How to Keep Your Georgia Nonprofit Compliant

Once you form a 501(c)(3) Nonprofit Public Charity in Georgia, follow this guide to keep it in good standing.

(To learn about forming a nonprofit, check out our How to Start a Nonprofit in Georgia guide.)

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8 Steps to Keep Your Nonprofit Compliant

To maintain a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation in Georgia you must:

  1. Apply for exemption from state taxes
  2. File Annual Federal Returns for Tax-exempt organizations
  3. Maintain a Registered Agent
  4. File periodic reports
  5. Apply for permits and licenses
  6. Renew Charitable Registration
  7. Employees
  8. Comply with Public Inspection Rules

1. Apply for exemption from state taxes

A. State Income Tax Exemption

Once your organization receives your 501(c) determination letter from the IRS, you can then attach that determination letter when you file your Georgia state tax return. This serves as filing for a tax exemption

B. State Sales Tax Exemption

Your organization will only be exempt from paying state sales tax if it is included on this list of qualifying entities.

2. Annual Federal Returns for Tax-exempt organizations

A. Annual Federal Returns

Most tax-exempt nonprofit organizations are required to file an annual return with the IRS (Check the IRS website for a list of exceptions).

The annual gross receipt amounts for an organization determine which form should be used to file the annual federal return.

‘Gross receipt’ is defined by the IRS as “the total amounts the organization received from all sources during its annual accounting period, without subtracting any costs or expenses”

For gross receipts ≤$50,000 — File 990-N
Gross receipts <$200,000 and total assets <$500,000 — File 990- EZ
Gross receipts >$200,000 or Total assets >$500,00 — File 990

For any questions, contact the IRS at

  • (800) 829-3676 (Form related questions)
  • (800) 829-1040 (general information)

FAQ

Q: When is form 990 due?
A: Form 990 is due on the 15th day of the 5th month after the taxable year of the organization comes to an end.

E.g. If the taxable year ends on Dec 31st, form 990 is due on May 15th.

NOTE: If an organization fails to file form 990 for 3 consecutive years, it will automatically lose tax-exempt status.

B. Unrelated Business Income

If an organization has a gross income of ≥$1000 from a trade or business that is not related to the stated purpose of the organization, then it must file Form 990-T to pay tax on that income.

3. Maintain a Registered Agent

Any nonprofit that has incorporated must have a registered agent who has an office address in Georgia. If your registered agent, or their office address, changes, you must notify the Secretary of State on your annual registration or amended annual registration, which can be accessed online.

If you fail to notify the Secretary of State of this change, your corporation may be subject to termination.

4. File Periodic Reports

The Georgia Secretary of State requires all nonprofits to submit an initial registration report within 90 days of incorporating. This form can be accessed online through the Georgia Corporations online filing system.

In addition, all nonprofits will need to submit an annual registration form between January 1 and April 1 each calendar year. Nonprofits can file this form online by accessing the Georgia Corporations online filing system.

Failure to file the appropriate reports may subject your organization to termination.

5. Apply for Permits and Licenses

The majority of Georgia nonprofits will not need a state-level business license of any kind. However, your county or city may have separate requirements and you can research local requirements through your city hall.

6. Renew Charitable Registration

Charitable Georgia nonprofits who will be soliciting contributions must register with the Georgia Secretary of State ahead of time. You can fill out Form C-100 to register and you will need to renew your registration every 2 years.

7. Employees

If your nonprofit will have employees of any kind, you will need to register with the Georgia Department of Labor AND the Georgia Department of Revenue.

You can register online with the Georgia Department of Labor and the Georgia Department of Revenue or you can contact them at:

Georgia Department of Labor
PO Box 740234
Atlanta, GA 30374-0234
Phone: (404) 232-3301
Web Site: http://www.dol.state.ga.us

Access the Department of Labor’s Guide to Unemployment Insurance for more details.

Georgia Department of Revenue
4125 Welcome All Road
Atlanta, GA 30349
Phone: (877) 423-6711
Web Site: https://dor.georgia.gov/tax-registration

Access the Department of Revenue page on withholding tax for details on registering.

8. Comply with Public Inspection Rules

To comply with federal regulations regarding 501(c)(3) charities, you will need to release the following documents to any member of the public that requests them:

  • Your organization’s annual returns for up to 3 years after the listed due date (including the following Forms: 990-PF, 990-EZ, 990-T, and 990)
  • Any supporting documents and attachments for the above 990 forms. However, you only need to include the nature of the contribution and the amount contributed for Schedule B.
  • Official IRS paperwork showing your organization is considered to be tax-exempt.
  • Your organization’s application for exemption and all supporting documents submitted with your application (including Form 1023).

Your organization does NOT need to share the following documents and information with members of the public:

  • Any portions of Form 990/990-EZ’s Schedule B that identify who contributors are.
  • Anything considered to be an unfavorable ruling, which can include previous denials of tax-exempt status.
  • Any additional information permitted to be withheld by the IRS, including things such as trade secrets, patents, etc.

Recommended: Inform your employees about their rights and stay compliant by posting labor law posters in your workplace.

FAQ

Q: Can I charge members of the public for copies?
A: Yes, you are permitted to request a reasonable amount to procure copies of requested documents.

Q: If requested, how much time do we have to produce the documents?
A: It is ideal to produce these documents within the same working day. However, if your nonprofit has limited office hours due to the time of year, or you don’t have a physical office at all, you should produce the documents within 14 days.

Q: Do I actually need to provide physical copies of the requested documents?
A: If a member of the public asks for copies of documents, whether in writing or in person, you are required to make them available.

NOTE: We recommend that nonprofits make these documents available on their website. That way, anyone who might request copies of these documents can simply head to your website to view and/or download them. This will help your organization remain compliant and save time dealing with these requests personally.

To learn about forming a nonprofit, check out our How to Start a Nonprofit in Georgia guide. To find nonprofits in Georgia, use our Georgia 501(c)(3) Lookup Table.

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