Mississippi Charitable Organization Registration and Renewal
Mississippi at a glance
- Registration
- Required, unless an exemption applies. Secretary of State, Charities Division handles it. Source
- Filing
- Online Registration Statement. Source
- Renewal
- Your renewal is due the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year end. Source
- Renewal fee
- $50. Source
- Extension
- Available; the deadline section says how. Source
- Exemptions
- 9 listed, each quoted. Source
Every deadline, fee and exemption quotes its source and links to it.
Overview
- Regulatory Agency
- Secretary of State, Charities Division
- Registration Required
- Yes
Track your Mississippi deadlines automatically
Your Mississippi renewal is due the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year end. CharityFile emails reminders before that date. Reminders need a paid plan or a live trial. Initial registration is due prior to any solicitation of contributions.
Track My Mississippi Filings →Fee Schedule
| Applies to | Fee |
|---|---|
| All organizations | $50 |
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“paying the Fifty Dollar ($50.00) renewal fee on or before the fifteenth day of the fifth month following the close of the charitable organization’s taxable year.”
Annual filing
Your renewal is due the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year end
Extension. The Charities Division allows extensions for the same time-frame as the IRS. The request must be filed online before the due date; it is not automatic.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 16, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Extension requests must be filed online with the Charities Division using the online filing system.”
Required Documents
Online Registration Statement. Forms and instructions: Agency page
- Registration Statement
For the initial registration and the renewal
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“In order to apply for registration as a Charitable Organization pursuant to §79-11-503 of the Act, the following must be submitted to the Division: (A) Online Registration Statement;”
- IRS Form 990, 990-EZ or 990-N
For the initial registration and the renewal
When: Organization is required to file IRS forms for its most recent fiscal year end
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“The financial statement shall be accompanied by any and all forms required to be filed by a charitable organization with the United States Internal Revenue Service for the organization's most recent fiscal year end.”
Exemptions
- Community chest allocated
Any charitable organization receiving an allocation from an incorporated…
Threshold: $25,000 (contributions)
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Any charitable organization receiving an allocation from an incorporated community chest or united fund, provided such chest or fund is complying with the provisions of Sections 79-11-501 through 79-11-529”
- Discretionary SOS
Any other organization which the Secretary of State by rule or order exempts…
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Any other organization which the Secretary of State by rule or order exempts from the registration requirements of this chapter upon finding that (i) such registration is neither necessary in the public interest nor for the protection of contributors, or (ii) such exemption shall further the objectives of compatibility with uniformity among the states.”
- Educational
All educational institutions that are recognized by the State Board of…
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“All educational institutions that are recognized by the State Board of Education or that are accredited by a regional accrediting association or by an organization affiliated with the National Commission on Accrediting, any foundation having an established identity with any of the aforementioned educational institutions”
- Humane society estray
Any humane society organized under the laws of Mississippi which receives not…
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Any humane society organized under the laws of Mississippi which receives not less than fifty percent (50%) of its annual funding from contracts with counties or municipalities for the care and keeping of estrays”
- Membership only
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Fraternal, patriotic, social, educational, alumni organizations and historical societies when solicitation of contributions is made solely by their membership”
- Named individual relief
Persons requesting any contributions for the relief or benefit of any individual
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“Persons requesting any contributions for the relief or benefit of any individual, specified by name at the time of the solicitation, if the contributions collected are turned over to the named beneficiary”
- Religious institution excluded
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
““Charitable organization” does not include any bona fide duly constituted religious institutions and such separate groups or corporations which form an integral part of religious institutions, provided that:”
- Small organization
Threshold: $25,000 (contributions)
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“($25,000.00) during any twelve-month period ending June 30 of any year or on such other date as prescribed by rule, provided all of its fundraising functions are carried on by persons who are unpaid for such services.”
- Volunteer fire rescue
All volunteer fire departments or rescue units
This exemption still requires a filing.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“All volunteer fire departments or rescue units, rural or otherwise, chartered under the laws and statutes of the State of Mississippi as nonprofit corporations”
Enforcement in Mississippi
Penalties
Any person who knowingly and willingly violates the provisions of Sections 79-11-501 through 79-11-527 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year or both. In connection with any solicitation, any person employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud; or engaging in any act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person, or obtaining money or property by means of any false pretense, representation or promise shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both.
Source: Miss. Code § 79-11-529 · verified September 23, 2026 (23 days ago) · send source
“Any person who knowingly and willingly violates the provisions of Sections 79-11-501 through 79-11-527 shall be guilty of a misdemeanor and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Two Thousand Dollars ($2,000.00) or by imprisonment in the county jail for not more than one (1) year or both. In connection with any solicitation, any person employing a device, scheme or artifice to defraud; or engaging in any act, practice or course of business which operates or would operate as a fraud or deceit upon any person, or obtaining money or property by means of any false pretense, representation or promise shall be guilty of a felony and, upon conviction, shall be punished by a fine not exceeding Twenty-five Thousand Dollars ($25,000.00) or imprisoned not more than five (5) years, or both.”
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Mississippi require charitable solicitation registration?
Yes. Mississippi requires charitable organizations, as its statute defines them, to register. The Secretary of State, Charities Division handles registration.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“prior to any solicitation of contributions, every charitable organization as defined in Section 79-11-501 which solicits or intends to solicit contributions by any means whatsoever shall file a registration statement with, and pay a filing fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) to, the Secretary of State.”
How much does Mississippi charitable registration cost?
The initial registration fee is $50. The annual filing fee in Mississippi is $50.
Source: sos.ms.gov · verified September 15, 2026 (1 mo ago) · send source
“pay a filing fee of Fifty Dollars ($50.00) to, the Secretary of State.”
When is the Mississippi charitable registration filing deadline?
In Mississippi, your renewal is due the 15th day of the 5th month after your fiscal year end. Initial registration is due prior to any solicitation of contributions. Extension. The Charities Division allows extensions for the same time-frame as the IRS. The request must be filed online before the due date; it is not automatic.
What documents are required for Mississippi charitable registration renewal?
The primary form is Online Registration Statement. Forms and instructions: https://www.sos.ms.gov/charities
Are there any exemptions from Mississippi charitable registration?
Yes. This guide cites these Mississippi exemptions:
- Community chest allocated
- Discretionary SOS
- Educational
- Humane society estray
- Membership only
- Named individual relief
- Religious institution excluded
- Small organization
- Volunteer fire rescue
- Whether an exemption applies depends on your facts. Read the quoted source above.
Where do I file Mississippi charitable registration?
Filings go to the Secretary of State, Charities Division; the agency page names the current method.
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