How much does it cost to register my charity in each state?

Why some fees vary with your revenue

14 of these states set the fee on a sliding scale tied to your contributions or revenue, so a larger charity pays more: California, Florida, Hawaii, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, North Carolina, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Virginia, West Virginia. Each state's tiers are cited on its guide. To see the tier that applies to your charity, run the free scan with your figures.

States that require registration but charge no fee

Registration is required, but the fee is $0 in: Arkansas, Hawaii, Kentucky, Michigan, Nevada, New Mexico, Oregon. A zero fee is not the same as no requirement — you still register.

What these fees don't cover

The figures above are the state's registration and renewal fees only. They do not include a registered agent (where a state requires one), an independent audit or CPA review above a state's revenue threshold, or the cost of preparing and filing — whether you do it yourself or hand it off.

What it costs to register nationally

Adding up the flat registration fees across the states that charge one comes to roughly $999 in state fees, plus the 14sliding-scale states, whose fees depend on your revenue and so can't be totalled without your figures. Most charities don't register everywhere — only where they actually solicit. The free scan shows where that is for your organization.

Common questions

How much does it cost to register a charity in all states?

State registration fees for the states that charge a flat fee add up to a few hundred dollars; the exact national total depends on the sliding-scale states, whose fee is set by your revenue. The worked example on this page totals the flat fees and lists the sliding-scale states separately. Fees do not include a registered agent, audits, or preparation.

Why do some states charge a fee based on revenue?

Around a dozen states set the registration or renewal fee on a sliding scale tied to contributions or gross revenue, so a larger charity pays more. Each such state's tiers are cited on its own guide; enter your figures in the free scan to see the tier that applies to you.

Which states have no registration fee?

Some states require registration but charge no fee, and others require no registration at all. Both are listed on this page. A zero fee is not the same as no requirement — a state can require you to register for free.