Starting A Nonprofit Organization in Vermont

Welcome to the registration and compliance page for Vermont nonprofit organizations. Below you will find information on initial filings required when starting a nonprofit organization in Vermont, 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 Vermont.

NONPROFIT FORMATION

Starting a Nonprofit Organization in Vermont: Initial Filings

1. To Incorporate in Vermont

Submit Articles of Incorporation (in duplicate) to:

Vermont Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-1104

SOS Corp. Div.: (802) 828-2386
Web Site: https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/
Filing Fee: $125

Note: This filing may be completed online at: https://www.vtsosonline.com/online/Home/Acknowledgement?from=BF

2. To Obtain 501(c) Tax-Exempt Status

a. Submit Form 1023 (501(c)(3) organizations) or Form 1024 (for other 501(c) organizations) electronically at Pay.gov.

Information: (800) 829-1040
Forms: (800) 829-3676
Web Site: www.irs.gov/charities
Form 1023 Filing Fee: $600 ($275 for IRS Form 1023-EZ)
Form 1024 Filing Fee: $600

Notes: As of January 31, 2020, the IRS requires that Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code, be completed and submitted online through Pay.gov. Applicants must have a Pay.gov account and payment of the user fee must be made electronically. There is a 90-day grace period during which the IRS will continue to accept paper versions of Form 1023. Learn more about IRS Form 1023.

Certain 501(c)(3) organizations, including those with gross revenues at or below $50,000 annually, may qualify to file the online Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption. For more information and to determine if you are eligible for this form, refer to our Form 1023-EZ FAQ.

b. 501(c)(4) organizations formed after July 8, 2016 must file Form 8976, Notice of Intent to Operate Under Section 501(c)(4), electronically within 60 days of formation:

Web Site: services.irs.gov/datamart/login.do
Filing Fee: $50 (This fee must be paid through the pay.gov website)

Notes: This filing must be completed by all 501(c)(4) organizations – including “self-declaring” organizations that do not file IRS Form 1024-A. For more information about this filing, refer to the IRS website.

3. To Obtain Vermont Income Tax and Sales & Use Tax Exemptions

Income Tax Exemption - Federally tax-exempt organizations are also exempt from Vermont Corporate Income taxes.

Sales and Use Tax Exemption - Register for a Vermont Business Tax Account.

Vermont Department of Taxes
PO Box 547
Montpelier, VT 05601-0547

Information: (802) 828-2551
Fax: (802) 828-5787
Web Site: tax.vermont.gov/business-and-corp/sales-and-use-tax/exemptions
Filing Fee: $0

ANNUAL COMPLIANCE

Annual Filings for Vermont Nonprofit Organizations

1. Vermont Secretary of State

Form: Biennial Report
Due Date: Between January-April of the first calendar year following incorporation and once every 2 years thereafter

Office of the Secretary of State
Corporations Division
128 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05633-1104

SOS Corp. Div.: (802) 828-2386
Web Site: https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/
Filing Fee: $20

Note: This filing must be completed online at: www.vtsosonline.com/online/content/HomePage

2. Internal Revenue Service

Form: Annual Return Form 990
Due Date: 4 ½ months after end of fiscal year

Internal Revenue Service
Ogden, UT 84201-0027

Information: (800) 829-1040
Forms: (800) 829-3676
Web Site: www.irs.gov/charities
Filing Fee: $0

Public Charities: Refer to the IRS website to determine which form to file (Form 990, Form 990-EZ or Form 990-N).

Private Foundations: Submit Form 990PF, regardless of revenues.

Note: Effective for tax years that end July 31, 2020 and later, exempt organizations must now file their annual returns electronically, using an approved IRS 990 e-File provider. Note that some transitional relief is available to 990-EZ filers. In addition, some exceptions apply including when the organization is changing its name, filing a shortened period return due to a change in fiscal year, or has an exemption application pending. Refer to the Form 990 instructions for information on these and other exceptions. To learn more about this electronic filing requirement, read the IRS announcement. For a list of approved IRS 990 e-File providers, refer to the IRS’ Modernized e-file Providers list.

3. Vermont Office of the Attorney General

Form: Annual Return Form 990-PF
Due Date: 4 ½ months after end of fiscal year

State of Vermont
Office of the Attorney General
109 State Street
Montpelier, VT 05609-1001

Information: (802) 828-3171
Web Site: https://ago.vermont.gov/
Filing Fee: $0

Note: This filing is only required for private foundations.

EMPLOYMENT FILINGS

Vermont Employment Filings

If the organization will have employees, the following filings are required:

1. To Register with the Vermont Department of Taxes

Establish a Vermont Business Tax Account by completing and filing Form BR-400 (formerly Form S-1) which can also be done online.

Vermont Department of Taxes
Taxpayer Services Division
P.O. Box 547
Montpelier, VT 05601-0547

Information: (802) 828-2551, option #3
Web Site: tax.vermont.gov

Note: For more information, refer to the Vermont publication Witholding Instructions, Charts & Tables.

2. To Register with the Vermont Department of Labor

Establish an employer account online.

Vermont Department of Labor
5 Green Mountain Drive
P.O. Box 488
Montpelier,VT 05601-0488

Information: (800) 828-4000
Web Site: labor.vermont.gov/unemployment-insurance/#

STATE STATUTES

Click here for Vermont state statute information.

VERMONT