Starting a nonprofit in Arkansas

Incorporation

Filing

Form NPD-01 — Articles of Incorporation, Domestic Nonprofit (501(c)(3) template: NPD-01-501-c-3)

Agency

Arkansas Secretary of State

State fee

$50 — never marked up by us

Processing

Online filings process in about 2–3 business days; mail takes a week or more

Expedite

Not offered

Watch out

• Filing costs $45 online vs $50 by mail — the online route is cheaper and faster.
• Arkansas is one of the few states offering a 501(c)(3)-specific articles template (NPD-01-501-c-3) that already includes IRS purpose and dissolution language — but the generic NPD-01 does NOT, so picking the right form matters.
• You must state whether the corporation is public-benefit, mutual-benefit, or religious, and whether it will have members.

Ongoing compliance

Registered agent

Must have an Arkansas street address; the corporation cannot serve as its own agent.

Charitable registration

Required — Arkansas Secretary of State (transferred from the Attorney General in 2019). Initial: $0 (no fee). Renewal: Annual — keep the registration current with an annual financial report. Free to register but still mandatory before soliciting. Organizations raising under $25,000 a year without paid fundraisers can claim an exemption.

Annual report

Annual nonprofit report due by August 1 — $0 (no fee for nonprofits)

State tax exemption

Submit the IRS determination letter to the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration for income tax exemption. Most nonprofits still pay Arkansas sales tax on purchases — exemptions are narrow and statute-specific.