Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

[mushwen]

Can I form a nonprofit in South Carolina and not register it with the IRS?

If I understand it would have to be small but if so can we avoid registration, is that right?

I would eventually register if the project takes off.

[Disagreeable]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

It would still be a business, requiring a business return be filed with the IRS. It would not however have non profit tax status with them.

[adjusterjack]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

Can I form a nonprofit in South Carolina and not register it with the IRS?

If I understand it would have to be small but if so can we avoid registration, is that right?

I would eventually register if the project takes off.

Sure, anybody can start a non-profit business without registration. You can stand on the corner and sell widgets for less than you pay for them and you would be non-profit.

But if you want to be tax exempt, you have to register and get approval from the IRS.

[MKY]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

There is one exception if your donors are under 5000 dollars per year.

You need not register basically till the 3 yr point.

But your tax exempt status is valid.
See the IRS web site.

[Wenton2]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

That under 5000 dollars issue was discussed in another thread here.

I will try to find it later but yes it does exist.

[Amanda44]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

How much do I truly need to spend to set up my new nonprofit organization?
Is it required I have a lawyer do it?
I live in Maryland.

[adjusterjack]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

How much do I truly need to spend to set up my new nonprofit organization?
Is it required I have a lawyer do it?
I live in Maryland.

Go to the IRS website and look up the publications for non-profit organizations.

What you spend on professional advice is entirely up to you.

[Diana38]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

Most people IMO will need some legal help in establishing and running a non-profit.
But as noted on this site, if it is just a one time project you need to raise funds for a charitable cause, such organizations can be done very informally while still maintaining tax exempt status.

Diana

[Unregistered]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

I tried digging through all the IRS material myself last week, and I must confess I found it overwhelming and certainly not something that I can or will do myself.

[linda 43]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

They should make the nonprofit set up simpler, and more people might do it then!

I frankly gave up when I saw all the complexity.

[adjusterjack]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

It's made complicated intentionally to eliminate small fry and scammers.

[olive]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

If you are just setting up a very small nonprofit, say for a neighborhood improvement project or the like, it is quite simple, see the rules and see the discussions here in the forum.

[olive]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

And if you're doing more than that, you would want professionals involved in any case.

[Unregistered]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

If you are just setting up a very small nonprofit, say for a neighborhood improvement project or the like, it is quite simple, see the rules and see the discussions here in the forum.

Then when it's all done, how do you close these small unregistered type operations down?

[Zelez]

Re: Forming a small unregistered nonprofit?

You just write a simple letter to all involved.