Registration under Florida's Solicitation of Contributions Act, the audit and review thresholds, the Sunbiz annual report, Form 990 and state tax exemption, with deadlines calculated for your fiscal year.
A few quick questions. Your requirements update instantly below.
With contributions under $500,000, an audit, review or compilation is optional.
Florida's test uses contributions, not total revenue. Program service fees and investment income don't count.
Florida nonprofit corporations file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1 ($61.25). Details →
File the full Form 990 with the schedules that apply (public support, compensation, related organizations). Details →
If you have $1,000 or more of gross income from a trade or business that isn't substantially related to your mission (such as advertising, certain rentals or retail), file Form 990-T and pay tax on the net income. Details →
Register before soliciting and renew annually, before the registration expires. Details →
Apply to the Florida Department of Revenue (Form DR-5) for a certificate that exempts your purchases from sales tax. Details →
Nonprofit employers withhold state income tax where the state has one and file quarterly wage reports. Details →
Charities that solicit in Florida register with the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services (FDACS) and renew every year.
Register before soliciting and renew annually, before the registration expires. Fees range from $10 to $400 based on contributions. The renewal includes your financial statement or Form 990 for the prior fiscal year. Late filing suspends the registration.
Florida nonprofit corporations file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1 ($61.25). Nonprofits don't pay the $400 late fee, but the state can dissolve corporations that don't file.
What Florida requires is often less than what your funders, lenders or federal awards require. Check all three.
Under $500,000: no CPA report required. $500,000 to under $1 million: reviewed or audited statements. $1 million or more: audited statements. Organizations filing Form 990 with $500,000 or more in contributions must have it prepared by a CPA or other qualified professional.
Organizations that spend $1,000,000 or more in federal awards in a fiscal year (for fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2024) need a Single Audit under the Uniform Guidance. It is due to the Federal Audit Clearinghouse within 30 days of the auditor's report or 9 months after year-end, whichever is earlier. Federal funds passed through a state or county agency count.
Foundation grants, government contracts, bank loans and United Way-type funders often require audited or reviewed statements regardless of state law. Read each agreement and plan the engagement level to the strictest one.
Every document your auditor will ask for, plus Florida's registration and threshold rules, on two printable pages.
Every tax-exempt organization files an annual federal information return, and the form depends on your size.
File the full Form 990 with the schedules that apply (public support, compensation, related organizations). It is due the 15th day of the 5th month after year-end, with an automatic 6-month extension on Form 8868 (not available for the 990-N). Three years of missed filings revoke exemption automatically.
If you have $1,000 or more of gross income from a trade or business that isn't substantially related to your mission (such as advertising, certain rentals or retail), file Form 990-T and pay tax on the net income. States generally tax it too.
Florida has no income tax on most nonprofits, but sales tax exemption requires a state certificate.
Apply to the Florida Department of Revenue (Form DR-5) for a certificate that exempts your purchases from sales tax. Certificates are renewed every five years. Sales you make may still be taxable.
Exempt organizations generally don't file Florida corporate income tax returns, except that unrelated business income can be taxable.
Tax-exempt status doesn't exempt you from payroll taxes.
Nonprofit employers withhold state income tax where the state has one and file quarterly wage reports. 501(c)(3) organizations can usually choose between paying state unemployment tax and reimbursing the state for actual claims, which can save money for stable workforces. 501(c)(3)s are exempt from federal unemployment tax (FUTA).
These are the items auditors and reviewers ask for first. Having them ready shortens fieldwork and lowers the fee.
Board and committee minutes for the year, current bylaws, conflict of interest policy with signed annual disclosures, and whistleblower and document retention policies (both are asked about on Form 990).
Donor records reconciled to the general ledger, pledges receivable schedule, grant agreements with conditions and restrictions identified, and in-kind contribution support.
A roll-forward of restricted gifts showing what was received, released and remaining, by purpose and time restriction.
A documented method for allocating salaries and shared costs between program, management and general, and fundraising, consistent with your Form 990 Part IX.
Bank and investment reconciliations, fixed asset additions and depreciation, accrued payroll and vacation, deferred revenue, and loan statements at year-end.
$1 million or more in annual contributions requires an audit. $500,000 to under $1 million requires a review or audit.
No. Florida's test is based on contributions, not total revenue.
Every year, before your current registration expires. Late renewal suspends the registration.
Download the Nonprofit Audit Readiness Checklist (PDF).
Greywood CPA audits and reviews nonprofits with fixed, transparent pricing and senior-level attention on every engagement.
See our Florida servicesThis guide is general information as of October 2026 and is not legal or tax advice. Thresholds and filing rules change. Your funders, lenders and governing documents may require more than state law. Confirm your obligations with a CPA or attorney.