How to Incorporate Your Church
- 1). Write your articles of incorporation. This is a document which designates the purpose of your church, the governing members, and basic information such as the mailing address and length of incorporation. See the Resources section below for a link to odel Articles of Incorporation for a church.
- 2). File for incorporation through your Secretary of State's office. Though the procedure varies a bit from state to state, it generally consists of submitting the articles of incorporation along with a fee, usually of $100 to $200, to your Secretary of State's office.
- 3). Register for federal tax-exempt status with the IRS. Religious organizations are eligible for tax-exempt status as a 501(c)3 organization. To obtain this status, you will need to fill out and submit form 1023. Publication 557 from the IRS provides detailed instructions. See Resources below.
- 4). Get an Employer Identification Number from the IRS. An employer identification number is used by the IRS to identify your church as a business entity and is necessary to hire employees, whether part-time or full-time. You can apply for an EIN online through the IRS website. See Resources below for a link.
- 5). File for state and local tax exemptions. Federal tax-exempt status does not guarantee exclusion from state and local taxes. Contact your Secretary of State's office and your local city or county government to obtain the necessary forms to be considered a non-profit, or tax-exempt, organization at the state and local levels.
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