Charitable Organizations Requirement

All local PTAs with charitable contributions of $25,000 or more are required to register with the State of Maryland as charitable organizations, and then to file annual renewals.  A fee may be required along with the registration; that fee is dependent on the level of donations a PT(S)A raises each year.

*A charitable organization that collects less than $25,000 in charitable contributions, but uses the services of a Professional Solicitor, is required to pay an annual fee of $50.​

A PTA with less than $25,000 in charitable donations currently must send a notice to Free State PTA indicating that it is exempt from this State of Maryland requirement; Free State PTA will verify this exemption.

A copy of the filing provided to the State of Maryland also must be provided to Free State PTA via GiveBacks.

WHY: Under the Maryland Charitable Solicitations Act (Title 6 of the Business Regulation Article of the Annotated Code of Maryland), parent-teacher organizations, which solicit and receive more than $25,000 in charitable contributions, are required to register (and annually renew the registration) with the Charitable Organizations Division of the Office of the Secretary of State.  According to Free State PTA, the level of charitable contributions is determined by adding lines 1(a), 9(a) and 10(a) of the PTA’s 990, or lines 1, 6(a) and 7(a) of the 990-EZ.

DEADLINE: The registration and/or renewal is required by December 30; an extension may be filed. The form can be filed late, but an additional fee may be assessed.

TIPS: You will need a copy of your 990 and a list of your local PTA board members with their names and home addresses. For the latter requirement you could use a copy of the officer contact information you send to Free State PTA. Make extra copies of all paperwork so you have them on hand.

https://sos.maryland.gov/Charity/Pages/Registering-Charity.aspx

To check your status, go to: https://sos.maryland.gov/Charity/Pages/default.aspx

On the left side, select Charities Division Link, then select Search Charity and enter EIN.

Initial registration (for new units or ones being revived/re-incorporated):  Charity Initial Registration User Guide

Annual update of registration:  Charity Annual Registration User Guide