Florida Nonprofit Compliance

Required annual filings

This guide covers the required filings to maintain a nonprofit corporation in Florida. If you are looking to form nonprofit in Florida, please visit our Start Your Florida Nonprofit guide. The steps below apply to nonprofits that are both incorporated and foreign qualified in Florida. Please note that this is a general list and may not be exhaustive or applicable to all nonprofits.

A smiling woman in front of her computer.
1 File IRS Form 990
Agency:Internal Revenue Service (IRS)
Form:

IRS Form 990-N, 990-EZ, 990-PF or 990

Instructions:

See Form 990 Thresholds to determine which form to file.  Then see Current Form 990 Series for instructions.

Due:

By the 15th day of the 5th month following the end of the taxable year.  For most organizations, the tax year ends December 31 so the Form 990 is due May 15.

2 File Florida Corporate Tax Exemption Renewals

Not required



There is no renewal requirement for Florida corporate income tax exemption.

More information: Florida Department of Revenue
3 File Florida Sales Tax Exemption Renewals
Agency:Florida Department of Revenue
Due:

Every 5 years from date of issue.

Notes:

There is no renewal application; simply respond to the written requests for renewal with any required documentation.

4 File Florida Annual Report
Agency:Florida Department of State - Division of Corporations
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$61.25

Due:

Annually by May 1. Reports may be filed as early as January 1.

Law:

Florida Statutes Title 36 § 607.1622

Penalties:

Failure to file an annual report by the 3rd Friday of September will result in the administrative dissolution or revocation of the business entity on Florida records at the close of business on the 4th Friday of September.

5 Renew the Charitable Solicitation Registration

Florida Charitable Organizations/Sponsors Registration

Agency:Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Consumer Services
Law:

FL Stat. § 496.405

Foreign Qualification is Prerequisite:No
Registered Agent (Special Agency) Required?No

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Religious organizations
  • Educational organizations
  • State agencies or other government entities or persons or organizations who solicit or act as professional fundraising consultants solely on behalf of those entities
  • Blood establishments as defined in FL Stat § 381.06014
  • Political contributions solicited in accordance with the election laws of Florida
  • A person who is soliciting for a named individual, provided that all the contributions collected without any deductions whatsoever are turned over to the beneficiary for her or his use and provided that the person has complied with the requirements of s. 496.413
  • A charitable organization or sponsor that limits solicitation of contributions to the membership of the charitable organization or sponsor. For the purposes of this paragraph, the term “membership” does not include those persons who are granted a membership upon making a contribution as a result of a solicitation
  • Any division, department, post, or chapter of a veterans’ service organization granted a federal charter under Title 36, United States Code
Law:

FL Stat. §§ 496.403, 496.406

Notes:

Organizations must email the state to receive an exemption, but no registration is required.

Registration to Obtain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

A charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $50,000 in total contributions during a fiscal year if the fundraising activities of such organization or sponsor are carried on by volunteers, members, or officers who are not compensated and no part of the assets or income of such organization or sponsor inures to the benefit of or is paid to any officer or member of such organization or sponsor or to any professional fundraising consultant, professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer.

Form:

Small Charitable Organizations Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Law:

FL Stat. § 496.406

Notes:

If a charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $50,000 in total contributions during a fiscal year actually acquires total contributions equal to or in excess of $50,000, the charitable organization or sponsor must register with the department as required by s. 496.405 within 30 days after the date the contributions reach $50,000.

Required Attachments:

Renewal to Maintain Exemption

Exemption Eligible Organizations:

A charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $50,000 in total contributions during a fiscal year if the fundraising activities of such organization or sponsor are carried on by volunteers, members, or officers who are not compensated and no part of the assets or income of such organization or sponsor inures to the benefit of or is paid to any officer or member of such organization or sponsor or to any professional fundraising consultant, professional solicitor, or commercial co-venturer.

Form:

Small Charitable Organizations Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

$0

Due:

Annually by the date of initial registration.

Law:

FL Stat. § 496.406

Notes:

If a charitable organization or sponsor that has less than $50,000 in total contributions during a fiscal year actually acquires total contributions equal to or in excess of $50,000, the charitable organization or sponsor must register with the department as required by s. 496.405 within 30 days after the date the contributions reach $50,000.

Required Attachments:

Initial Registration

Form:

Solicitation of Contributions Registration Application

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Depends on amount of contributions received in the immediately preceding fiscal year:

  • $10 for less than $5,000 in contributions
  • $75 for $5,000 or more, but less than $100,000 in contributions
  • $125 for $100,000 or more, but less than $200,000 in contributions
  • $200 for $200,000 or more, but less than $500,000 in contributions
  • $300 for $500,000 or more, but less than $1,000,000 in contributions
  • $350 for $1,000,000 or more, but less than $10,000,000 in contributions
  • $400 for $10,000,000 or more in contributions
Turnaround:

2-3 weeks

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:
  • Nonprofits who will solicit at Florida highway rest stops must obtain permission from their local Department of Transportation Maintenance Unit. Use Form #850-040-70, Permit Application for Public Use of Rest Areas, Wayside Parks and Solicitation on State Highways. Start by identifying local maintenance units at the Florida Department of Transportation Office of Maintenance.
  • Some Florida counties and municipalities may require charities that solicit in-person to register prior to fundraising.
Before you Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.

Foreign Applicants:

  • Check the available exemptions to see if your charity is eligible for exemption from the full registration requirement.
  • If your charity meets the audit threshold, obtain an audited financial report to submit with your registration application.
  • Look through the list of required attachments and make sure that you have each required document in hand before starting the registration application.
  • If you will foreign qualify in Florida, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 90 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. File formation documents to form an entity with the Florida Department of State.
  2. Submit a completed Charitable Organizations / Sponsors Registration Application and all required attachments to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Consumer Services.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in Florida. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. File foreign qualification documents with the Florida Department of State.
  3. Submit a completed Charitable Organizations / Sponsors Registration Application and all required attachments to the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services - Division of Consumer Services.
Required Attachments:
  • List of officers and directors
  • IRS determination letter
  • One of the following:
  • Reviewed or audited financials (if applicable)
  • Professional fundraising contracts
  • Proof of DBA/Fictitious Name filing in domicile state, if applicable

Registration Renewal

Form:

Solicitation of Contributions Registration Application (Renewal)

Filing Method:

Mail or online.

Agency Fee:

Depends on amount of contributions received in the immediately preceding fiscal year:

  • $10 for less than $5,000 in contributions
  • $75 for $5,000 or more, but less than $100,000 in contributions
  • $125 for $100,000 or more, but less than $200,000 in contributions
  • $200 for $200,000 or more, but less than $500,000 in contributions
  • $300 for $500,000 or more, but less than $1,000,000 in contributions
  • $350 for $1,000,000 or more, but less than $10,000,000 in contributions
  • $400 for $10,000,000 or more in contributions
Due:

Annually by the registration anniversary date. Renewals may be filed up to 60 days prior to the expiration date.

Due Date Extension:

Florida honors extensions granted by the IRS to file Form 990. Organizations must submit a copy of their submitted IRS form 8868 to receive an extension.

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Penalties:

There is a late fee of $25 for each month or portion of a month that passes after the due date. Charities who do not submit their financial statements by the due date or approved extension will have their registrations suspended. 

Notes:
  • Renewal forms are sent in the mail about 30 days prior to the expiration date of the license.
  • Carefully ensure you include all required attachments, including your annual financial report.
Required Attachments:

Change of Fiscal Year

Agency Fee:

$0

Turnaround:

1-2 business days

Notes:

Changes to the fiscal year can be made during the standard renewal process. If the change happens outside of the renewal window, wait until the renewal is due to update the fiscal year. An organization may have to submit both the standard and short form 990 for the financials to reflect the previous and current fiscal year. 

Cancelation

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To close out your registration, submit a letter stating that your organization no longer solicits in Florida along with documentation supporting this claim. The department will typically accept a disclaimer on the organization's donation page that they will not accept funds from residents of Florida.

6Maintain a Florida Registered Agent

Maintain a registered agent that has a street address in Florida. The registered agent is responsible for receiving legal documents such as service of process. Appointing a registered agent service is often preferable to listing an officer or director, as their information often changes. Consider using our registered agent service in St. Petersburg , FL to maintain compliance with the state requirement.


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Fundraising Compliance

Learn how to stay compliant with charitable solicitation laws.

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