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Oregon Secretary of State Corporation Division

Nonprofit FAQs

​Yes, nonprofits fall into one of three categories:

  1. ​mutual benefit corporations,
  2. public benefit corporations
  3. religious corporations.

​Please see our glossary of terms​​ for more​ 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 helpful publications for nonprofit organizations and corporations. Visit the IRS website​​ for information on all types of nonprofits. You can 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.

The Internal Revenue Service has a website on how to apply for tax exempt status​, and you can call 877-829-5500.

Yes. To maintain the legal status of the nonprofit corporation, an annual report must be filed with the Secretary of State. The Corporation Division will send a form for this purpose, and the organization is responsible to ensure that the form is submitted and filed with the appropriate fee. If the annual report isn’t filed within 45 days of the renewal date, the nonprofit will be administratively dissolved, and an extra fee will be required for reinstatement.

Public Benefit nonprofits must also file an annual report with Charitable Activities​ at the Department of Justice.

A nonprofit corporation can dissolve by delivering Articles of Dissolution to the Office of the Secretary of State for filing (ORS 65.631). Important: A public benefit or religious corporation is required give the Oregon Attorney General written notice that it intends to dissolve at or before the time it delivers articles of dissolution to the Secretary of State agency (ORS 65.627).

​Forms for nonprofits, including the form for Articles of Dissolution​

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.
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