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CALIFORNIA LEGAL COUNSEL FOR PHILANTHROPY AND THE NONPROFIT SECTOR

CALIFORNIA


INFORMATION AND RESOURCES ON NONPROFIT LAW & REGULATION
      NONPROFIT LAW LIBRARY     STATE-BY-STATE REGISTRATION & COMPLIANCE

Starting A Nonprofit Organization in California

Welcome to the registration and compliance page for California nonprofit organizations. Below you will find information on initial filings required when starting a nonprofit organization in California, annual filing requirements for existing organizations, and employment filings for nonprofits with employees. This page also contains a link to the relevant nonprofit statute for the State of California.

NONPROFIT FORMATION

Starting a Nonprofit Organization in California: Initial Filings

1. To Incorporate in California

a. Submit Articles of Incorporation to:

Secretary of State
Business Entities
PO Box 944260
Sacramento, CA 94244-2600

Information: (916) 657-5448
Web Site: www.sos.ca.gov/
Filing Fee: $30

b. Within 90 days of filing the Articles of Incorporation, submit Form SI-100 (Statement of Information) to:

Secretary of State
Statement of Information Unit
P.O. Box 944230
Sacramento, CA 94244-2300

Information: (916) 657-5448
Web Site: www.sos.ca.gov/
Filing Fee: $20*

Notes: The Statement of Information may be filed online at: businessfilings.sos.ca.gov

Failure to file by the due date may result in the assessment of a $50 penalty.

3. To Obtain California Income Tax Exemption

Submit Form FTB 3500 with Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, and detailed financial statements, funding and activities, leases and literature samples to:

Exempt Organizations Unit MS F120
Franchise Tax Board
PO Box 1286
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-1286

Information: (916) 845-4171
Web Site: www.ftb.ca.gov/
Filing Fee: $0

Notes: An organization may file the simpler Form 3500A if it already has a letter of determination from the IRS. Refer to the Exempt Organizations section of the Franchise Tax Board's website.

4. To Obtain California Sales and Use Tax Exemption

Nonprofit purchasers generally are not exempt from sales and use taxes. However, some charitable organizations that qualify for California's "welfare exemption" and are involved in selling or donating items used principally to assist purchasers/donees in distressed financial condition may qualify for exemption from sales taxes on purchases made for these purposes.

To apply for exemption, the organization should request a "review of eligibility" by submitting Bylaws, Articles of Incorporation, IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, a copy of the California Franchise Tax Board's tax-exempt qualification letter, and a letter describing the practices and activities of the organization to:

Compliance Planning & Evaluation
Board of Equalization
PO Box 942879
Sacramento, CA 94279-0002

Information: (800) 400-7115
Web Site: www.boe.ca.gov/
Filing Fee: $0

For more information on sales of specific items, or by specific types of nonprofit organizations that are exempt from California sales and use taxes, refer to California's "Publication 18".

5. To Register with the California Attorney General

Within 30 days of receiving assets for the charitable purposes for which organized, submit Form CT-1 (Registration Form) with Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, IRS Form 1023, IRS 501(c)(3) determination letter, most recent IRS Form 990, and a statement describing the primary activity of the organization (a copy of the statement of purposes from the IRS 1023 application will suffice) to:

State of California
Office of the Attorney General
Registry of Charitable Trusts
PO Box 903447
Sacramento, CA 94203-4470

Phone: (916) 445-2021
Fax: (916) 444-3651
Web Site: oag.ca.gov/charities
Filing Fee: $25

Corporations organized and operated primarily as hospitals, schools or religious organizations are exempt from filing, but must furnish information substantiating such status to the above address. See California Government Code section 12583 for details.

The Unified Registration Statement form may be filed in place of form CT-1.

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE

Annual Filings for California Nonprofit Organizations

1. California Attorney General

a. Form: Form RRF-1
Due Date: 4 ½ months after end of fiscal year

Registry of Charitable Trusts
PO Box 903447
Sacramento, CA 94203-4470

Information: (916) 445-2021
Web Site: ag.ca.gov/charities
Filing Fee: $25-$1,200 (depending on revenues)

Note: If gross receipts are $50,000 or more, include IRS Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-PF. Organizations with revenues below that level must file a Treasurer's Report (CT-TR-1)

Charitable corporations organized and operated primarily as hospitals, educational institutions, or religious organizations are exempt from filing.

Charities that file Form RRF-1 and that have gross revenues of $2M or more must prepare audited financial statements that are made available to the Attorney General and members of the general public upon demand. If these same charities are nonprofit corporations, they must also have an audit committee appointed by the board of directors.

b. Form: CT-694 (Annual Financial Solicitation Report)
Due Date: 4 ½ months after end of fiscal year

Registry of Charitable Trusts
PO Box 903447
Sacramento, CA 94203-4470

Information: (916) 445-2021
Web Site: ag.ca.gov/charities
Filing Fee: None

Note: This filing is required only if the organization (1) collects more than 50% of its annual income and more than $1 million in charitable contributions from donors in California during the previous calendar year, and (2) spent more than 25% of its annual income on non-program activities as defined in Business and Professions Code section 17510.9.

3. California Franchise Tax Board

Note: For a general discussion of the California Franchise Tax Board's requirements for exempt organizations, please refer to their Exempt Organizations publication.

a. Form: Form 199 or 199N (California e-Postcard)
Due Date: 4 ½ months after end of fiscal year

Exempt Organization Unit
Franchise Tax Board
PO Box 942857
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-0501

Phone: (916) 845-4171
Web Site: www.ftb.ca.gov
Filing Fee: $0-25 (Form 199 Only, form 199N is free)

Notes: Some organizations may be exempt from this filing depending on the type of organization. Refer to the Franchise Tax Board's website for details.

b. Form: Form 109 (Exempt Organization Business Income Tax Return)
Due Date: 4 ½ months after end of fiscal year

Exempt Organization Unit MS F120
Franchise Tax Board
PO Box 1286
Rancho Cordova, CA 95741-1286

Phone: (916) 845-4171
Web Site: www.ftb.ca.gov
Filing Fee: $0

Note: This filing is required only if the organization derived more than $1,000 in gross unrelated business income.

4. California Secretary of State

Form: Form SI-100 (Statement of Information)
Due Date: Biennially before the end of the calendar month during which the original Articles of Incorporation were filed, but no sooner than the immediately preceding 5 calendar months.

Secretary of State
Statement of Information Unit
PO Box 944230
Sacramento, CA 94244-2300

Information: (916) 657-5448
Web Site: http://www.sos.ca.gov/
Filing Fee: $20*

Note: Failure to file by the due date may result in the assessment of a $50 penalty.

EMPLOYMENT FILINGS

California Employment Filings

If the organization will have employees, the following filing is required:

To Register with the California Employment Development Department

Complete the online registration for an Employer Payroll Tax Account Number at the following website: http://edd.ca.gov/Payroll_Taxes/e-Services_for_Business.htm

Employment Development Department
PO Box 826880
Sacramento, CA 94280-0001

Information: (888) 745-3886
Web Site: http://edd.ca.gov/

Note: For more information, refer to the employer section of the Employment Development Department's website.

COMMERCIAL CO-VENTURE REQUIREMENTS

Charitable Entity Requirements

1. California Attorney General

State of California
Office of the Attorney General
Registry of Charitable Trusts
PO Box 903447
Sacramento, CA 94203-4470

Phone: (916) 445-2021
Fax: (916) 444-3651
Web Site: oag.ca.gov/charities

Notes: Charitable entities entering into a commercial co-venture agreement must be registered with the Attorney General and maintain this registration annually. Refer to the "Nonprofit Formation" and "Annual Compliance" tabs above for more information about the registration process and the annual reporting utilizing the Form RRF-1.

When filing the annual Form RRF-1, charities must provide information about the commercial co-venturer including the name, mailing address, phone number and email address.

Commercial Entity Requirements

1. Registration

File Form CT-5CF annually to register with the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts before working with a charity. The deadline is January 15th of the year in which the co-venture activity occurs.

Office of the Attorney General
Registry of Charitable Trusts
P.O. Box 903447
Sacramento, CA 94203-4470

Information: (916) 210-7613
Web Site: http://www.oag.ca.gov/charities
Filing Fee: $500

Note: A copy of the contract does not need to be submitted unless specifically requested by the Attorney General's Office.

2. Reporting & Recordkeeping

a. File Form CT-5CF annually. The deadline is January 15th of the year in which the co-venture activity occurs (see #1 above).

b. File an annual report (Form CT-6CF) with the Attorney General's Registry of Charitable Trusts (see address in #1 above). The deadline is January 30th.

Note: Form CT-6CF must be signed by an authorized officer of the commercial coventurer and two officers or directors of the charitable organization.

STATE STATUTES

Click here for California state statute information.