Official filing path reviewed August 22, 2026
Pennsylvania registration starts with the BCO-10
The Pennsylvania Department of State says organizations soliciting charitable contributions from Pennsylvania residents generally must register with the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations by filing Form BCO-10 unless an exclusion or exemption applies. The form is used for both initial registration and renewal. Do not treat federal tax exemption as automatic proof of a Pennsylvania solicitation-registration exemption.
Timing rule to put on the decision sheet
Current BCO-10 instructions state that initial registration is required before a compensated person solicits for the organization, or within 30 days after the organization receives more than $25,000 in gross contributions if no person is compensated to solicit. Exclusion and exemption facts can change the analysis, so confirm the organization's facts against the official chart before relying on this threshold.
File the BCO-10 through Pennsylvania’s Charities System
The Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations currently accepts initial and renewal BCO-10 applications through its online Charities System. Its tutorials route filers through a Keystone Login account, entity linking, and the applicable online application.
- Create or use the organization’s Keystone Login account.
- Link the charity to the filing dashboard before opening the application.
- Choose the initial-registration workflow, then complete the BCO-10 information for the correct fiscal year.
- Submit the required documents and fee, save the confirmation, and monitor the account for a deficiency or approval notice.
Use the Department’s online filing tutorials while preparing the submission; the state separates initial and renewal instructions.
The current registration forms page says the online system accepts BCO-10, BCO-2, and Institutions of Purely Public Charity forms. Other charity-related forms may still require mail filing, so confirm the delivery method for every item in the packet.
Build the filing packet before opening the workflow
A filing-ready Pennsylvania packet usually needs more than the registration statement. The Department of State identifies the following core records:
- A complete, signed Form BCO-10 with the correct organization name, fiscal year, certificate number when applicable, and responsible officials.
- The most recently completed IRS annual return and required Pennsylvania public-disclosure material; the state notes that certain 990-N, 990-EZ, 990-PF, and group-return filers also use Form BCO-23.
- Financial statements at the level required by gross annual contributions.
- For first-time registrants, incorporation documents or organizational charter, bylaws, and the IRS determination letter or other tax-status documentation.
- Professional fundraiser or fundraising counsel information and contracts when applicable.
- The registration fee and any required late fees, with proof of payment retained in the filing record.
Fee and financial-statement checkpoints
| Gross annual contributions | Registration fee | Financial statement level |
|---|---|---|
| $25,000 or less | $15 | Internally prepared, compiled, reviewed, or audited. |
| $25,001 to less than $100,000 | $100 | Internally prepared, compiled, reviewed, or audited. |
| $100,000 to less than $250,000 | $150 | Compiled, reviewed, or audited. |
| $250,000 to less than $500,000 | $150 | Reviewed or audited. |
| $500,000 to less than $750,000 | $250 | Reviewed or audited. |
| $750,000 or more | $250 | Audited. |
This combines the current fee and financial-statement tables published by the Department of State. Section 162.7(a) organizations have a separate $15/none row. Use the current official table and form instructions at filing time.
A practical Pennsylvania filing sequence
- Search the Bureau record and collect prior certificates, BCO-10 filings, correspondence, and any missing-year notices.
- Test exclusions and exemptions using the official chart; if approval is needed, review Form BCO-9 rather than self-labeling the organization exempt.
- Confirm the fiscal year, gross annual contributions, correct fee tier, financial-statement level, and whether Form BCO-23 applies.
- Assemble governing documents, IRS records, fundraising-professional information, signatures, and payment approval before submission.
- Save the complete filed package and confirmation, monitor deficiencies, and verify that the public record reflects the accepted registration.
- Calendar renewal for the fifteenth day of the eleventh month after fiscal year end, as stated in the current BCO-10 instructions.
Keep the registration owner clear
Use this page for the Pennsylvania registration transaction. For the broader filing rule, exemption context, renewal, and recovery checkpoints, open the Pennsylvania requirements summary. For a multi-state fundraising plan, use the multi-state charitable registration guide. For coordinated filing support, review charitable solicitation registration services.
Pennsylvania registration FAQ
Which Pennsylvania form is used to register a charity?
Form BCO-10 is the charitable organization registration statement used for initial and renewal registration.
Can Pennsylvania charitable solicitation registration be filed online?
Yes. The Bureau publishes online filing tutorials for initial and renewal applications. Filers use Keystone Login, link the charity to the dashboard, and follow the applicable online workflow.
Can every Pennsylvania charity form be filed online?
No. The Department’s current forms page says the online Charities System accepts BCO-10, BCO-2, and Institutions of Purely Public Charity forms. Other charity-related forms may still need to be mailed.
Does a small charity automatically avoid Pennsylvania registration?
No blanket conclusion should be made from size alone. The official rule includes contribution and compensated-solicitor facts, plus exclusions and exemptions that must be tested against the organization.
When is a Pennsylvania charity renewal due?
Current BCO-10 instructions state that renewal is due by the fifteenth day of the eleventh month after fiscal year end. The approved certificate also identifies the renewal date.
Can Pennsylvania charge a late filing fee?
Yes. Current BCO-10 instructions state an additional $25 for each calendar month or part of a month after the due date for organizations subject to the late fee.
Official Pennsylvania sources
- Department of State: information for charitable organizations.
- Department of State: register a charity.
- Department of State: registration forms and delivery methods.
- Official BCO-10 instructions.
- Online filing tutorials for initial and renewal applications.
Need a filing plan?
Use CharityClarity for a quick state charity registration lookup when a supported public signal is available, or contact Compliance Express to organize the Pennsylvania packet and multi-state next steps.