Start with the Illinois filing route
The Attorney General's registration page lists Form CO-1 as the charitable organization registration statement and Form CO-2 as the financial information form used with registration when applicable. Form CO-3 is the religious-exemption form. The office is transitioning to online filing, so verify the live portal and current instructions before assembling the package.
1. Confirm scope
Document Illinois fundraising activity, entity facts, prior registration history, and any exemption question.
2. Build the package
Use the current CO-1 instructions to identify forms, attachments, signatures, and the fee.
3. Track acceptance
Save the submission, payment, regulator messages, registration number, and first AG990-IL date.
Illinois registration packet checklist
Use the current CO-1 and its instructions as the controlling checklist. The form identifies organizational records and financial information that may be needed and requires signatures from two different authorized people for a corporate charitable organization. Facts vary by entity type and operating history, so do not treat this summary as a substitute for the form.
| Packet area | Prepare | Quality check |
|---|---|---|
| Identity | Legal name, other names, FEIN, address, fiscal year, and contact | Names agree across every document |
| Formation | Applicable articles or certificate, amendments, bylaws, constitution, or trust instrument | Current, complete, and legible copies |
| Tax status | IRS determination information and applicable federal return history | Entity and reporting periods match |
| Financials | CO-2 or prior AG990-IL material when the instructions require it | Amounts reconcile to source records |
| Fundraising | Professional fundraiser details, contracts, and campaign information when applicable | Names and dates match the solicitation plan |
| Approval | Required officer or trustee signatures and the $15 registration fee | Signer roles and payment proof are saved |
Do not lose the annual-report handoff
Registration begins an ongoing reporting cycle. The current AG990-IL instructions state that a complete annual financial report is due within six months after fiscal year end and is not considered filed unless the required form, attachments, and applicable fees are complete. The instructions also address federal-return attachments, financial-statement thresholds, fundraiser campaign reports, signatures, extensions, and late-report fees. Calendar the first annual report when the registration package is prepared—not after approval arrives.
Completion control
A portal submission or mailed package is not the same as an accepted filing. Keep the exact submitted documents, proof of payment, delivery or confirmation record, deficiency messages, response dates, final status, and the next due date together.
Official Illinois sources
Illinois registration FAQ
What form starts Illinois charity registration?
The Illinois Attorney General lists Form CO-1 as the registration statement for charitable organizations. Review the current instructions for supporting forms, attachments, signatures, and filing method.
What is the listed Illinois registration fee?
The Attorney General's current registration page lists a $15 registration fee payable to the Illinois Charity Bureau Fund. Verify the live page before payment.
When is the Illinois annual report due?
The current AG990-IL instructions state that the complete annual financial report is due within six months after the organization's fiscal year end.
Does federal tax-exempt status complete Illinois registration?
No. Federal recognition and Illinois charity registration are separate processes. Use the Illinois Attorney General's current forms and instructions for the state filing.