New Mexico charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines

Who must register

New Mexico generally requires charitable organizations to register with the New Mexico Department of Justice — Charities Unit before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting New Mexico residents as well as local ones.

NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) · official source

How to register in New Mexico

1. 01Register with the New Mexico Attorney General through NM-COROS, the AG's online system, before soliciting — attach a copy of your IRS Form 1023/1024. There is no registration fee.NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) (register with the attorney general; IRS application copy); § 57-22-6(D) (register before a solicitation is made); COROS is online, ma…
2. 02File annually within six months of your fiscal year end — 990/990-EZ/990-PF filers submit that return with Schedule A through COROS; registration itself is continuous, with no separate renewal or fee. Extensions must be requested before the due date; an IRS extension is not automatic in New Mexico.NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(C) (annual filing within six months of FYE); AG guidance

Exemptions we check for

• Likely exempt if it is a religious organization — the Charitable Solicitations Act does not apply to religious organizations (NMSA 1978 § 57-22-4(A)).

  NMSA 1978 § 57-22-4(A); § 57-22-3(G) definition is broader than IRS church status. Machine proxy: IRS filing codes 06/13 — sound subset (under-approximation).

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

Financial statement thresholds

• Independent audit at $750,000+ total expenses · NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(C)

If you use a paid fundraiser

Using a paid fundraiser doesn't change a charity's own New Mexico registration — every non-exempt charity registers regardless, and New Mexico has no small-organization exemption for one to lose. Professional fundraisers carry their own obligations, with a separate $500 late fee for the fundraiser itself.

NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) (all non-exempt charities register); § 57-22-6.1(E) ($500 professional-fundraiser late fee — the fundraiser's own obligation).

If you haven't registered yet

New Mexico's stated consequence is modest: a $100 late fee for failing to register before soliciting. Getting current means registering through NM-COROS and bringing the annual filings up to date — there is no registration fee, only the late fee.

NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(D) — $100 late fee for failure to register before a solicitation is made. · how to get current, calmly

New Mexico registration: common questions

Does a charity need to register to solicit donations in New Mexico?

Yes. New Mexico generally requires charitable organizations to register with the New Mexico Department of Justice — Charities Unit before soliciting contributions in the state, unless an exemption applies. The requirement reaches out-of-state charities soliciting New Mexico residents.

How much does charitable registration cost in New Mexico?

The initial registration fee is No fee, and renewal is No fee. Fees are stated as the state sets them; where a fee varies with contributions, the tiers are cited on this page.

When is the New Mexico charitable registration renewal due?

6 months 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 New Mexico?

New Mexico 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 New Mexico require audited financial statements?

New Mexico requires an accountant's report above a revenue threshold. The lowest threshold on record is a audit above $750,000 in total expenses. Every threshold and its citation are listed on this page.

Nearby states

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

• ArizonaNo requirement
• ColoradoRequired
• OklahomaRequired
• TexasNo requirement

Citations

• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) · source · verified 2026-07-22
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) (register with the attorney general) · source · verified 2026-07-22
• No registration fee · source · verified 2026-07-22
• No annual filing fee — same dual citation as initialFee. · source · verified 2026-07-22
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(C) · source · verified 2026-07-22
• NM-COROS (https://secure.nmdoj.gov/coros/; legacy secure.nmag.gov 301s there, verified live). Online effectively mandatory — mail only by hardship exception … · source · verified 2026-07-22
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-4(A); § 57-22-3(G) definition is broader than IRS church status. Machine proxy: IRS filing codes 06/13 — sound subset (under-approximation). · source · verified 2026-07-22
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(C) · source · verified 2026-07-22
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) (register with the attorney general; IRS application copy); § 57-22-6(D) (register before a solicitation is made); COROS is online, ma… · source · verified 2026-08-07
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(C) (annual filing within six months of FYE); AG guidance · source · verified 2026-08-07
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(D) — $100 late fee for failure to register before a solicitation is made. · source · verified 2026-08-07
• NMSA 1978 § 57-22-6(A) (all non-exempt charities register); § 57-22-6.1(E) ($500 professional-fundraiser late fee — the fundraiser's own obligation). · source · verified 2026-08-07

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