At a Glance

Pennsylvania nonprofits must now file annual reports starting January 1, 2025, replacing the previous decennial (ten-year) reporting system. Nonprofit corporations must file between January 1 and June 30 each year at no cost. Missing this deadline after the grace period ends in 2027 could result in administrative dissolution and loss of your organization’s name.

Introduction

Staying compliant with Pennsylvania’s nonprofit regulations might not be the most thrilling part of running your organization, but it’s absolutely critical to your survival. The Keystone State has specific deadlines and procedures you must follow to maintain your nonprofit status, and these requirements are changing significantly in 2025.

Understanding these filing obligations saves you from potential headaches down the road. From state regulatory submissions to tax requirements, each filing serves a purpose in keeping your nonprofit legally operational. Missing these deadlines isn’t just about paperwork—it could mean administrative dissolution and losing your organization’s name.

In this comprehensive guide, you’ll discover everything you need to know about maintaining your Pennsylvania nonprofit’s good standing. We’ll walk you through the new annual filing requirements, key deadlines, and a step-by-step process to complete your filings successfully. Let’s ensure your nonprofit continues its important work without interruption!

Understanding the New Annual Filing Requirement

What changed in 2025

This new requirement stems from Act 122 of 2022, signed into law in November 2022. Previously, Pennsylvania only required decennial reports (once every ten years), unlike most other states that had annual reporting systems.

Act 122 revamped Pennsylvania’s reporting requirements, establishing a mandatory annual filing for most entities starting January 1, 2025. This change harmonizes Pennsylvania law with widely adopted corporate law models.

The filing fee structure has also been established: nonprofit corporations and any LLCs or LPs with not-for-profit purposes can file at no cost, while for-profit entities must pay $7.00.

Who needs to file

The annual report filing applies to a wide range of organizations, specifically including:

• Domestic nonprofit corporations
• Foreign nonprofit corporations (those formed outside Pennsylvania but operating in the state)
• Domestic and foreign limited liability companies with not-for-profit purposes
• Domestic and foreign limited partnerships with not-for-profit purposes

Essentially, all nonprofit entities formed in or authorized to do business in Pennsylvania must comply with this requirement. This obligation applies regardless of whether the organization’s officers have changed.

For nonprofit corporations, the filing deadline is June 30 each year, as outlined on the Pennsylvania Department of State annual reports page. Newly formed or registered entities in 2025 get a reprieve—they won’t need to file their first annual report until 2026. For organizations handling filings across multiple states, consider establishing a centralized tracking system to monitor varying renewal dates and jurisdiction-specific rules.

How this differs from BCO-10 and CTA filings

This annual report requirement exists separately from other common filings that often cause confusion.

Although nonprofit corporations were already subject to certain annual reporting requirements (BCO-10), the new annual report requirement harmonizes reporting across all entity types. Unlike the BCO-10 charitable solicitation registration, which applies only to organizations that solicit charitable contributions, the annual report applies to all nonprofit corporations regardless of fundraising activities.

Don’t confuse this with the federal Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report. While both provide business information, they differ significantly:

• The Pennsylvania annual report is required by state law, while the CTA BOI report is required by federal law.
• The annual report is filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State (717-787-1057, dos.pa.gov), whereas the BOI report goes to the U.S. Treasury Department’s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN).
• The entities required to file and information collected within these reports differ substantially.

Starting 2027, organizations failing to file this annual report may face administrative dissolution—potentially losing their corporate entity status and name rights.

Key Deadlines and Filing Windows

Meeting the annual filing deadlines is crucial for maintaining your Pennsylvania nonprofit’s legal status. With the new requirements taking effect in 2025, understanding exactly when to file will help you stay compliant and avoid potential penalties.

Deadline for nonprofit corporations

For all nonprofit corporations—both domestic and foreign—the annual report must be filed between January 1 and June 30 each year, per the Pennsylvania Department of State annual reports page. This six-month window provides organizations with sufficient time to gather necessary information and complete their filing obligation.

The Pennsylvania Department of State will send a reminder notice to your registered office address at least two months before your filing deadline. However, don’t rely solely on this reminder—organizations operating across multiple states benefit from centralized deadline tracking to ensure no filing windows are missed.

First-time filers should note that if your nonprofit was newly formed or registered in Pennsylvania during 2025, you won’t need to file your first annual report until 2026. It’s advisable to familiarize yourself with the process ahead of time.

Deadlines for other entity types

Other entity types have different filing deadlines:

Nonprofit corporations (domestic and foreign): January 1 – June 30

Limited liability companies (domestic and foreign): January 1 – September 30

Limited partnerships, LLPs, business trusts, etc.: January 1 – December 31

For nonprofits operating as LLCs with a not-for-profit purpose, your filing is due by September 30 rather than June 30. Similarly, nonprofits structured as limited partnerships or other association types must file by December 31.

Regardless of entity type, the filing fee structure remains consistent—nonprofits pay $0 for their annual report. This applies to nonprofit corporations as well as LLCs or LPs with not-for-profit purposes. When managing annual report requirements across multiple states, we help organize filing details to prevent missed renewals.

Transition period before penalties apply

Given that these annual filing requirements represent a significant change for Pennsylvania entities, the state has established a transition period before enforcing penalties. This grace period allows organizations time to adapt to the new compliance obligations.

During this transition period, beginning in 2025 and continuing through 2026, no administrative dissolution, cancelation, or termination of registration will occur for failing to file. Starting with annual reports due in 2027, entities that fail to file during that calendar year will face consequences six months after the report’s due date, as noted on the Pennsylvania annual reports page.

For nonprofit corporations, this means if you don’t file by June 30, 2027, you could face administrative dissolution approximately six months after the due date. Once dissolved, domestic nonprofits can pursue reinstatement through a specific process, though this involves additional fees and paperwork.

Failure to file could also result in losing the protection of your organization’s name. This could allow another entity to register using your name—a particularly concerning outcome for nonprofits with established community recognition.

The transition period doesn’t mean you should delay compliance. Rather, it provides a safety net as organizations adapt to the new annual filing system. Establishing good filing habits from the beginning will prevent future complications and ensure your nonprofit maintains its good standing.

Step-by-Step Guide to Filing Online

Filing your Pennsylvania nonprofit annual report online is straightforward once you understand the process. The Pennsylvania Department of State strongly recommends online submission as it provides immediate confirmation and automatically populates information, reducing errors and eliminating delays associated with paper filings.

Create or log in to your BFS account

1. Visit https://file.dos.pa.gov and click “Login” in the top right corner (see the Pennsylvania Annual Report Help Guide (PDF)).
2. For existing users: Enter your username and password.
3. For new users: Click “Register” to create a Keystone Login account.

The Business Hub uses Keystone Login. If you already have credentials from another Commonwealth system, use your existing information rather than creating a new account.

Once logged in, you’ll be directed to the PA Business One-Stop Shop welcome page. From there, scroll down and select “Department of State’s Business Filing Services” to access the BFS dashboard.

Search for your organization

1. Type your organization’s name in the search bar and click the search icon.
2. Select your organization from the search results list (it will appear in the blue column on the left).
3. Look at the panel that opens on the right and click the “File Annual Report” button.

No PIN access is required specifically for filing an annual report, making the process more accessible for organizational representatives.

Complete and submit the form

The annual report form will open with information already on file for your organization. Much of this data will be pre-populated to save time and reduce errors. You should have ready:

• Business name
• Jurisdiction of formation
• Registered office address
• Principal office address
• Name of at least one governor (director, member, partner, etc.)
• Names and titles of principal officers
• Entity number issued by the PA Department of State

To receive email notifications about annual reports, include at least one valid email address during the filing process (see the Pennsylvania Annual Report Help Guide).

Review all information carefully, then proceed through the form sections. For nonprofit organizations, there is no filing fee—the system will display $0.00 as the processing fee.

After submission, your annual report will be automatically processed, and you can immediately download the approved filing. You’ll receive an email with instructions on accessing your filed document under “My Work Queue” in the BFS portal.

What to do if your report was already filed

1. Search for your entity by name at https://file.dos.pa.gov/search/business
2. Click on your nonprofit’s name in the search results.
3. Look at the column with details that appears on the right.

If the report has not been filed, you’ll see a “File Annual Report” button at the top left of the gray section. If the form has been filed, you’ll see the annual form listed as a filed document when clicking on the “View History” button at the bottom left of the gray section.

The entity details will show the Annual Report due date—either the current year (if not yet filed) or the next year (if already filed). Should you discover errors in your submitted report, you can update information any time after filing until the end of the calendar year in which the annual report was filed. The update will be listed as an amendment, and you must request access to the entity using the PIN process to file an Annual Report Update.

Information You’ll Need to File

To prepare for your nonprofit annual filing, gathering all required information beforehand saves time and prevents submission delays. The Pennsylvania annual report form requires specific details about your organization, and having these ready streamlines the entire process. For nonprofits managing compliance across multiple states, maintaining current records in a centralized system helps ensure accuracy when updating information during filing.

Business and office addresses

You’ll need accurate address information for your organization:

• Your registered office address (where official notices should be sent)
• Principal office address (your main operating location)
• Mailing address (if different from your registered office)

These addresses must be current in your filing. Any discrepancies could delay processing or cause important notices to be misdirected. The system allows you to update these addresses during filing if changes have occurred since your last submission. When managing registered agent information across multiple states, we help coordinate address updates and ensure all filings reflect current information.

Names and titles of officers

Prepare a complete list of your organization’s principal officers, including:

• President or equivalent role
• Secretary
• Treasurer
• Other key officers specific to your organization

For each officer, you’ll need their full legal name and current title. Officer information must be current as of the filing date—not projected future appointments. This information helps the state maintain accurate records of who holds authority positions within your nonprofit.

Entity number and jurisdiction

Two critical identifiers you’ll need:

1. Your entity number issued by the PA Department of State (found on prior filings)
2. Your jurisdiction of formation (whether Pennsylvania or another state/country)

The entity number serves as your organization’s unique identifier within the Pennsylvania system. If you’re a foreign nonprofit, you’ll also need documentation regarding your original jurisdiction of formation.

Governor/director information

The annual filing requires information about at least one governor—typically a board member, director, or other individual with governance authority. You’ll need:

• Full legal name
• Title/position
• Business address

For organizations with extensive boards, you’re only required to list a minimum of one governor, though you may include additional members. This information helps establish the chain of governance and accountability for your nonprofit.

Collecting this information in advance ensures your annual filing proceeds smoothly, helping maintain your nonprofit’s good standing with minimal hassle.

What Happens If You Don’t File

Failing to meet your nonprofit annual filing requirements carries serious consequences that extend beyond simple paperwork violations. Understanding these ramifications helps emphasize why compliance matters.

Administrative dissolution and name loss

Following the transition period ending in 2026, entities missing their annual filings face administrative dissolution six months after their report’s due date. For nonprofit corporations, this means potential dissolution approximately six months after the June 30, 2027 deadline if no filing is made. Once dissolved, your organization loses its legal standing and protection of its name—enabling other entities to potentially register using your organization’s former name.

Reinstatement process for domestic nonprofits

Domestic nonprofit corporations have a pathway back from administrative dissolution. To reinstate, you must file an Application for Reinstatement form with the Pennsylvania Department of State and pay the associated fee. The reinstatement filing requires current information about your organization’s registered office, officers, and directors. Upon approval, your nonprofit regains its legal status and continues operating under its original incorporation date.

No reinstatement for foreign entities

Foreign nonprofits face a more severe outcome—they cannot reinstate after administrative dissolution. Instead, these organizations must completely re-register with Pennsylvania authorities under a new name if their original name has been claimed by another entity. This process requires establishing your organization’s presence in Pennsylvania from scratch, including appointing a new registered agent and filing all initial registration paperwork.

Frequently Asked Questions

Conclusion

Staying compliant with Pennsylvania’s nonprofit annual filing requirements remains essential for your organization’s continued operation. Understanding these new changes taking effect in 2025 should be a top priority. Gone are the days of decennial reporting as Pennsylvania now aligns with other states through mandatory annual filings.

Mark June 30th on your calendar if you operate a nonprofit corporation. This deadline represents your annual filing window closure, while different deadlines apply to nonprofits structured as LLCs (September 30th) or LPs (December 31st). Although the transition period provides some breathing room through 2026, establishing good compliance habits now will prevent future complications.

Filing online offers the simplest path forward. Through the Business Filing Services platform, you can quickly access pre-populated forms and submit required information about your organization’s address, officers, and governance structure. The straightforward process costs nothing for nonprofit entities, yet delivers immediate confirmation of your compliance status.

Failure to meet these requirements after the grace period ends could result in administrative dissolution—effectively ending your organization’s legal existence and potentially surrendering your name to other entities. Domestic nonprofits can pursue reinstatement, albeit with additional fees and paperwork, while foreign entities face complete re-registration requirements.

These annual filings serve a purpose beyond mere bureaucracy. They ensure transparency, maintain accurate public records, and validate your nonprofit’s continued operation. By understanding and fulfilling these obligations promptly, you safeguard your organization’s mission and legal standing for years to come.