New Jersey Nonprofit Compliance

Required annual filings

This guide covers the required filings to maintain a nonprofit corporation in New Jersey. If you are looking to form nonprofit in New Jersey, please visit our Start Your New Jersey Nonprofit guide. The steps below apply to nonprofits that are both incorporated and foreign qualified in New Jersey. 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 New Jersey Corporate Tax Exemption Renewals

Not required



There is no renewal requirement for New Jersey corporate income tax exemption.

More information: New Jersey Department of the Treasury
3 File New Jersey Sales Tax Exemption Renewals

Not required



New Jersey does not have a renewal requirement for sales tax exemption, but organization information must be kept up to date.

More information: New Jersey Department of the Treasury - Division of Taxation
4 File New Jersey Annual Report
Agency:New Jersey Department of the Treasury
Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$30 + $3 credit card fee

Due:

  • Annually by the end of the month prior to the registration anniversary month. If you incorporated or foreign-qualified on April 15, then your annual report is due every year by March 31.
  • Reports may be filed up to 30 days before or up to 30 days after the due date without penalty.
Law:

NJ Stat. § 15A:4-5

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

Businesses that fail to file annual reports for two consecutive years will be revoked.

Notes:

Any authorized representative may file.

5 Renew the Charitable Solicitation Registration

New Jersey Charitable Organization Registration

Agency:New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - Charities Registration Section
Law:

New Jersey Statutes Ann. § 45:17A-18 et seq.

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

One-Time Exemption Registration

Exemption Eligible Organizations:
  • Any religious corporation, trust, foundation, association or organization incorporated under the provisions of Title 15 or 16 of the Revised Statutes or Title 15A of the New Jersey Statutes or established for religious purposes
  • Any agency or organization incorporated or established for charitable purposes and engaged in effectuating one or more charitable purposes, which is affiliated with, operated by or supervised or controlled by a corporation, trust, foundation, association, or organization incorporated or established for religious purposes, or any other religious agency or organization
  • Any educational institution, the curricula of which in whole or in part are registered or approved by the Department of Education or the New Jersey Commission on Higher Education, either directly or by acceptance of accreditation by an accrediting body recognized by these agencies
  • An educational institution confining its solicitation to its student body, alumni, faculty and trustees, and their families
  • A library registered by the Department of Education, provided that the annual financial report of that library shall be filed with the Department of Education, where it shall be open for public inspection
  • A local unit registered by a parent organization in accordance with N.J.A.C. 13:48-6
  • A charitable organization engaged in charitable fund raising that did not receive gross contributions in excess of $10,000 during its most recent fiscal year, if all of its functions, including fund raising activities, are carried on by persons who are not compensated for soliciting contributions
Filing Method:

Email to charitiesportalsupport@dca.njoag.gov or online

Law:

NJ Admin Code 13:48-3.3

Notes:

To claim an exemption, submit a letter explaining why your organization is eligible for exemption.

Initial Registration

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on gross contributions for the preceding year:

 

  • $30 for $25,000 or less in contributions
  • $60 for more than $25,000 but less than $100,000 in contributions
  • $150 for more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 in contributions
  • $250 for more than $500,000 in contributions
Turnaround:

6-8 months

Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Notes:
  • The CFO and another authorized officer must sign. Signatured need not be notarized.
  • Some New Jersey 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 New Jersey, obtain a certificate of good standing from your home state to submit during the foreign qualification process. The certificate cannot be more than 30 days old when filing foreign qualification documents.
How to Apply:

Domestic Applicants:

  1. Form an entity by completing the online form on the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services website.
  2. Create a My New Jersey account online and complete the charity registration application through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - Charities Registration Section.

Foreign Applicants:

  1. Determine whether or not your charity will need to foreign qualify based on your activity in New Jersey. If not required, skip to number 3.
  2. Foreign qualify by completing the online form on the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services website.
  3. Create a My New Jersey account online and complete the charity registration application through the New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs - Charities Registration Section.
Required Attachments:
  • IRS Form 990
  • Audited financials (if applicable)
  • Articles of incorporation
  • Either IRS determination letter or IRS form 1023
  • Bylaws
  • List of officers and directors

Registration Renewal

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

Depends on gross contributions for the preceding year:

 

  • $30 for $25,000 or less in contributions
  • $60 for more than $25,000 but less than $100,000 in contributions
  • $150 for more than $100,000 but less than $500,000 in contributions
  • $250 for more than $500,000 in contributions
Due:
  • Annually within 6 months after the close of your fiscal year. So if your fiscal year ends December 31, renewal is due by June 30.
  • There is no official start to the renewal period, so renewals may be submitted as soon as financials become available for the most recently completed fiscal year.
Due Date Extension:

Due dates can be extended for 6 months beyond the original due date by submitting a request for extension through the online portal along with the expected renewal fee.

Charities whose gross contributions are less than $10,000 cannot be granted an extension and should file by the original due date. If a charity of this type is late in filing, a $25 late fee should be included with the registration fee of $30.
Original Ink:Not required
Notarization Required?:Not required
Penalties:
  • There is a one-time $25 late fee for renewals filed after the due date.
  • Charities who do not submit their renewal by the due date or approved extension will have their registration placed in a delinquent status, requiring additional steps to get back in good standing. 
Notes:
  • Note the list of attachments required. Large organizations may need to provide audited financial statements.
  • Charities who wish to renew a delinquent registration should submit a renewal filing and fee for each year out of compliance, up to the 3 most recent fiscal years. If the charity has been out of compliance for more than 3 years they must pay the missing renewal fees for each additional year but are not required to submit financials for those years. Charities must also pay the one-time $25 late fee.
Required Attachments:
  • IRS form 990
  • Audited financials, if applicable
  • List of officers and directors
  • Only if amended: IRS determination letter, articles of incorporation, and bylaws
  • Certificate of Merger (must include state's stamp or have the seal affixed), if applicable

Contract Filing

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$30

Due:

Every charitable organization which permits a charitable sales promotion to be conducted on its behalf, shall obtain a written contract from the commercial co-venturer and shall file a copy of the agreement with the Division of Consumer Affairs Charities Registration Section at least 10 days prior to the initiation of that charitable sales promotion.

Notes:

The charitable sales promotion contract must include, but is not limited to, the following information:

  1. A description of the charitable sales promotion, solicitation, or venture undertaken, and dates to be commenced and terminated;
  2. The name and address of the charitable organization and of the commercial co-venturer;
  3. The dollar amount or percent per unit of goods or services purchased or used that will benefit the charitable organization or purpose. If the actual dollar amount or percent cannot reasonably be determined prior to the final date of the charitable sales promotion, the commercial co-venturer shall disclose an estimated dollar amount or percent. Any such estimate shall be reasonable and shall be based upon all of the relevant facts known to the commercial co-venturer and the charitable organization regarding the charitable sales promotion;
  4. A requirement that the commercial co-venturer provide the charitable organization with the gross amount of income received by the commercial co-venturer attributable to the charitable sales promotion, solicitation or venture undertaken; and
  5. A provision clearly and conspicuously stating that the parties are subject to the Act and the rules of this chapter.
How to Apply:

The charity must be registered to solicit charitable contributions or otherwise exempt for the contract to be accepted.

Financial Reporting

Form:

Form CCO-500

Filing Method:

Mail

Agency Fee:

$10

Due:

Charities must file a promotion report within 40 days of the expiration of every commercial co-venture charitable sales promotion. For campaign contracts lasting more than 12 months, a charitable organization shall file an interim report within 40 days of the end of each of the charitable organization’s fiscal years. The charitable organization may file the final report within 40 days after the expiration of the contract or service agreement or at the end of the last fiscal year of the contract.

Reinstatement

Not required



Formal Reinstatement is not required. Charities who wish to renew a delinquent registration should submit renewal filings and fees for each year out of compliance, up to the 3 most recent fiscal years. If out of compliance for more than 3 years, charities must pay the missing renewal fees for each additional year but are not required to submit financials for those years.

Change of Fiscal Year

Filing Method:

Online

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

Use the DCA portal and start a renewal registration. You can enter the new fiscal year end month and renew for that year.

Cancelation

Filing Method:

Email to charitiesportalsupport@dca.njoag.gov or online

Agency Fee:

$0

Notes:

To withdraw a registration you must submit a withdrawal request via email or the online portal. The withdraw request must detail the reason for withdrawal and must be signed by 2 officers of the organization. All annual reports bust be up to date reflecting the last day solicitations took place in New Jersey.

6Maintain a New Jersey Registered Agent

Maintain a registered agent that has a street address in New Jersey. 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 Marlton , NJ 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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