​Yes, nonprofits fall into one of three categories: mutual benefit corporations, public benefit corporations and religious corporations. Please see our glossary of terms​ for additional information. ​

No. Nonprofit corporations are not required to file Form 990 with the Secretary of State. Some nonprofit corporations are required to file Form 990 with the Oregon Department of Justice. The IRS has information about how to get copies of Forms 990, exemption applications and related tax filings on its Form 990 Resources and Tools page.

For more information about registrations and filings with the Oregon Department of Justice visit the charitable activities section of the attorney general's website. ​​​​​​

​The Internal Revenue Service has developed helpful publications relating to nonprofit organizations and corporations. Visit the IRS website​ for information on all types of nonprofits. Please review IRS requirements for qualifying as a 501c(3) organization.​​​​​​

​State and federal tax-exempt status does not automatically result from nonprofit status. Nonprofit organizations must apply to the Internal Revenue Service for tax-exempt status.

See your tax advisor to determine whether to apply for tax-exempt status and type to pursue. For example, only certain tax-exempt status determinations also allow donors to deduct the value of charitable donations on their tax returns. A fee - as much as $900 - must accompany applications for tax-exempt status. 

Check for information for tax-exempt organizations with the Internal Revenue Service at www.irs.gov and toll-free at 877-829-5500.​

Yes. To maintain the legal status of the charitable corporation, an annual report must be filed with the Secretary of State's office each year on the anniversary of the filing of the Articles of Incorporation. Although the Corporation Division will send a form for this purpose to the address of record, it is the organization's responsibility to ensure that the form is completed, submitted and filed with the appropriate fee.

A corporation will be dissolved if the forms are not filed within 45 days of the anniversary date. This process is called involuntary dissolution. There is a procedure for reinstating a corporation​ after it has been dissolved.

Any major changes occurring after the annual report has been filed (e.g. officers, federal I.D. numbers, etc.) require the filing of an amendment to the annual report. Contact us with any questions regarding annual reports​.​​​​

A nonprofit organization can be administratively dissolved as a corporation if:

• The corporation does not pay when due any fees imposed by Oregon statute.
• The corporation does not deliver its annual report to the Secretary of State when due.
• The corporation is without a registered agent or registered office in this state.
• The corporation doesn't notify the Secretary of State that its registered agent or registered office has been changed, that its registered agent has resigned, or that its registered office has been discontinued.
• The corporation’s period of duration, if one is specified in its articles of incorporation, expires.