Wednesday, January 26, 2011

PA Decennial Filing for Nonprofits: Do You Need to File?

Decennial Filing with the PA Department of State will ensure protection of the corporate name.

The next Decennial Filing may be made any time from January 1, 2011 through December 31, 2011. A Decennial Filing is required ONLY IF the corporation has not made a new or amended filing with the Corporation Bureau of the Department of State in the 10-year time period from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2011.

If the nonprofit corporation has filed an "Annual Statement" with the PA Department of State, within the 10-year period from January 1, 2002 through December 31, 2011, then it is not necessary for it to file a 2011 Decennial Filing. The advantage is that there is no cost to filing an Annual Statement, whereas the fee for the Decennial Report is $70. An Annual Statement is required whenever a nonprofit corporation changes Officers. This has been a long standing requirement that not many organizations have adhered to in the past.

PANO is now encouraging all nonprofit corporations to file that report the next time you change Officers of the Corporation. That way the PA Department of State has indication that the organization is active and the 2011 Decennial Filing will not be needed if an "Annual Statement" has been filed between January 1, 2002 and December 31, 2011.

Below is the information that is contained in the Standards for Excellence Legal Checklist regarding the Annual Statement filing:

Description: Form DSCB: 15-5110 Annual Statement - Nonprofit Corporation

Nonprofits must file annual reports only if there has been a change in corporate officers during preceding calendar year. (*No fee is required for this filing)

From the PA Association of Nonprofit Organizations

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