This is the quick reference. For the full step-by-step walkthrough, read How to Register Your Nonprofit in Your State and Get a Free EIN.
The sequence matters: state entity first, EIN second, governance records next, IRS exemption after the file is coherent.
Short answer: Confirm name, registered agent, filed articles, EIN, bylaws, minutes, and then federal exemption path.
Formation sequence
- Choose the legal name and check state availability.
- File nonprofit articles with the state.
- Save the filed articles and confirmation.
- Apply for the EIN using the exact legal name.
- Adopt bylaws and first minutes.
- Prepare the IRS exemption application.
- Check state charity registration before fundraising.
A typical case
The founder wants the EIN today because the bank asked for it. If the articles are not filed yet, the cleaner move is to finish the state record first so the EIN, bank account, and IRS file all use the same legal identity.
What founders usually miss
Out-of-order filings create name and authority mismatches.
A practical founder test is simple: if you cannot point to the source rule, the signed record, or the funder instruction, pause before submitting. That pause is cheaper than correcting a public filing, a rejected application, or a board record nobody trusts.
What to prepare
- State filing confirmation
- Exact legal name
- Registered agent information
- EIN confirmation after formation
- Governance records for the IRS file
Costs and order of operations
- EIN: An EIN is free directly from the IRS; an organization may not file Form 1023 without an EIN; the IRS online EIN tool can issue an EIN in minutes when approved. Source: primary source, verified 2026-07-29.
- IRS user fees: Form 1023 user fee $600; Form 1023-EZ user fee $275; paid through Pay.gov; fees subject to change. Source: primary source, verified 2026-07-29.
Before you move on
Before moving from state filing to EIN and IRS work, compare the legal name across every document. Name drift is one of the easiest problems to prevent and one of the most annoying to clean up.
When Lurex fits
This is a natural fit for Lurex Consulting LLC’s State Setup and EIN service when you have the basic facts but want the document, review, or workflow turned into something organized enough to use.
Lurex Consulting LLC is a document-preparation and educational-support service, not a law firm or CPA firm. It does not provide legal or tax advice. If your facts involve private benefit, unusual compensation, contested control, political activity, or a legal interpretation, use a qualified attorney or tax professional for that part of the decision.
Related articles
- Nonprofit EIN: Free IRS Application Steps for 2026
- Nonprofit Articles of Incorporation: What Matters Now
Reviewed and updated: July 29, 2026.