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Charitable registration status

How Do I Know We’ve Registered Successfully?

Successful charitable registration is not always obvious. Some states send a clear approval. Others update a public database quietly, take months to review a filing, or remove organizations that missed a required item.

Check Status by State Email support@registarus.com

Start with the state record

Created | Last reviewed

Finding out whether or not you’ve registered successfully is a process that varies just as much as the registration process itself. Some states are scrupulous about responding directly to confirm they have accepted your filing; other states have a delay of 6+ months before they even look at your filing. Some states keep a meticulously updated list of your filings, including missing items if applicable. Other states will simply remove you from their list of registered organizations if you have not submitted everything correctly the first time around.

To start, you can view our guide on checking registration status by state:
https://www.registarus.com/state-compliance-status/

Good signs

Current, active, or accepted

If your status is “Current” or “Active” in all of your states – congratulations! You have nothing to worry about until the next filing cycle comes around.

Review closely

Pending review

A “pending review” status means that you have fulfilled the requirements to submit registration materials. You are now able to solicit within the state without fear of repercussion.

Act quickly

Expired, delinquent, or inactive

If your organization doesn’t show up on the state’s database, or is listed as “Expired/Delinquent/Inactive,” you have options.

What do I do if my organization is not compliant?

If your organization doesn’t show up on the state’s database, or is listed as “Expired/Delinquent/Inactive,” you have options. First, you can email or call the state directly to find out what is missing.

States with a longer processing time, like IL and MA, will often be able to tell you if a filing has been received and is pending review. A “pending review” status means that you have fulfilled the requirements to submit registration materials. You are now able to solicit within the state without fear of repercussion.

Emailing or calling directly will also allow the state offices to tell you whether or not filings have been missed. Most states expect these missed filings to be submitted ASAP, but there are a handful that will put you back in compliance if you just submit the most recent filing year available.

States to prioritize if you are behind

There are a handful of states that should always be prioritized if you are non-compliant:

Mississippi

Mississippi is incredibly punitive, and can send a legal cease and desist after just over a year past your missed due date. They also have high fees, ranging up to a thousand dollars.

Hawaii

Hawaii has a daily accruing late fee of $20 per day that caps at one thousand dollars.

North Carolina and Pennsylvania

North Carolina and Pennsylvania will not accept your filing after a certain amount of time has passed. You will be required to submit a new 990 along with fees, which can be hard on organizations that are already behind.

Illinois

Illinois will always require the most recent three fiscal years’ worth of filings if your registration has been cancelled in the state. This means ensuring that you hold on to old paperwork and re-submit fees that may have already been paid. Every new cancellation is an additional $200 in fees.

Monthly late-fee states deserve quick attention

Connecticut, Florida, Maryland, North Carolina, Rhode Island, South Carolina, Tennessee, and West Virginia all have monthly accruing late fees. The longer you wait, the more expensive it gets.

Important things to note:

Illinois does not yet have a way to factor in previously-submitted payments via their website. This can result in you paying double what you should; a paper filing may be the way to go. Make sure to print single-sided documents only, as IL will not accept anything that is double-sided.

Emailing Hawaii directly to inquire about registration statuses can result in the state realizing that they should be taking a more punitive approach to your organization’s truancy. Make sure you have everything you need on-hand before you reach out for details.

If you need any assistance with verification, or you are behind in multiple states and don’t know how best to handle getting back in compliance – please reach out! This is what RegiSTAR US excels at.

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