Starting a nonprofit in Missouri

Incorporation

Filing

Form Corp. 52 — Articles of Incorporation of a Nonprofit Corporation

Agency

Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division

State fee

$25 — never marked up by us

Processing

Online filings process in 1–3 business days; mail takes about a week

Expedite

Not offered

Watch out

• Form Corp. 52 does NOT include the IRS-required 501(c)(3) purpose and dissolution clauses — they must be added to the purpose article and as an attachment.
• You must elect public benefit vs mutual benefit status in the articles — 501(c)(3)s should be public benefit.
• Missouri's late-report penalties escalate fast: $15 per 30 days late on the annual registration, with administrative dissolution after 90 days.

Ongoing compliance

Registered agent

Must have a Missouri street address; the corporation cannot serve as its own agent.

Charitable registration

Missouri requires charitable registration with the Attorney General in general ($15/yr), but 501(c)(3) organizations are statutorily exempt (RSMo § 407.456) — most CauseCentral customers never register.

Annual report

Annual registration report by August 31 — $10 online / $15 paper

State tax exemption

Apply to the Department of Revenue (Form 1746) for a Missouri sales/use tax exemption letter once the IRS determination arrives; income tax exemption follows the IRS determination.