Form Your Montana Nonprofit Corporation
Launch your 501(c)(3) in the Treasure State with one of the lowest filing fees in America, no sales tax, and minimal ongoing compliance costs
Filed in Montana
The Treasure State · MT
- State filing fee$20
- Processing time7-10 business days standard; 24-hr expedite available
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$0 by Apr 15 (otherwise $35) — due April 15th annually
- State tax rate6.75% corporate income tax
- Expedited option1 business day (+$20)
Form your Montana Nonprofit — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Montana Nonprofit
Free formation means you pay only the $20 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation for Domestic Nonprofit Corporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation for Domestic Nonprofit Corporation to the Montana Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Montana — 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 Montana
Montana offers one of the lowest nonprofit incorporation fees in the country at just $20, with no state sales tax and no franchise tax to drain mission funding. Its supportive environment for charitable, educational, and community organizations, combined with affordable ongoing compliance, makes the Treasure State an attractive home for new 501(c)(3) nonprofits.
Lowest nonprofit filing fee in the country at just $20
Eligible for federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status and tax-deductible donations
No state sales tax, stretching every donor dollar further
No franchise tax for nonprofit corporations
Annual report fee currently $0 (waived through 2024-2027 if filed by Apr 15; standard $35)
Limited liability protection for directors, officers, and members
Eligible to apply for grants, public, and private foundation funding
Perpetual existence independent of founders or board turnover
Key features of a Montana Nonprofit
- Lowest nonprofit filing fee in the country ($20)
- Minimum of 3 directors required
- No state sales tax
- No franchise tax
- Annual report fee currently $0 (standard $35, waived through 2024-2027)
Major industries in Montana
Form your Montana Nonprofit in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 7-10 business days standard; 24-hr expedite available.
- 01
Choose Your Nonprofit Name
Your name must be distinguishable from existing Montana entities. Check availability through the Montana Secretary of State's business entity search before filing.
- 02
Appoint Directors and a Registered Agent
Montana nonprofit corporations require at least 3 directors and a registered agent with a physical address in the state to accept legal documents.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation for a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation to the Montana Secretary of State. The filing fee is just $20, and online filing is available. Include IRS-required 501(c)(3) language to ease your federal exemption application.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and a Conflict-of-Interest Policy
Hold an organizational meeting to adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy, appoint officers, and document initial board actions. These are expected by the IRS for 501(c)(3) approval.
- 05
Obtain an EIN and Apply for 501(c)(3) Status
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS, then file Form 1023-EZ ($275 user fee) or full Form 1023 ($600) to request federal tax-exempt status. This is a separate federal step from your Montana incorporation.
- 06
Register for State Exemption and Charitable Solicitation
After IRS approval, secure Montana state tax exemption and any required charitable-solicitation registration before fundraising, then file your annual report by April 15.
Montana Nonprofit costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Montana Nonprofit requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Montana Nonprofit in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation for a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation with the Montana Secretary of State
- Appoint at least 3 directors to your board
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Montana address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy
- Obtain an EIN and apply for IRS 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status (Form 1023-EZ or 1023)
- File the annual report by April 15th (standard $35, currently waived to $0 if filed on time through 2024-2027)
- Register for Montana state tax exemption and charitable solicitation as required
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation for Domestic Nonprofit Corporation
- Filing agency
- Montana Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $10 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $20 Montana state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation for Domestic Nonprofit Corporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Montana)
- 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.
Montana Nonprofit questions, answered
Common questions about forming an Nonprofit in Montana. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a nonprofit corporation in Montana?
Montana charges just $20 to file Articles of Incorporation for a Domestic Nonprofit Corporation - one of the lowest in the country. Separately, the IRS charges $275 for Form 1023-EZ or $600 for the full Form 1023 to obtain 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status. Our service fee is added on top of the state fee.
How long does it take to form a Montana nonprofit?
Standard processing with the Montana Secretary of State takes 7-10 business days, with 24-hour expedited service available for an additional fee. The separate IRS 501(c)(3) determination typically takes about 2-4 weeks for Form 1023-EZ or roughly 3-6 months for the full Form 1023.
How many directors does a Montana nonprofit need?
Montana requires a nonprofit corporation to have a board of at least 3 directors. The IRS strongly prefers a majority of unrelated directors for 501(c)(3) approval to demonstrate independent governance.
Is 501(c)(3) status automatic when I incorporate in Montana?
No. Incorporating with the Montana Secretary of State creates your nonprofit at the state level, but federal tax exemption is a separate IRS step. You must obtain an EIN and file Form 1023-EZ or Form 1023 to secure 501(c)(3) status, then register for Montana state tax exemption.
What ongoing filings does a Montana nonprofit have?
Montana nonprofits file an annual report by April 15th each year. The standard fee is $35, currently waived to $0 for reports filed on time through 2024-2027. Federally, 501(c)(3) organizations must also file an annual IRS Form 990 to keep their exempt status.
Are donations to a Montana nonprofit tax-deductible?
Once the IRS grants 501(c)(3) status, contributions to your Montana nonprofit are generally tax-deductible for donors. Montana's lack of a state sales tax also means more of every donation goes directly toward your mission.
Does my Montana 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 foreign-formed entities registered to do business in a U.S. state are still required to file.
What bylaws and policies does a Montana nonprofit need?
You should adopt corporate bylaws governing how your organization operates and a conflict-of-interest policy for directors and officers. The IRS expects both when reviewing your 501(c)(3) application, so adopt them at your organizational meeting.
Montana government filing resources
Filing fees for common Nonprofit services
Official Montana state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
$10.00 fee (same across all entity types).
Montana's good-standing document is the 'Certificate of Existence' (domestic entities, $5).
Learn more'Certified copy of any document' is a $10.00 flat fee per document (not charged per page).
$10.00 per document/notarization, regardless of the number of pages (a document notarized by multiple notaries may be charged per notarization).
Montana has NO general sales tax, so there is no seller's permit / sales-tax permit / resale-permit registration.
Learn moreNO FEE — a nonprofit is a corporation under the Montana fee schedule, and 'Statement of Change — registered office, agent or both' is listed as NO FEE.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Montana Nonprofit
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Montana Nonprofit?
Formation is free — you pay only the $20 Montana state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 7-10 business days standard; 24-hr expedite available.
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