Form Your Washington Nonprofit Corporation
Launch your mission in the Evergreen State with no state income tax, a strong philanthropic base, and a clear path from incorporation to federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status
Filed in Washington
The Evergreen State · WA
- State filing fee$80
- Processing time~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail; expedite +$50/$100
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$20/year (online base $30 + $20 portal = $50) — due Anniversary month of incorporation
- State tax rateNo corporate income tax; B&O tax applies
- Expedited optiongenerally within 3 working days (+$100)
Form your Washington Nonprofit — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Washington Nonprofit
Free formation means you pay only the $80 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 Washington Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Washington — 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 Washington
Washington is one of the few states with no corporate or personal income tax, which keeps overhead low for mission-driven organizations even though the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax can still apply. A deep philanthropic base in the Seattle metro, anchored by the Gates Foundation and a large corporate-giving community, makes the Evergreen State a strong home for nonprofits.
Federal 501(c)(3) status makes donations tax-deductible for your supporters
No Washington corporate or personal income tax on the organization
Eligibility for foundation grants and government funding reserved for nonprofits
Limited liability protection for directors, officers, and members
Access to nonprofit postal rates, fee waivers, and discounted services
Perpetual existence that survives changes in board or leadership
Public credibility that comes with formal IRS tax-exempt recognition
Filed through the Washington Secretary of State's Corporations & Charities division
Key features of a Washington Nonprofit
- $80 state filing fee; about $50 in online portal charges to form
- No Washington corporate or personal income tax (B&O tax may still apply)
- Federal 501(c)(3) status is a separate IRS step from state incorporation
- At least one director required by state law; three recommended for the IRS
- Annual report due in your incorporation anniversary month ($20/year)
Major industries in Washington
Form your Washington Nonprofit in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes ~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail; expedite +$50/$100.
- 01
Choose Your Nonprofit Name
Pick a distinguishable name and confirm availability through the Washington Secretary of State's business search. The name cannot imply a purpose your organization is not authorized to pursue.
- 02
Appoint Directors and a Registered Agent
Washington law requires at least one director, but the IRS effectively expects a board of at least three unrelated directors for 501(c)(3) approval. You must also name a registered agent with a physical Washington address.
- 03
File the Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation
File your Articles of Incorporation with the Washington Secretary of State. The fee is $80, plus a $30 base portal charge and a $20 fee, so most organizations pay about $50 in portal fees to form online. Online processing runs about 5 business days; mail filings take 5-6 weeks. Expedited service is +$50 or +$100.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and a Conflict-of-Interest Policy
Draft corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy. Both are expected by the IRS and govern how your board operates, how meetings are run, and how conflicts are handled.
- 05
Apply for Federal 501(c)(3) Tax-Exempt Status
This is a separate federal step with the IRS. File Form 1023-EZ ($275, for organizations expecting gross receipts of $50,000 or less per year and assets of $250,000 or less) or the full Form 1023 ($600). The IRS typically processes 1023-EZ in about 2-4 weeks and the full 1023 in roughly 3-6 months.
- 06
Register for State Charitable Solicitation and Tax Exemption
Register with Washington's Charities Program before soliciting donations, and apply separately for any state tax exemptions. These state steps are independent of your federal 501(c)(3) approval.
Washington Nonprofit costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Washington Nonprofit requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Washington Nonprofit in 2026.
- File nonprofit Articles of Incorporation with the WA Secretary of State ($80; about $50 in online portal fees)
- Appoint at least one director (the IRS expects a board of three or more unrelated directors for 501(c)(3))
- Designate a registered agent with a physical Washington address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and a conflict-of-interest policy
- Apply to the IRS for 501(c)(3) status via Form 1023-EZ ($275) or Form 1023 ($600)
- File an annual report with the Secretary of State during your anniversary month
- Register with Washington's Charities Program before soliciting donations
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation (Nonprofit)
- Filing agency
- Washington Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $30 (180 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $80 Washington 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 Washington)
- 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.
Washington Nonprofit questions, answered
Common questions about forming an Nonprofit in Washington. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a nonprofit in Washington?
The state filing fee for nonprofit Articles of Incorporation is $80. Filing online adds a $30 base portal charge plus a $20 fee, so most organizations pay roughly $50 in portal fees to form. Expedited service is available for an extra $50 or $100.
How long does Washington take to approve a nonprofit?
Online filings are typically processed in about 5 business days. Mail filings take 5-6 weeks. Expedited processing is available for an additional $50 or $100 if you need it sooner.
Is forming the nonprofit the same as getting 501(c)(3) status?
No. Incorporating with the Washington Secretary of State creates the legal nonprofit. Federal 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status is a separate application to the IRS, and you also register separately with the state for charitable solicitation and any tax exemptions.
Should I file IRS Form 1023-EZ or the full Form 1023?
Form 1023-EZ has a $275 user fee and is available to organizations expecting gross receipts of $50,000 or less per year and assets of $250,000 or less. Larger organizations file the full Form 1023, which has a $600 fee. The IRS usually processes 1023-EZ in about 2-4 weeks and the full 1023 in roughly 3-6 months.
How many directors does a Washington nonprofit need?
Washington law requires at least one director. In practice, the IRS expects a board of at least three unrelated directors to approve 501(c)(3) status, so most nonprofits start with three or more.
Does Washington have a state income or franchise tax on nonprofits?
Washington has no state corporate or personal income tax and no franchise tax. The state's Business & Occupation (B&O) tax can still apply to certain revenue, so confirm your obligations with the Department of Revenue.
What ongoing filings does a Washington nonprofit have?
You file an annual report with the Secretary of State during your incorporation anniversary month (the $20 annual report fee). Federally, 501(c)(3) organizations file an annual IRS Form 990. You also renew your charitable solicitation registration with the state.
Does my Washington nonprofit have to file a BOI report?
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.
Washington government filing resources
Filing fees for common Nonprofit services
Official Washington state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Fee varies by entity type: $30 for all for-profit entity types (LLC, profit corporation).
$20 for the Express PDF Certificate of Existence (Short Form).
Learn more$20 processing fee for a certified copy/certificate ordered through the CCFS 'Certified Copies/Certificates' section.
$15 per document (flat.
$30 filing fee (fee varies by entity type - nonprofits pay $30 vs $180 for for-profit).
Learn moreThere is NO charge for a WA reseller permit — confirmed 'No.' on the DOR 'questions answered' page.
Learn moreBase state filing fee $20 confirmed on the official fee schedule ('Amendment to Filing $20' under Non-profit Corporations RCW 24.03A) — lower than the $30 for-profit a…
Learn moreFee schedule (RCW 24.03A Nonprofit Corporation): "Change of Registered Agent / Office — No Fee." Optional expedited service +$100 (3 working days) or same-day +$150 (i…
Learn moreFee schedule (RCW 24.03A Nonprofit Corporation): Reinstatement = $35 + all missed annual report fees.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Washington Nonprofit
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Washington Nonprofit?
Formation is free — you pay only the $80 Washington state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in ~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail; expedite +$50/$100.
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