File Tax as an
Non-Profit Organization

CPAs file taxes, AI makes it 4x faster

Business Taxes

What kind of entity do you have?

Why to Incorporate as a Nonprofit and How to Do It

Is your organization trying to solve a problem or address an issue in society? Maybe you're looking to start an organization that has a benefit for a specific community or works to help remedy a social problem. If this sounds like you, you might be wondering whether to start a nonprofit. As with most things in life, nonprofit incorporation has pros and cons, but generally, if your goal is something like the above, the benefits outweigh the drawbacks. It might be that your organization does indeed have a social mission, but you still want to make a profit. In that case, you'll need to consider other options like an LLC or an S Corp.

Table of contents

Just what is a nonprofit?...Read more

Do nonprofits pay taxes?...Read more

What does it mean to incorporate a business?...Read more

What Are the benefits of forming a nonprofit?...Read more

Are there disadvantages of incorporating as a nonprofit?...Read more

Lesser-known reasons you might want to incorporate as a nonprofit...Read more

What are the steps to incorporate as a nonprofit?...Read more

How does a nonprofit file for federal tax exemption?...Read more

Just what is a nonprofit?

Organizations that take in money and spend it in ways that address a social cause or have a public benefit differentiate themselves from businesses in that they exist for a purpose other than making a profit. You've probably heard terms like "nonprofit" and "501(c)(3)," as well as "NGO" (non-governmental organization). NGO is sometimes used as a catchall for nonprofit organizations of any kind, but in fact, these organizations usually operate at an international level, tackling global social issues or problems like famine around the world. Nonprofits are incorporated at the state level and can apply for federal tax-exempt status. These organizations work on issues that plague our communities or take on problems related to the local environment, for example.

Do nonprofits pay taxes?

You might be asking yourself, "How much taxes do I owe for my nonprofit?" Nonprofit status is famous for meaning that an organization doesn't have to pay tax on things every private individual has to pay tax on, and that's true for things like sales tax and property tax. A nonprofit is not required to pay sales tax when it buys office supplies, for example, or to pay property tax on the building it owns. That might leave you wondering, "do non profits pay taxes?" Nonprofits are still businesses, and if they have employees, they need to pay Social Security, unemployment taxes and Medicare for each employee in the form of estimated taxes. And if they have sales, they have to charge sales tax on anything they sell. This is where a Medicare tax calculator comes in handy.
Image describing taxes paid by nonprofits including Social Security, Medicare, and income tax on revenue from unrelated sales. No mention of self-employed, 1099 or freelancer.

What does it mean to incorporate a business?

Incorporation sounds like a complicated legal term that only experts can understand. It is a legal process, but like any process, all it takes is a bit of patience to understand it – and to use it. Essentially, a corporation of any kind, nonprofits too, separates the organization's assets, or valuables, from the people who own the entity or have invested in it. When you incorporate a business, it provides your organization with a formal structure recognized by the state. This structure's main function is to keep those assets and cash flow, which allow an organization to function, separate from the finances of its owners.

What Are the benefits of forming a nonprofit?

Keeping the company's finances separate from the owner's finances is true of any corporation, but the benefits of incorporation as a nonprofit are many more.

Existence in perpetuity

Tax exemption

Limited liability

Ability to apply for grants

Credibility

Are there disadvantages of incorporating as a nonprofit?

Of course there are, but the good news is that if the benefits of nonprofit status don't make sense for you, it's likely that a different organizational structure would work and that there is an incorporation status that fits your needs.
Image describing the limitations of incorporating as a nonprofit, including expenses, compliance, management, and restrictions on political activities. No relevance to self employed, 1099, freelancer or taxes.

Lesser-known reasons you might want to incorporate as a nonprofit

  • Postage discount This might apply to fewer organizations in an age where digital communication and an online presence have become essential to the success of just about any organization. But in the past, and for some organizations still, being able to communicate with the public, potential donors and other audiences through snail mail can make a difference in accomplishing their goals. And postal discounts in the form of bulk mail rates can help make that possible for some organizations.
  • A professional registered agent Heaven forbid your organization ever has a lawsuit brought against it, but having nonprofit status means the process will be as smooth as possible if that happens. Every company that incorporates as a nonprofit must appoint a professional registered agent who serves as the organization's legal point of contact in the state where the business operates. This person is tasked with handling court documents properly and in a time-sensitive manner.
  • Forced clarity It's not easy to form a nonprofit, but the bureaucracy and steps that need to be taken often help an organization to clarify its mission and develop a more concrete understanding of why they are doing what they're doing. It also helps establish clear operating procedures and rules about decision-making, so things can get done no matter what.

What are the steps to incorporate as a nonprofit?

If you've decided to move forward with incorporating as a nonprofit, and the only thing holding you back is filling out the paperwork, it's time to head to the Secretary of State's office in the state where you want to incorporate. That office will provide you with an info packet that includes all the forms you will need to fill out as well as sample articles of incorporation. These include information like the personal details of the incorporators, the address of the registered workplace and the location of your registered agent.
Image outlining 6 steps to incorporate as a nonprofit: name selection, filing articles of incorporation, creating bylaws, forming a board, holding first meeting, and obtaining permits/licenses.

How does a nonprofit file for federal tax exemption?

The first step is always to incorporate as a nonprofit in your state. When that's done and dusted, you can take the steps with the IRS to obtain tax-exempt status as a 501(c)(3) organization. But don't wait longer than the first 27 months after you incorporate your nonprofit because the IRS won't entertain your application after that. The 1023-EZ is the form you'll need to file for federal tax-exempt status.

LLC vs S Corp vs C Corp

When we look for an LLC Vs SCorp Vs CCorp comparison, we find a lot of differences between the three, and then there are similarities in taxes and business rules and regulations.

Federal Taxes

Paying business tax means following the US corporate tax rate, dealing with federal and state level tax liabilities and filing accurate returns.

C Corp

Everything you need to know about C Corp taxes in our comprehensive guide. Learn about Form 1120, understand corporate tax, and how to tax plan for a C Corporation.

S Corp

Master S Corp taxes by learning how to fill out Form 1120-S. Get clear insights into S Corp taxation to simplify your filing and keep your business compliant.

LLC

Learn how to file LLC for your small business, navigate LLC taxes and tackle single member LLC tax reporting. FlyFin can help file taxes as an LLC and save on taxes.

Sole Proprietor

A sole proprietorship is a business that has only one employee, who is also the owner. Check how sole proprietors file their taxes.

Partnership

Learn about Form 1065 and SChedule K-1 for your partnership taxes. Get guidance for your partnership tax return and make partnership LLC tax filing easy and accurate.

LLC vs S Corp vs C Corp

When we look for an LLC Vs SCorp Vs CCorp comparison, we find a lot of differences between the three, and then there are similarities in taxes and business rules and regulations.

Federal Taxes

Paying business tax means following the US corporate tax rate, dealing with federal and state level tax liabilities and filing accurate returns.

C Corp

Everything you need to know about C Corp taxes in our comprehensive guide. Learn about Form 1120, understand corporate tax, and how to tax plan for a C Corporation.

S Corp

Master S Corp taxes by learning how to fill out Form 1120-S. Get clear insights into S Corp taxation to simplify your filing and keep your business compliant.

What’s FlyFin?

FlyFin can help nonprofit organizations save on their taxes with the world's first A.I. tax service to find every possible tax deduction and save more on taxes. With a man+machine strategy, FlyFin keeps users aware of tax benefits, sends reminders of IRS deadlines and provides 24/7 consulting with its tax CPA team. When it's time to file, an expert CPA files a guaranteed 100% accurate tax return for FlyFin users – and save nonprofits valuable time and money.
https://dem95u0op6keg.cloudfront.net/image/PriceCalculator.webp

Expert tax CPAs ensure 100%-accurate tax filing

https://dem95u0op6keg.cloudfront.net/image/AiBrain.webp

A.I. finds every tax deduction, eliminating 95% of your work

https://dem95u0op6keg.cloudfront.net/image/MoneySack.webp

On average users save $3,700

rightCTAImage
Was this tip useful?
happy-active
Yes
happy-active
No