Form Your Colorado Nonprofit Corporation
Launch your mission in the Centennial State with a $50 filing fee, a $25 annual periodic report, no franchise tax, and a clear path to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Filed in Colorado
The Centennial State · CO
- State filing fee$50
- Processing timeImmediate (online only, real-time approval)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$25 periodic report — due Anniversary "Periodic Report Month" each year
- State tax rate4.4% flat corporate income tax
Form your Colorado Nonprofit — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Colorado Nonprofit
Free formation means you pay only the $50 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation to the Colorado Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Colorado — we act as your agent for the first year.
EIN from the IRS
Your federal Tax ID — required to open a US business bank account and file taxes.
Bylaws
Professionally drafted bylaws — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an Nonprofit in Colorado
Colorado pairs one of the lowest nonprofit filing costs in the country with a vibrant, mission-driven community across the Denver-Boulder corridor and a deep base of foundations and grantmakers. Its online-first Secretary of State system, $25 annual periodic report, and absence of a franchise tax make it an efficient and affordable home for tax-exempt organizations.
Low $50 state filing fee to incorporate your Colorado nonprofit
Periodic report is only $25/year, one of the lowest ongoing costs in the nation
No state franchise tax for nonprofit corporations
Eligible for 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status, making donations tax-deductible
Personal liability protection for directors, officers, and members
Immediate real-time approval through the online-only filing system
Access to grants and foundation funding reserved for tax-exempt organizations
Thriving Denver-Boulder philanthropic and mission-driven community
Key features of a Colorado Nonprofit
- Low $50 incorporation fee and a $25/year periodic report
- No state franchise tax; 4.4% flat corporate income tax and 2.9% sales tax
- Online-first filing with immediate real-time approval
- Pathway to 501(c)(3) federal tax-exempt status and tax-deductible donations
- Separate state-level tax exemption and charitable-solicitation registration
Major industries in Colorado
Form your Colorado Nonprofit in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes Immediate (online only, real-time approval).
- 01
Choose Your Nonprofit Name
Your name must be distinguishable from other entities on record. Search the Colorado Secretary of State's database to confirm availability before filing. Most 501(c)(3) organizations avoid words implying a for-profit purpose.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent and Board of Directors
Colorado requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Colorado law requires at least one director, but the IRS recommends a board of at least three unrelated directors to support your 501(c)(3) application.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation online through the Colorado Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $50, and online filings are approved immediately in real time. Include IRS-required 501(c)(3) tax-exemption language.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and a Conflict-of-Interest Policy
Hold an organizational meeting to adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy, elect directors, and appoint officers. The IRS expects these governance documents when reviewing your exemption application.
- 05
Obtain an EIN and Apply for 501(c)(3) Status
Get a free EIN from the IRS, then file Form 1023-EZ ($275 user fee, for gross receipts ≤ $50,000/year and assets ≤ $250,000) or the full Form 1023 ($600). The IRS typically processes 1023-EZ in 2-4 weeks and full 1023 in 3-6 months.
- 06
Register for State Tax Exemption and Charitable Solicitation
After IRS approval, apply for Colorado state tax exemption and register for charitable solicitations with the Colorado Secretary of State before fundraising. File your $25 periodic report each year in your assigned Periodic Report Month.
Colorado Nonprofit costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Colorado Nonprofit requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Colorado Nonprofit in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation with the Colorado Secretary of State ($50)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Colorado address
- Establish a board of directors (Colorado requires at least one; the IRS recommends three or more unrelated directors)
- Adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy
- Obtain an EIN and file IRS Form 1023-EZ or Form 1023 for 501(c)(3) status
- Register for Colorado state tax exemption and charitable solicitation separately from the IRS step
- File the $25 periodic report annually and IRS Form 990 each year
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation
- Filing agency
- Colorado Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $25 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $50 Colorado state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Colorado)
- EIN / Federal Tax ID
- Expedited processing (1–2 days)
- Bylaws
- Priority support
- Kicker Voice — 3-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 15 days
Founder
- Everything in Booster
- Business mailing address
- Bookkeeping — 3 months free
- Dedicated account manager
- Rush processing
- Kicker Voice — 6-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 30 days
Kicker
- Everything in Founder
- ITIN filing & preparation
- Same-day priority processing
- 2nd year annual filing $0
- Kicker Voice 12-day + Kicker Pay 60 days free
Compare all plans on our pricing page.
Colorado Nonprofit questions, answered
Common questions about forming an Nonprofit in Colorado. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a nonprofit corporation in Colorado?
The Colorado Secretary of State charges a $50 fee to file the Articles of Incorporation for a Nonprofit Corporation, and the annual periodic report is just $25. Federal 501(c)(3) application fees are separate: $275 for Form 1023-EZ or $600 for the full Form 1023.
How quickly can I incorporate a Colorado nonprofit?
Colorado filings are online-only and approved immediately in real time, so there is no processing wait at the state level. The separate IRS 501(c)(3) review typically takes 2-4 weeks for Form 1023-EZ or 3-6 months for the full Form 1023.
How do I get 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for my Colorado nonprofit?
Incorporating with the Colorado Secretary of State is a state step; 501(c)(3) status is a separate federal application to the IRS. After obtaining an EIN, file Form 1023-EZ ($275, for gross receipts ≤ $50,000/year and assets ≤ $250,000) or the full Form 1023 ($600). Once approved, donations to your organization become tax-deductible.
How many directors does a Colorado nonprofit need?
Colorado law requires a board with at least one director, but the IRS expects a genuine governing board to approve 501(c)(3) status. We recommend at least three unrelated directors, along with adopted bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy.
Does Colorado have a franchise tax for nonprofits?
No, Colorado does not impose a franchise tax. The state has a flat 4.4% corporate income tax and a 2.9% sales tax, but a 501(c)(3) nonprofit can apply for Colorado state tax exemption once the IRS grants federal tax-exempt status.
What is Colorado's annual report requirement for nonprofits?
Colorado nonprofit corporations file a $25 periodic report each year in their assigned Periodic Report Month (the anniversary month of formation), filable without penalty from two months before to two months after. Tax-exempt organizations must also file IRS Form 990 annually.
Do I need to register before fundraising in Colorado?
Yes. Charitable-solicitation registration with the Colorado Secretary of State is separate from both incorporation and IRS exemption, and most organizations must register before soliciting donations in the state.
Does my Colorado nonprofit have to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
No. Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, U.S. domestic entities and U.S. persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. Only entities formed abroad and registered to do business in a U.S. state still file.
Colorado government filing resources
Filing fees for common Nonprofit services
Official Colorado state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Online only ($25.00).
FREE online.
$5.00 routine per document.
This is Colorado's sales tax license (equivalent to a seller's/reseller's permit).
Learn more$10.00 online filing fee — flat rate, identical for nonprofits, LLCs, and for-profit corporations.
Learn more$100.00 online filing fee — flat rate, identical for nonprofits, LLCs, and for-profit corporations.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Colorado Nonprofit
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Colorado Nonprofit?
Formation is free — you pay only the $50 Colorado state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in Immediate (online only, real-time approval).
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