organization, the officers that the organization will have, the duties of each officer, how officers are elected, how long officers serve, whether there will be members of the organization and membership dues to be paid by members, when meetings will be held, how meetings will be conducted, how the organization’s finances will be managed, what fiscal year the organization will use, how often financial reports will be prepared and presented, how the bylaws may be amended, indemnification of officers, whether the officers will be compensated for their work, whether the organization may have any paid employees, a conflict of interest policy, a nondiscrimination policy, what happens if an officer resigns, and what happens if the organization ceases to exist. After writing the bylaws, have a formal vote to adopt the bylaws. (Keep in mind that, many nonprofit organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations so that donors’ contributions are tax-deductible. If this applies to your organization, then the IRS requires certain language in the organization’s bylaws regarding the organization’s purpose and provisions upon its dissolution. See Part III in IRS Form 1023 for more information. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf )When the state writes back to you to say the organization is officially organized, decide which bank the organization will have a bank account, and open a corporate checking account there. The bank will ask to see the letter of incorporation from the state and the secretary’s minutes from the meeting when officers were elected.Forty states require a nonprofit organization to apply to solicit charitable contributions from its residents. For example, Virginia requires an organization to register with Form 102 along with a $100 initial filing fee. There is also an annual renewal and filing fee of between $30 and $325 per year thereafter. http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/oca102registrationstatement.pdf Alternatively, certain organizations can file a Form 100 instead with a $10 filing fee. http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pdf/oca100exemption.pdf (The ten states that do not require this type of registration are Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas, Vermont, Wyoming.) When the state approves the organization’s charitable solicitation registration, the organization can begin asking individuals, corporations, and other nonprofit organizations located in that state for charitable contributions.Generally, within 27 months of formation, the organization should apply for 501(c)(3) recognition from the Internal Revenue Service using either Form 1023 ( https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023.pdf ) or Form 1023-EZ ( https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023ez.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1023ez.pdf ). Very small organizations need not apply, but almost all other organizations should. The filing fee is $850 for most organizations. The Internal Revenue Service often takes six to nine months to process and approve the application, but sometimes it can take as little as six weeks. Sometimes the IRS will ask for further information. When the IRS sends a letter recognizing the organization’s 501(c)(3) status, do a little dance, and keep the letter in a safe place. Also keep a copy of the Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ that was filed. Some donors may want to see them. 501(c)(3) is usually made retroactive to the organization’s date of formation. File a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-N with the IRS every year, within four months fifteen days of the end of the organization’s fiscal year. Keep copies of previously filed forms in case a member of the public asks to see them. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i990.pdf (Alternatively, if your organization wants to file as a different type of nonprofit, it may want to file a Form 1024 with the IRS instead. Donations to other types of nonprofit organizations are almost never tax-deductible to the donor though. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1024.pdf https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/i1024.pdf)Good luck!

First step is to determine the organization's mission, activities, and future revenue streams.Gather a group of people who would be willing to serve on the board of directors. They must be trustworthy, committed to the mission, and be willing to help guide raise funding for the organization, and meet regularly to discuss the organization's progress.At the first meeting of the board of directors, write by-laws to define your organization's structure. Write articles of incorporation. Make sure both conform to your state laws. File both documents with your state along with the correct filing fee, if there is one. Your board of directors should also write a strategic plan, describing the long-range vision for the nonprofit, how it will bring in revenue, how it will spend its revenue, how it will grow, and how it will determine whether it is successful.After your state registers your incorporation, you will want to apply for tax identification number with the Internal Revenue Service. Complete Form SS-4 and sent to the Internal Revenue Service. Page on irs.govAfter the IRS sends the organization's tax identification number, complete Form 1023-EZ in order to apply for nonprofit status. Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code The IRS may take a year or so to respond, so be patient.Assuming the IRS approves your nonprofit status, you may have to apply with the state to solicit charitable contributions from state residents. About 41 states require this. Check with your state's secretary of state office to find out whether you need to register, and how often you need to renew. If you plan on asking for contributions from residents of other states too, you may need to register with those states as well.Remember to file annual reports with the IRS https://www.Internal Revenue Service/uac/About-Form-990EZ and renew your charitable status with the states each year.Good luck!

Here is one way to start a nonprofit organization in the USA.Nonprofit organizations generally must have a board of directors. Find three or more other people who have knowledge, skills, and abilities that can help the organization and are willing to serve on the board of directors to oversee the organization.Hold the first official meeting of your organization’s board of directors. Elect a president, vice president, treasurer, and secretary. The president will lead the organization and organize meetings. The vice president leads when the president is unavailable. The treasurer is in charge of overseeing the finances of the organization, preparing financial reports, and making sure all returns are filed promptly with governmental agencies. The secretary keeps important documents and records minutes of meetings. Determine the organization’s mission, vision, and methods of fundraising. Determine who will accept mail on the organization’s behalf (registered agent). Determine what resources (financial and otherwise) the organization needs to fulfill its mission. Prepare the organization’s first year’s budget.Formally incorporate the organization. It is virtually always best to incorporate in the state in which the organization primarily operates. For example, to incorporate in Virginia, you could complete a Form SCC819 (Articles of Incorporation) to incorporate, and send it to the Virginia State Corporation Commission with a $70 filing fee. After preparing the Articles of Incorporation, have a formal vote to adopt the Articles of Incorporation. (Keep in mind that most states use the term “non-stock corporation” instead of nonprofit organization)Write the organization’s bylaws. Bylaws detail how the organization operates. Bylaws generally include the name of the organization, the mission of the organization, the officers that the organization will have, the duties of each officer, how officers are elected, how long officers serve, whether there will be members of the organization and membership dues to be paid by members, when meetings will be held, how meetings will be conducted, how the organization’s finances will be managed, what fiscal year the organization will use, how often financial reports will be prepared and presented, how the bylaws may be amended, indemnification of officers, whether the officers will be compensated for their work, whether the organization may have any paid employees, a conflict of interest policy, a nondiscrimination policy, what happens if an officer resigns, and what happens if the organization ceases to exist. After writing the bylaws, have a formal vote to adopt the bylaws. (Keep in mind that, many nonprofit organizations are 501(c)(3) nonprofit organizations so that donors’ contributions are tax-deductible. If this applies to your organization, then the IRS requires certain language in the organization’s bylaws regarding the organization’s purpose and provisions upon its dissolution. See Part III in IRS Form 1023 for more information. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...)When the state writes back to you to say the organization is officially organized, apply for a federal tax identification number (sometimes called an EIN) for the organization. The organization can apply with the Internal Revenue Service through its web site, https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/apply-for-an-employer-identification-number-ein-online When the IRS assigns the organizations the number, keep the IRS notification in a safe place.Decide which bank the organization will have a bank account, and open a corporate checking account there. The bank will ask to see the letter of incorporation from the state and the secretary’s minutes from the meeting when officers were elected. It will probably also need the organization’s federal tax identification number and certain information about the organization’s officers.If the organization will have paid employees working in the USA, it will need to withhold federal tax, social security tax, Medicare tax, and possibly state tax from the wages of the employees. The organization will need to register with the appropriate state agency for state withholding tax if the state taxes employment wages (all states except New Hampshire, Tennessee, Florida, Texas, South Dakota, Wyoming, Washington, Nevada, and Alaska). A few local jurisdictions have local tax on employees’ wages as well. The organization will probably also need to register to pay state unemployment tax on employees’ wages in the states in which employees perform work. All states have state unemployment tax. The organization will need to register with the appropriate state agency for state unemployment tax. The organization will also need to pay federal unemployment tax on employees’ wages unless it is exempt (generally only 501(c)(3) organizations are exempt). Makes sure the organization know how and when to remit the various taxes to the appropriate governmental agencies. The organization may need to obtain private workers compensation insurance as well in accordance with the state law in which employees perform work. Other insurance may be either required or highly advisable. An insurance broker may be able to help with obtaining private insurance.Forty states require a nonprofit organization to apply to solicit charitable contributions from its residents. For example, Virginia requires an organization to register with Form 102 along with a $100 initial filing fee. There is also an annual renewal and filing fee of between $30 and $325 per year thereafter. http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pd... Alternatively, certain organizations can file a Form 100 instead with a $10 filing fee. http://www.vdacs.virginia.gov/pd... (The ten states that do not require this type of registration are Arizona, Idaho, Indiana, Iowa, Montana, Nebraska, South Dakota, Texas (in most cases), Vermont, and Wyoming.) When the state approves the organization’s charitable solicitation registration, the organization can begin asking individuals, corporations, and other nonprofit organizations located in that state for charitable contributions.Generally, within 27 months of formation, the organization should apply for 501(c)(3) recognition from the Internal Revenue Service using either Form 1023 ( https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...) or Form 1023-EZ ( https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...), if the organization seeks 501(c)(3) status. Very small organizations need not apply, but almost all other organizations should. The filing fee is $600 for most organizations; organizations who file a Form 1023-EZ are eligible to pay $275 instead. The Internal Revenue Service often takes six to nine months to process and approve the application, but sometimes it can take as little as four weeks. Sometimes the IRS will ask for further information. When the IRS sends a letter recognizing the organization’s 501(c)(3) status, do a little dance, and keep the letter in a safe place. Also keep a copy of the Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ that was filed. Some donors may want to see them, an organization is required to show it to a person to requests to see it. Determination of the organization’s 501(c)(3) status is typically made retroactive to the organization’s date of formation. Other types of tax-exemption are often applied for with Form 1024 instead.File a Form 990, 990-EZ, 990-PF, or 990-N with the IRS every year, within four months fifteen days of the end of the organization’s fiscal year. Keep copies of previously filed forms in case a member of the public asks to see them. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...(Alternatively, if your organization wants to file as a different type of nonprofit, it may want to file a Form 1024 with the IRS instead. A few types of nonprofit organizations can self-designate itself tax-exempt under certain circumstances, but it is important to look carefully into this if the organization wants to go this route. Keep in mind that donations to organizations that do not have 501(c)(3) status are almost never tax-deductible to the donor. https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/...)Good luck!