Starting Up My Own Non Profit Corporation  Updated 05/4/2011

QUESTION:  DO I HAVE TO FORM A NON PROFIT CORPORATION?   I HAVE BEEN  COORDINATING MY TEN YEAR CLASS REUNION. WITH ANY REUNION THERE IS GOING TO BE MONEY INVOLVED.

 However, if you do form a  reunion for every year, form a non profit corporation.  Then, all non profit corporations also need a federal tax  id number.    Non profit corporations are a creation of the state.  I.e., they are state created legal person / entities and thus are governed and regulated by the state.  The federal government,however, gives you the non profit exemption for federal taxes.  Thus, you need to first incorporate at the state level, then obtain a federal tax id number, then obtain state tax exempt status from the state by applying at the state level, and finally, apply and get the federal tax exempt status.

  IN ORDER FOR ME TO COLLECT AND SAVE THE MONEY I NEED TO OPEN A SAVINGS ACCOUNT. I DONT WANT TO USE MY PERSONAL ACCOUNT FOR ETHICAL REASONS. IN ORDER TO GET A BUSINESS ORGANIZATION BANK ACCOUNT I NEED A TAX ID NUMBER.

I HAD HEARD FROM MY FRIEND WHO ALSO PLANNED HER REUNION THAT I COULD GET ONE FOR FREE ONLINE. THEN GO TO THE BANK AND OPEN THE ACCOUNT. I AM NOT SELLING ANYTHING OR HIRING ANY PEOLE. THIS ACCOUNT IS FOR PURCHASING THE DIFFERENT ITEMS FOR THE REUNION ONLY WITH MONEY COLLECTED FROM MY CLASSMATES AND MYSELF. THE NAME OF MY SCHOOL IS SAINT URSULA ACADEMY IN TOLEDO, OHIO. I AM  CLASS OF 2000.

ANSWER:  YES YOU NEED A FEDERAL TAX ID NUMBER.

Since you are a non profit corporation, you need a federal tax id number application form and  a business license application form to apply and get all your required licenses ... and you are right, a non profit corporation can be used for public benefit as well as for religious purposes.  Here, you can register it...you can do this on this website. We understand what you need to form a non profit and have all the non profit  license application forms you need to start your business legally. You case is easy because you are not employing any workers and you don't sell any taxable merchandise that requires some type of tax id to report and pay taxes. With that in mind, you need to apply for a fictitious business name. Then, because all  non profit  business licenses are required to register for business taxes, you need to apply and get a business license. The trade name registration is required because you are using a fictitious business name. 

 To get it, you need to know that it is also called a federal registration, state professional license or tax registration, county premises inspection and licensing or municipal tax registration or permit as well as a business personal property tax on your business equipment. Other than that, you will need to file a DBA and register your business trade name if you use a  non profit  fictitious business name doing business as (DBA) as your trade name. If you decide to be a partnership, you must identify it to the IRfor a non profit corporation, it is not an S corporation nor a C corporation though it has the same  with a business tax id number and that is a federal tax id number and you can, also, use it instead of you social security number to open a bank account. Finally, do it right right from the start. Get an LLC formation or Incorporate here online. Since you need to to register  non profit  a fictitious business name because you use a trade name to operate and or promote your business, you need a fictitious business name registration. Instead of registering a fictitious business name, you can simply incorporate or form and LLC. The latter two, namely a non profit and a corporation, protect your from lawsuits vs your personal assets such as your house, automobile and other precious personal property or real estate you might own. 

 A  non profit   can be applied for and formed right here online  as well as get a DBA registration which is required for your use of a trade name but does nothing to protect your personal assets nor does it protect the name that is registered. An LLC or Corporation at least protect the name at the state lever. I.e., other LLCs or Corporation cannot use your business name.  A  non profit  Fictitious business name does not protect your trade name against others who want to use in commerce. You can apply and get all licenses on this website. We have the lowest  non profit  corporation prices in the industry and we are quick and professional.

 The  non profit  purpose is to protect the public from fly by night companies that hide behind a DBA ( doing business as) to collect money and disappear. So the answer to the question above is that because you don't have any employees, and you are not dealing or selling any products or merchandise that requires the collections of sales tax, you only need a couple of business permits and tax ids to start. For example, you need to get a  non profit  business license, also called a home occupation permit or simply a business occupational tax license. The business license is almost always required by at least one level of government whether that is the federal, state, county or city government. I

 The price for non profit starts at  $199 and includes all fees plus the non profit bylaws of the corporation.