Most nonprofits are 501(c)(3) organizations, which means they are formed for religious, charitable, scientific, literary, or educational purposes and are eligible for federal and state tax exemptions. To create a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt Mississippi organization, first you need to form a Mississippi non-profit corporation, then you apply for tax-exempt status from the IRS. Here are the details.

Form Your Mississippi Non-Profit Corporation

1. Choose a name for your Mississippi non-profit corporation

The name of your nonprofit corporation cannot be the same as the name of another corporation or registered business entity on file with the Mississippi Secretary of State. To see if your proposed name is available, you can search Mississippi's name database on the Mississippi Secretary of State's website.

2. Prepare and file your non-profit articles of incorporation

You will need to create and file non-profit articles of incorporation with the Mississippi Secretary of State's office. The filing fee is $50 (as of August 2020). The articles of incorporation must include the following information:

• the type of corporation (profit versus nonprofit)
• the corporation's name
• the corporation's duration (specified number of years or perpetual)
• the initial planned activity
• the name and street address of the registered agent
• the name and address of each incorporator
• the incorporators' signatures

You must file your articles of incorporation online via the Secretary of State's filing system. After creating an account, follow the instructions provided to fill out and submit your articles.

The articles form on the Secretary of State's website does not include language required by the IRS to obtain tax-exempt status. To receive 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status from the IRS, you'll need to include certain additional specific language in your articles, including:

• a statement of purpose that meets IRS requirements
• statements that your non-profit will not engage in prohibited political or legislative activity, and
• a dissolution of assets provision dedicating your assets to another 501(c)(3) organization upon dissolution.

For more information on IRS requirements for tax exemption, see IRS Publication 557, Tax-Exempt Status for Your Organization, available on the IRS website. Make sure you include the federal tax-exempt required language in the articles you create.

3. Prepare bylaws for your Mississippi nonprofit corporation

You'll need to prepare bylaws that comply with Mississippi law and contain the rules and procedures your corporation will follow for holding meetings, electing officers and directors, and taking care of other corporate formalities required in Mississippi. Your bylaws do not need to be filed with the Mississippi Secretary of State -- they are your internal operating manual.

For more information on creating bylaws, see Nolo's article Nonprofit Formation Documents: Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, and Organizational Minutes. For help creating your bylaws, see Nolo's book How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation, by Anthony Mancuso (Nolo).

4. Hold an organizational meeting of your board

Your first board meeting is usually referred to as the organizational meeting of the board. Under Mississippi law, your organizational meeting must take place within two years of your date of incorporation or the corporation's charter will be void.

If initial directors are named in your articles of incorporation, these initial directors must hold the first organizational meeting of the corporation The board should take such actions as:

• adopting bylaws
• electing officers
• setting an accounting period and tax year, and
• approving initial transactions of the corporation, such as the opening of a corporate bank account.

If initial directors are not named in the articles of incorporation, the incorporator or incorporators must hold the organizational meeting and either (a) elect directors and complete the organization of the corporation (including adopting bylaws); or (b) elect a board of directors who then completes the organization of the corporation (including adopting bylaws). Your non-profit corporation must have one or more directors.

You should set up a corporate records binder for your nonprofit to hold important documents such as articles of incorporation, bylaws, and minutes of meetings. For more information, as well as minutes forms, consent forms, and other resolutions, see Nonprofit Meetings, Minutes & Records, by Anthony Mancuso (Nolo).

5. Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN)

An EIN is a unique tax identification number assigned by the IRS. You will use the EIN on your organization's tax returns, tax exemption applications, and other filings with the government. The EIN application is free, and you may submit your application online.

6. Obtain business licenses and permits

You do not need a statewide business license, but you might need one or more other permits or licenses, depending on your nonprofit's location and your services. Check with your local licensing division to determine the requirements for your organization.

7. File status reports

Unlike many states, Mississippi does not require nonprofits to file an annual report. However, the Secretary of State may request periodic status reports, and you can expect to hear from the state at least once every five years. If you fail to file a report when requested, the state may dissolve your organization. The filing fee for the status report is $25 (as of August 2020).

Obtain Your Federal and State Tax Exemptions

Now that you have created your nonprofit corporation, you can obtain your federal and Mississippi state tax exemptions. Here are the steps you must take to obtain your tax-exempt status:

1. File your Form 1023 federal tax exemption application

To obtain federal tax-exempt status from the IRS, you will need to complete and file IRS Form 1023, Application for Recognition of Exemption Under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This long and detailed form asks for lots of information about your organization, including its history, finances, organizational structure, governance policies, operations, activities, and more. For line-by-line instructions on how to complete the Form 1023, see How to Form a Nonprofit Corporation, by Anthony Mancuso (Nolo).

Smaller nonprofits may be eligible to file Form 1023-EZ, Streamlined Application for Recognition of Exemption under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. This is a much simpler, shorter form that is filed online. Only smaller nonprofits--those with projected annual gross receipts of less than $50,000 and total assets of less than $250,000--are eligible to use the streamlined 1023-EZ application.

See the IRS website for more information on the Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ filing requirements.

2. Obtain your Mississippi state tax exemptions

Once you have your federal tax exemption, you are automatically exempt from Mississippi state income tax. Check with Mississippi's Department of Revenue for filing requirements and to see whether you qualify for any other state tax exemptions, like sales tax or property taxes.

3. Other state reporting and registration requirements

Depending on your activities and the size of your organization, you may need to register with the Mississippi Attorney General before doing any fundraising activities. Check with Mississippi's Attorney General website for additional rules. For more information about fundraising registration requirements, see Nonprofit Fundraising Registration: The 50-State Guide, by Ronald Barrett and Stephen Fishman (Nolo).