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California FTB State Filing Requirements

The California Franchise Tax Board and the Secretary of State impose specific requirements to ensure transparency and accountability of non-profit entities.

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Required Non-profit Forms

California State FormsFederal Forms (Required for State Compliance)
  • Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report (Form RRF-1) - Required by the California Attorney General’s office for all charities.
  • California FTB Form 199 (California Exempt Organization Annual Information Return) - Required for most non-profits to report financial information.
  • California Attorney General CT-1 (Registration/Renewal)
  • Statement of Information (Form SI-100) - Required every two years by the Secretary of State.
  • Exemption Application (Form 3500)
  • Submission of Exemption Request (Form 3500A)

State Filing Requirements for Non-Profits

  1. Register with the California Secretary of State Upon formation, non-profits must file Articles of Incorporation or a Statement of Information.
  2. Apply for Tax-Exempt Status
    • File Form 3500 for state-level tax-exempt recognition.
    • File Form 3500A if already tax-exempt at the federal level (IRS determination). Complete, print, and mail your request with your federal determination letter to
      Exempt Organizations Unit
      MS F120
      Franchise Tax Board
      PO Box 1286
      Rancho Cordova CA 95741-1286
  3. Submit Annual Information Returns
    • Non-profits must file California Form 199(Exempt Organization Annual Information Return) if their gross receipts exceed the filing threshold.
    • Organizations with smaller receipts may qualify to file Form 199N (electronic postcard). Failing to comply with these requirements could result in fines or revocation of
      tax-exempt status.
State Filing Requirements for Non-Profits

What happens after you apply?

  • The FTB will review your information to verify if you qualify and it may take several months to process your application.
  • If they need more detailed information, they’ll contact you
  • If approved, you’ll receive a grant letter

Where to File State Taxes

Online Filing

Online Filing

Form 199N

You can complete your Form 199N filing online through the California e-Postcard system offered by the California Franchise Tax Board.

Form 199 and Form 109

CA Forms 199 and 109 can be filed either electronically or through paper filing.

Paper Filing

Paper Filing

If you choose paper filing, you can complete the forms and mail them to the Franchise Tax Board.

Mail Form 199 and Form 109 with payment to:
Franchise Tax Board,
PO Box 942857,
Sacramento, CA 94257-0501

If case the return is e-filed, mail Form FTB 3586, Payment Voucher for Corporations and Exempt Organizations e-filed Returns, with payment to:
Franchise Tax Board,
PO Box 942857,
Sacramento, CA 94257-0531.

If filing the return without payment or paying electronically or requesting a refund for Form 109, mail it to
Franchise Tax Board,
PO Box 942857,
Sacramento, CA 94257-0500.

Filing Deadlines for Non-Profit Forms

Staying on top of deadlines is crucial for non-profits to avoid penalties or loss of good standing.

Below are the key deadlines for non-profit filings in California:

Timely submission of forms is crucial to avoid penalties. Here are the important deadlines:

FormDeadline
Form RRF-1Due four months and 15 days after the end of your fiscal year (e.g., if your fiscal year ends December 31, it is due by Apr 15).
Form 199 or Form 199NDue on May 15 if your fiscal year ends on December 31.
Statement of Information (Form SI-100)Due every two years in the month, your Articles of Incorporation were filed.
Form 3500/3500ANo set deadline but should be filed promptly after incorporation or before conducting business in California.
IRS Form 990Due by the 15th day of the 5th month after the fiscal year ends. Small organizations (gross receipts ≤ $50,000) must file Form 990-N by the 15th day of the 5th month.

Penalties for Late Filing:

If your organization fails to file Form 199 on or before the due date, it may be subjected to a penalty of $5 per month or part of the month. The penalty cannot exceed $40.

Penalties for Non-Renewal:

If your organization fails to renew its registration, it will be listed as delinquent with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, resulting in the loss of its tax-exempt status with the California Franchise Tax Board.

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Registration & Annual Filing (Non-Profits)

To operate legally as a non-profit in California, organizations must register with both the FTB and the Attorney General's office. This includes submitting initial formation documents and obtaining tax-exempt status.

Initial Registration

  • Incorporate with California Secretary of State
  • Obtain a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
  • Apply for 501(c) tax-exempt status
  • Register with California Attorney General
  • Complete initial FTB registration

Annual Filing Requirements

  • Exempt Organization Annual Information Return (Form 199)
  • California e-Postcard (FTB 199N)
  • Exempt Organizations Business Income Tax Return (Form 109)
  • Corporation Franchise or Income Tax Return (Form 100)
  • Form RRF-1 - Required for all charitable organizations.
  • Statement of Information (Form SI-100)
  • If your organization fails to renew its registration, it will be listed as delinquent with the Attorney General's Registry of Charities and Fundraisers, resulting in the loss of its tax-exempt status with the California Franchise Tax Board.

    Extension of time to file

    The extension of time to file applies to the following forms only:

  • Form 100
  • Form 109
  • Form 109
  • An extension allows you more time to file the return, not an extension of time to pay any taxes that may be due.

    The IRS will grant an automatic 6-month extension to file a return if both of the following conditions exist:

  • Your organization is not suspended on the original due date.
  • You file your organization's return on or before the extended due date.
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    Frequently Asked Questions

    1. Is federal tax-exempt status enough for California compliance?

    No, you must apply for state tax-exempt status separately by filing Form 3500 (Exemption Application) or Form 3500A (Submission of Exemption Request)

    2. What is Form RRF-1?

    The Annual Registration Renewal Fee Report (RRF-1) is required by the Attorney General's office to ensure transparency and accountability among charitable organizations.

    This form ensures charities report their financial activities accurately each year. Filing this report helps organizations avoid penalties and maintain their tax-exempt status.

    3. Can an organization request an extension for filing CA Form 199?

    Form 3539 does not apply to Form FTB 199. Without submitting a manual extension application, exempt organizations will automatically receive a six-month extension.

    4. Are all non-profits required to file Form 199?

    Most tax-exempt organizations are required to file Form 199 or FTB 199N. Some types of organizations do not have a filing requirement.

    To be precise, form 199 is used by the following organizations:

    • Organizations granted tax-exempt status by the FTB.
    • Nonexempt charitable trusts as described in IRC Section 4947(a)(1).

    5. How often must we renew our non-profit registration?

    Annual renewal is required. The CT-1 form must be filed each year, and Form 199 must be submitted annually with your financial information.