Starting a nonprofit in New Hampshire

Incorporation

Filing

Form NP-1 — Articles of Agreement of a New Hampshire Nonprofit Corporation

Agency

New Hampshire Secretary of State, Corporation Division

State fee

$25 — never marked up by us

Processing

3–7 business days online (NH QuickStart); 1–3 weeks by mail

Expedite

Not offered

Watch out

• New Hampshire calls the formation document 'Articles of Agreement,' not articles of incorporation — the paper fee is $25; filing online via NH QuickStart runs $28.
• Form NP-1 does NOT include the IRS-required 501(c)(3) purpose and dissolution clauses — they must be added before filing or the IRS will bounce the application.
• New Hampshire uniquely requires at least five voting members/incorporators who are not all from the same family — plan the founding board accordingly.

Ongoing compliance

Registered agent

Must have a New Hampshire street address; an officer, director, or commercial agent may serve.

Charitable registration

Required — New Hampshire Attorney General, Charitable Trusts Unit. Initial: $25 initial registration. Renewal: Annual report (Form NHCT-12) with $75 fee. Register with the Charitable Trusts Unit before operating or soliciting; the annual filing is separate from the Secretary of State's five-year report.

Annual report

Nonprofit report every 5 years (in years ending in 0 and 5), due December 31 — $25

State tax exemption

New Hampshire has no general sales or personal income tax. Charitable organizations are generally exempt from the Business Profits and Business Enterprise taxes; no separate state exemption application is typically needed beyond the IRS determination letter.