Nonprofit 501(c) Applications
501(c)(3) Application Help: Form 1023 and 1023-EZ
We prepare your application for federal tax-exempt status, check your documents against IRS requirements, and walk you through filing, so your nonprofit can accept tax-deductible donations.
Pricing
One flat service fee
Public Charity
501(c)(3) public charity
$850 service fee
IRS fee: $600 (Form 1023) or $275 (Form 1023-EZ)
Private Foundation
501(c)(3) private foundation
$1,100 service fee
IRS fee: $600 (full Form 1023 required)
The IRS user fee is paid directly to the IRS when your application is submitted. It is not collected by Compliance Watchers.
Which form?
Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ?
Form 1023-EZ ($275 IRS fee) is a short form for small organizations. Generally you qualify if you project $50,000 or less in annual gross receipts for each of the next three years, had $50,000 or less in each of the past three, and hold $250,000 or less in total assets. Churches, schools, hospitals, private operating foundations and LLCs can't use it, whatever their size.
Form 1023 ($600 IRS fee) is the full application for everyone else, including all private foundations. It asks for a detailed narrative of your programs, three to four years of financial data or projections, and governance and compensation details. That narrative is where most applications succeed or stall.
Both are filed online at Pay.gov. In 2026 the IRS reported deciding 80% of 1023-EZ applications within 22 days and 80% of full Form 1023 applications within 191 days.
What's included
What we handle for you
- Eligibility check: Form 1023 or Form 1023-EZ
- Review of articles for exempt-purpose and dissolution clauses
- Bylaws and governance review
- EIN application if you don't have one yet
- Program narrative and financial sections prepared
- A dedicated specialist and online status tracking
How it works
From documents to determination letter
- 1
Choose your type
Public charity or private foundation.
- 2
Upload documents
Follow the checklist in your client portal.
- 3
We prepare the application
Your specialist drafts and reviews every section.
- 4
File with the IRS
Submit, pay the IRS fee, and we track it to a decision.
FAQ
501(c)(3) application questions
What is the difference between Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ?
Form 1023-EZ is a shorter application for smaller organizations, generally those projecting no more than $50,000 in annual gross receipts and holding no more than $250,000 in total assets. Everyone else, including all private foundations, files the full Form 1023. We confirm which form you qualify for before preparing anything.
How much does it cost?
Our service fee is $850 for a public charity and $1,100 for a private foundation. The IRS also charges its own user fee ($600 for Form 1023 or $275 for Form 1023-EZ), which you pay directly to the IRS when the application is submitted.
What documents do I need?
You will need your filed articles of incorporation (with an exempt-purpose clause and a dissolution clause), bylaws, an EIN, financial statements or a three-year projected budget, a description of your programs, and information about officer and director compensation. A conflict of interest policy is strongly recommended. Your client portal shows a checklist tailored to your organization type.
Do I need an EIN before applying?
Yes. The IRS requires an Employer Identification Number before you can apply. If you don't have one yet, we can obtain it for you.
Do I need to incorporate first?
Most applicants are nonprofit corporations, so you will usually need articles of incorporation filed with your state first. If you haven't formed your organization yet, our business registration service can form your nonprofit corporation.
How long does IRS approval take?
The IRS sets processing times and posts current figures online. In 2026 it reported deciding 80% of Form 1023-EZ applications within 22 days and 80% of full Form 1023 applications within 191 days, roughly six months. Applications that need follow-up questions take longer, which is why a complete, well-prepared application matters.
Can I file Form 1023 online?
Yes. Form 1023 and Form 1023-EZ can only be filed electronically, through Pay.gov, and the IRS user fee is paid there at the same time. We prepare the application and walk you through submitting and paying.
What happens if I file more than 27 months after forming?
If you apply within 27 months of forming, your exemption is generally retroactive to your formation date. Applying later can mean the exemption only starts when you applied, which can cause tax problems for donations received in between. If you're near that deadline, tell us when you start.
Want the full picture first? Read our step-by-step guide to Form 1023 and 1023-EZ and what 501(c)(3) status really costs.
Need to form your nonprofit first? See business and nonprofit registration. Already approved and fundraising in several states? You may also need charitable solicitation registration.
Ready to apply for tax-exempt status?
Start your application and get a document checklist tailored to your organization.
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