Steps

Contacts & Forms

Results

The WI Dept. of Financial Institutions:

Phone: (608) 261-7577

Reserves your name, for sixty days, for rights of incorporation.

The state recognizes your organization as an Incorporated Nonprofit Organization.

File with the IRS as a nonprofit, even if you do not have any employees.

IRS Form SS-4

IRS Phone Numbers:

Information: Call: 1-800-829-1040

Forms: 1-800-829-3676

Your organization is assigned an identification number for the IRS to track your reports & 1023 tax exempt application.

Federal Tax Exemption

Determine which section of the IRS code you are applying under.

File with the IRS as a tax exempt organization (preferably within 27 months of incorporation).

IRS Publication 557 & IRS Form 1023 or 1024.

Recognized by the IRS as exempt from paying income tax on most revenues related to your charitable functions.

Donations made to your organization are tax deductible only if you are a 501 (c)(3) organization.

Apply for Wisconsin sales tax exemption for purchases & sales (some restrictions apply).

WI Sales and Use Tax Certificate of Exempt Status (CES)

The Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue:

Milwaukee: (414) 227-4444

Madison (608) 266-2776

Makes any purchases for your organization tax exempt. Also allows tax exemption for some organizational sales & events.

Register your organization with the state.

Annually report your organization’s fiscal information.

WI Department of Financial Institutions:

Your organization is officially registered as a charity to solicit funds, do business or to own property in Wisconsin.

Reporting to the IRS

Annually report your organization’s fiscal information.

Provide the IRS with a report of income receipts & disbursements.