Guides  /  Florida Nonprofit Guide

Florida Nonprofit Guide

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.

Last reviewed: October 2026  ·  Reviewed by Greywood CPA

What applies to your organization?

A few quick questions. Your requirements update instantly below.

Required by Florida (s. 496.407)
No CPA report

With contributions under $500,000, an audit, review or compilation is optional.

None required
Compilation
Review
Audit

Florida's test uses contributions, not total revenue. Program service fees and investment income don't count.

Your requirements and deadlines

6 items · December year-end
May
3
2027

Sunbiz annual report

Florida nonprofit corporations file an annual report with the Division of Corporations between January 1 and May 1 ($61.25). Details →

May
17
2027

Annual Form 990 return

File the full Form 990 with the schedules that apply (public support, compensation, related organizations). Details →

May
17
2027

Unrelated business income (Form 990-T)

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 →

Ongoing
Annually

Charitable organization registration (FDACS)

Register before soliciting and renew annually, before the registration expires. Details →

Ongoing
Renew every 5 years

Consumer's Certificate of Exemption (DR-14)

Apply to the Florida Department of Revenue (Form DR-5) for a certificate that exempts your purchases from sales tax. Details →

Ongoing
Quarterly

State withholding and unemployment

Nonprofit employers withhold state income tax where the state has one and file quarterly wage reports. Details →

Dates are original due dates, moved to the next business day if they fall on a weekend. Extensions may be available. Your governing documents or funders can require more than the law does. Email me the checklist

State registration

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.

When: Annually · before it expires

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.

Next due: May 3, 2027  ·  May 1 each year

Audit & financial statement requirements

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.

Next due: September 30, 2027  ·  last day of the 9th month after year-end

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.

Free download: Nonprofit Audit Readiness Checklist

Every document your auditor will ask for, plus Florida's registration and threshold rules, on two printable pages.

Get the checklist

Federal Form 990

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.

Next due: May 17, 2027  ·  15th day of the 5th month after year-end

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.

Next due: May 17, 2027  ·  15th day of the 5th month after year-end

State tax exemptions

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.

When: Renew every 5 years

Exempt organizations generally don't file Florida corporate income tax returns, except that unrelated business income can be taxable.

Payroll & employment

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).

When: Quarterly

Audit readiness

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.

FAQs

$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.

Get ready before your accountant asks

Download the Nonprofit Audit Readiness Checklist (PDF).

Download free

Need an audit or review in Florida?

Greywood CPA audits and reviews nonprofits with fixed, transparent pricing and senior-level attention on every engagement.

See our Florida services

This 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.