How to Become a Non Profit Organization in Mississippi

Environmental protection nonprofits are just a few of the hundreds of exempt organizations in Mississippi.

There are at least 400 nonprofits in the state of Mississippi, according to the membership of the Mississippi Center for Nonprofits. These organizations include churches, food banks, daycares, schools, homeless shelters, animal rescue centers and many other community services that over 2.9 million citizens of the state use regularly (according to the US Census Bureau in 2009) . Becoming a nonprofit is similar to becoming a corporation but you must complete both federal and state registration in order to receive full nonprofit tax exemptions under Section 501(c)(3) of the IRS code.

Instructions

State Registration

1. Visit the website of the Mississippi Secretary of State to find instructions to complete your Articles of Incorporation. The Form is F0001 in the Nonprofit Business section of the website.

2. Complete the forms for Mississippi registration with the required location information for the nonprofit and its registered agent. You must choose a registered agent to receive mail for your corporation which can be anybody with an address in Mississippi, including yourself or a business you hire for this purpose.

3. Mail the completed form along with a the $50 filing fee, payable to the Secretary of State, to this address:

   OFFICE OF THE MISSISSIPPI SECRETARY OF STATE

   P.O. BOX 136

   JACKSON, MS 39205-0136

   You will receive a certified copy of the certificate of formation and Articles of Incorporation in the mail.

4. Complete form SS-4 to apply for an EIN, or Employer Identification Number. You can complete the form online at the Internal Revenue Service website, which asks about the intended business of your nonprofit, or you can mail it in. Print out the confirmation page or keep a copy of your application for your records. This number is necessary for all future IRS forms.

IRS Registration

1. Review Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code to decide whether your organization can become tax exempt. A nonprofit organization under this section is exempt from income taxes, donations can be written off donors' taxes and all profits are used for the operation of the organization instead of being distributed among shareholders.

2. Complete federal nonprofit registration, if you choose to, by filling out Forms 1023 and Form 8718 found on the IRS website. These forms ask all possible questions about what business your nonprofit will execute and formally asks for tax exemption that extends to donations made in Mississippi.

3. Attach a copy of your articles of organization and have an EIN to complete these forms. Form 1023 also asks for proposed budgets and financial documents. These documents prove Mississippi registration and that you have thought through the future of your nonprofit.

4. Keep copies of the documents for yourself and mail the originals to:

   Internal Revenue Service

   P.O. Box 12192

   Covington, KY 41012-0192

Tips & Warnings

• Copy all documents for your files.

• Check the accuracy and signatures of all forms.

• Tax exemption is not quick nor is it straightforward. You may need to wait a few months.

References

• Mississippi Secretary of State: Business Services
• US Census Bureau Quickfacts: Mississippi
• Internal Revenue: Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization
• Internal Revenue Service: Charities and Other Non-profits
• Internal Revenue Service: Tax Information for Businesses

Resources

• Mississippi Secretary of State: Business Resources: Nonprofits
• Mississippi Center for Nonprofits
• Stay Exempt: IRS Tax Basics for Exempt Organizations
• Publication 557: Tax Exempt Status for Your Organization
• Internal Revenue Service