Registration requirements for charitable organizations

​​KRS 367.657:

1. Prior to any solicitation, every charitable organization required by the Internal Revenue Service to file a federal Form 990 and soliciting contributions in the Commonwealth, or for which contributions are solicited shall file with the Attorney General a copy of its most recent federal Form 990 unless exempted by KRS 367.660.
2. If a charitable organization is newly formed and a Form 990 has not yet been filed with the Internal Revenue Service, a notice of intent to solicit, in a form prescribed pursuant to administrative regulations promulgated by the Attorney General, shall be filed prior to any solicitation. Each chapter, branch, or affiliate of a charitable organization shall file a separate notice of intent or report the necessary information to its parent charitable organization that shall then file a consolidated notice of intent to solicit. If a consolidated notice of intent is filed, information arising out of the activities of each chapter, branch, or affiliate of the charitable organization in this state shall be covered in the notice. A separate notice of intent shall be filed for each chapter, branch, or affiliate upon the request of the Attorney General. The notice shall expire on December 31 of the calendar year in which it was filed.
3. The Form 990 shall be filed with the Attorney General each year in which contributors are solicited in the Commonwealth at the same time the form is filed with the Internal Revenue Service. If a Form 990 is not filed with the Internal Revenue Service, a new notice of intent to solicit shall be filed with the Attorney General.

Initial registration checklist for charitable organizations

• A copy of the most recent IRS 990 (see links below for 990 options)
• A copy of the IRS Determination Letter
• A copy of the By-laws and Articles of Incorporation

If the charity has not yet filed an IRS 990 yet:

• A completed Unified Registration Statement (URS) for Charitable Organizations http://www.multistatefiling.org/

Note: There is no filing fee required for registration of charitable organizations in Kentucky.

Mail to:

Registration documents may be submitted by mail on a CD or thumb drive in .pdf format.

Annual registration checklist for charitable organizations

A completed copy of the Internal Revenue Service federal

• Form 990 – OR –
• Form 990ez – OR –
• Form 990PF – OR –
• Form 990-N

Mail to:

Registration documents may be submitted by mail on a CD or thumb drive in a PDF format. Electronic submissions are not available at this time. If you have questions regarding your submission, please contact the Charity Division within Consumer Protection at 502-696-5300.

Helpful links for non profits

1. How does an organization become exempt?
2. What is a Charity?
3. What is a Private Foundation?
4. How do I obtain an EIN Number?
5. How do I obtain an application for Recognition of Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code?
   http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f1023.pdf
6. How do I obtain an application for Unified Registration Statement (URS) for Charitable Organizations?
   http://www.multistatefiling.org/
7. How do I obtain a copy of the Internal Revenue Service Publication 557?
   http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p557.pdf
8. Where can I obtain the IRS Form 990?
   http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990.pdf
9. Where can I obtain the IRS Form 990pf?
   http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f990pf.pdf
10. Where can I obtain the IRS Form 8868 for extension to file my 990?
    http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f8868.pdf
11. Where is my exemption application?
12. Where can I find online training for charities?