Form Your Louisiana Nonprofit Corporation
Launch your mission in the Pelican State with a low $75 filing fee, fast geauxBIZ processing, and a clear path to 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Filed in Louisiana
The Pelican State · LA
- State filing fee$75
- Processing time1-2 business days (online geauxBIZ)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$10/year (domestic nonprofit annual report) — due Anniversary month of incorporation
- State tax rate5.5% flat corporate income tax
- Expedited option24 hours (+$30)
Form your Louisiana Nonprofit — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Louisiana Nonprofit
Free formation means you pay only the $75 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit) filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit) to the Louisiana Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Louisiana — 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 Louisiana
Louisiana offers nonprofits a low-cost path to incorporation with a $75 filing fee, fast geauxBIZ online processing, and an affordable $10 annual report. The state's strong community, faith-based, and philanthropic networks across the Gulf Coast provide a supportive base for charitable, educational, and religious missions.
Low state filing fee of just $75 to incorporate
Inexpensive ongoing compliance with a $10 annual report fee
Eligible for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status once IRS approves
Donations become tax-deductible for supporters after 501(c)(3) approval
Limited liability protection for directors, officers, and members
Access to grants and foundation funding reserved for tax-exempt nonprofits
Fast 1-2 business day processing through the geauxBIZ portal
Strategic Gulf Coast location with a strong community and philanthropic base
Key features of a Louisiana Nonprofit
- geauxBIZ online filing portal
- Low $75 incorporation fee
- Affordable $10 annual report
- Minimum of three directors required
- Fast 1-2 business day processing
Major industries in Louisiana
Form your Louisiana Nonprofit in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 1-2 business days (online geauxBIZ).
- 01
Choose Your Nonprofit Name
Your name must be distinguishable from existing Louisiana entities. Search the Louisiana Secretary of State's database to verify availability and reserve it if needed.
- 02
Appoint Directors and a Registered Agent
Louisiana requires a minimum of three directors for a nonprofit corporation, plus a registered agent with a physical Louisiana address to receive legal correspondence and service of process.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit nonprofit Articles of Incorporation to the Louisiana Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $75, and online filing through the geauxBIZ portal processes in 1-2 business days. Include IRS-required 501(c)(3) language on purpose and dissolution.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and a Conflict-of-Interest Policy
Hold an organizational meeting to adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy, elect officers, and obtain a free EIN from the IRS for banking and filings.
- 05
Apply for Federal 501(c)(3) Status
File IRS Form 1023-EZ ($275 user fee, for orgs with gross receipts of $50,000 or less and assets of $250,000 or less) or full Form 1023 ($600). IRS processing runs about 2-4 weeks for 1023-EZ or 3-6 months for the full 1023.
- 06
Register at the State Level and Stay Compliant
Apply for Louisiana tax exemption, register for charitable solicitation before fundraising, file the $10 annual report each anniversary month, and file IRS Form 990 every year.
Louisiana Nonprofit costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Louisiana Nonprofit requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Louisiana Nonprofit in 2026.
- File nonprofit Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State ($75)
- Appoint a minimum of three directors to the board
- Maintain a registered agent with a physical Louisiana address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- Apply for federal 501(c)(3) status via IRS Form 1023-EZ or Form 1023
- File the $10 annual report and register for Louisiana charitable solicitation
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit)
- Filing agency
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $25 (60 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $75 Louisiana state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit) filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Louisiana)
- 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.
Louisiana Nonprofit questions, answered
Common questions about forming an Nonprofit in Louisiana. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to start a nonprofit in Louisiana?
The state filing fee for nonprofit Articles of Incorporation is $75, paid to the Louisiana Secretary of State. Federal 501(c)(3) application is a separate IRS step costing $275 (Form 1023-EZ) or $600 (full Form 1023).
How long does Louisiana nonprofit incorporation take?
Online filings through the geauxBIZ portal are typically processed in 1-2 business days. Federal 501(c)(3) review by the IRS takes roughly 2-4 weeks for Form 1023-EZ or about 3-6 months for the full Form 1023.
How many directors does a Louisiana nonprofit need?
Louisiana requires a minimum of three directors on a nonprofit corporation's board. Many organizations use unrelated directors to strengthen governance and support their 501(c)(3) application.
Does forming the nonprofit make my organization tax-exempt?
No. Filing Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State creates the nonprofit corporation, but federal tax exemption requires a separate IRS 501(c)(3) application, and you must also apply separately for Louisiana state tax exemption.
What ongoing filings does a Louisiana nonprofit have?
Louisiana nonprofits file an annual report during their anniversary month with a $10 fee, register for charitable solicitation before fundraising, and file IRS Form 990 each year. Louisiana's corporate income tax is 5.5% on any unrelated business income not covered by your exemption.
Do I need to file a BOI report for my Louisiana nonprofit?
No. Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, domestic US entities and US persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. Only foreign-formed entities registered to do business in a US state still file.
Which IRS form should my nonprofit use for 501(c)(3) status?
Smaller organizations with gross receipts of $50,000 or less per year and assets of $250,000 or less can usually file the streamlined Form 1023-EZ for a $275 user fee. Larger organizations file the full Form 1023 for $600.
Are donations to my Louisiana nonprofit tax-deductible?
Donations become tax-deductible once the IRS grants 501(c)(3) status. Until that approval comes through, you can accept contributions but cannot guarantee donors a tax deduction.
Louisiana government filing resources
Filing fees for common Nonprofit services
Official Louisiana state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
$25 filing fee.
Louisiana issues a Certificate of Good Standing (the SOS also refers to it as a 'duplicate' certificate).
Learn more$15 for a certified copy of an individual filed document (corporations, LLCs, foreign entities).
$20 per document (reduced to $10 per document if the document relates to an adoption).
Foreign nonprofit corporations qualify as foreign corporations using the same form 326.
Learn more$75 reinstatement fee PLUS $30 for the most current annual report PLUS $30 for each annual report not filed — same fee structure as for-profit corporations.
Learn more$25 affidavit to dissolve (the fee schedule lists this row as 'Affidavit to Dissolve-Louisiana Nonprofit, #339').
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Louisiana Nonprofit
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Louisiana Nonprofit?
Formation is free — you pay only the $75 Louisiana state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 1-2 business days (online geauxBIZ).
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