Steadworthy

As of 2026-07-22 · verified against primary sources

Massachusetts charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

RegistrationRequired
AgencyMassachusetts Attorney General — Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division
Initial fee$100
Renewal fee$35–$2,000, tiered on revenue
Renewal / report due4 months and 15 days after fiscal year end
Filing channelElectronic filing available

Who must register

Massachusetts generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Massachusetts Attorney General — Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Massachusetts residents as well as local ones.

M.G.L. c. 12 § 8E(a) · official source

How to register in Massachusetts

  1. 01Register with the Massachusetts AG's Non-Profit/Public Charities Division through the Charity Portal before operating or fundraising in the commonwealth — e-filing has been mandatory since September 2023. The one-time registration fee is $100 and yields your AG Number; the solicitation certificate is folded into the same paperwork.M.G.L. c. 12 § 8E(a) (register before engaging in charitable work or raising funds; $100); c. 68 § 19 (no soliciting without a valid certificate); AGO guidan…
  2. 02File the annual Form PC through the Portal four and a half months after your fiscal year end, with a fee tiered on gross support and revenue ($35 to $2,000). Compliant charities get an automatic six-month extension — no written request, and not tied to an IRS extension. Note: a 990-N is not accepted; a 990-N-only filer prepares a pro-forma 990/990-EZ for Massachusetts.M.G.L. c. 12 § 8F (annual report at the director's determined time; fee tiers on gross support and revenue); AGO FAQ (due FYE + 4.5 months; automatic 6-month…

Exemptions we check for

The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.

Financial statement thresholds

If you use a paid fundraiser

Massachusetts's small-organization exemption from the solicitation certificate (contributions of $5,000 or less, or ten or fewer contributors, in a calendar year) requires all-volunteer operation on either prong — compensating anyone, including a paid fundraiser, removes it.

M.G.L. c. 68 § 20 — small-org exemption's prongs both conditioned on all-volunteer operation and no inurement.

If you haven't registered yet

A late Form PC can accrue a penalty of up to $50 a day, capped at $10,000 per report — discretionary, not automatic. Getting current means filing the overdue Form PC filings through the Charity Portal; the automatic six-month extension means a charity that files within the extended window isn't late at all.

M.G.L. c. 12 § 8F — late penalty up to $50/day, capped at $10,000 per report. · how to get current, calmly

Is your charity registered in Massachusetts? Check free.

Free. No account. Built from public records. Informational, not legal advice.

Massachusetts registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in Massachusetts?
Yes. Massachusetts generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Massachusetts Attorney General — Non-Profit Organizations/Public Charities Division before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting Massachusetts residents.
How much does charitable registration cost in Massachusetts?
The initial registration fee is $100, and renewal is $35–$2,000, tiered on revenue. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.
When is the Massachusetts charitable registration renewal due?
4 months and 15 days after fiscal year end. The date is computed from the organization's own fiscal year end under the rule this page cites, so it differs between charities.
Are any charities exempt from registering in Massachusetts?
Massachusetts recognizes exemptions, and this page lists each one we check for with its statutory citation. The state, not a third party, decides whether an exemption applies.
Does Massachusetts require audited financial statements?
Massachusetts requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a review above $500,000 in gross revenue. Every threshold and its citation are listed on this page.

Related: registration fees by state · renewal deadlines by state · exemptions · all state registration requirements

Nearby states

Fundraising rarely stops at a border — where Massachusetts charities also commonly solicit:

Citations

Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.