New York CHAR500 Filing Guide: Annual Financial Report for Nonprofits

BLUF

New York nonprofits file Form CHAR500 with the Attorney General’s Charities Bureau each year, 4 months 15 days after fiscal year end. Fees range from $25 to $750 depending on Article 7-A and EPTL registration. An independent audit is required above $1 million in gross revenue plus support; a CPA review is required above $250,000. Most rejections stem from missing attachments, missing signatures, or fee miscalculation.

TL;DR

• Who: every charity registered with the New York Charities Bureau.
• Due: 4 months 15 days after fiscal year end (May 15 for calendar-year filers).
• Fee: $25-$750 depending on Article 7-A/EPTL registration and gross contributions.
• Audit required: gross revenue plus support above $1M (Article 7-A).
• Review required: gross revenue plus support above $250K and at or below $1M.
• Attach: complete federal Form 990, plus audit or review if applicable.

What CHAR500 is

CHAR500 is the Annual Filing for Charitable Organizations administered by the New York Attorney General’s Charities Bureau. New York regulates charities under two statutes:

• Article 7-A of the Executive Law (charitable solicitation)
• Estates, Powers and Trusts Law (holding charitable assets)

Organizations register under whichever statute applies. Many are dual-registered.

Who must file

Every charitable organization registered with the New York Charities Bureau must file CHAR500 annually, including:

• New York-incorporated 501(c)(3) public charities
• Out-of-state charities that solicit contributions from New York residents
• Charitable trusts holding New York assets
• Private foundations with New York nexus

Religious organizations and certain educational institutions have specific exemptions. Most conventional 501(c)(3) nonprofits file.

Due date and extension

CHAR500 is due four months and fifteen days after fiscal year end. For calendar-year filers, May 15. A single six-month extension is available if requested before the original due date. An approved federal Form 990 extension automatically extends CHAR500 when documented on the filing.

Fee schedule

Article 7-A fees under NY Executive Law 172-b, based on gross contributions:

• Under $25,000: $10
• $25,000 to $100,000: $50
• $100,001 to $250,000: $100
• $250,001 to $1,000,000: $150
• Above $1,000,000: $250 (also eligible for higher tiers by revenue)

EPTL fees based on net worth:

• $25 base fee plus scaled tiers up to $750 for very large endowments

Dual registrants pay both. Using the wrong tier triggers a deficiency notice and delays acceptance.

Audit and review thresholds

Under NY Executive Law 172-b, Article 7-A registrants face financial attestation requirements based on gross revenue plus support:

• Above $1,000,000: independent audit by a CPA required
• Above $250,000 and up to $1,000,000: CPA review required
• At or below $250,000: neither required

These thresholds are separate from the federal Single Audit threshold (now $1 million in federal expenditures under the 2024 Uniform Guidance revision). Organizations above both face parallel obligations, usually coordinated through a single CPA engagement.

Required attachments

• Complete copy of federal Form 990 (or 990-EZ, 990-PF)
• Audited financials (gross revenue plus support above $1M)
• Reviewed financials (gross revenue plus support $250K-$1M)
• Two officer signatures (president or authorized officer, plus chief financial officer)
• Correct fee payment

Filing checklist

• Registration active under Article 7-A and/or EPTL
• Registration number confirmed
• Gross contributions and gross revenue plus support calculated
• Audit or review engaged and complete if required
• Form 990 attached in full
• Two officer signatures on the form
• Correct Article 7-A and EPTL fees calculated
• Filed online through Charities Bureau portal
• Confirmation and filed PDF retained

Common rejection reasons

The Charities Bureau rejects filings most often for:

1. Missing Form 990 attachment
2. Missing audit or review at the applicable threshold
3. Incorrect fee amount
4. Missing second officer signature
5. Late filing without approved extension
6. Lapsed or suspended registration

Deficiency notices typically give 30-60 days to cure. Unresolved deficiencies can lead to suspension, loss of solicitation authority in New York, and listing on the Charities Bureau’s delinquent charities list.

Renewal schedule

CHAR500 is an annual obligation. For calendar-year filers, the working cadence is:

• January-March: audit or review fieldwork if applicable
• April: CHAR500 preparation, Form 990 coordination
• May 15: filing due
• June: confirmation retained, next-year calendar set

How GrantPipe helps

GrantPipe tracks state charitable registration renewals alongside federal SF-425 cadence, restricted-fund workflow, and donor work in one operating record. For New York nonprofits managing CHAR500 at the same time as federal grant reporting, the filing calendar, audit engagement status, and supporting documentation live in one shared system. Start with a free trial to set the CHAR500 deadline alongside the rest of the compliance calendar.

DEFINITION

CHAR500

The New York Annual Filing for Charitable Organizations. Every registered charity must file it annually with the Charities Bureau.

DEFINITION

Charities Bureau

The division of the New York Attorney General's office that administers Article 7-A and the EPTL, covering charitable registration and annual reporting.

DEFINITION

Article 7-A

Article 7-A of the New York Executive Law, governing charitable solicitation. Organizations that solicit contributions in New York register under Article 7-A.

DEFINITION

EPTL registration

Estates, Powers and Trusts Law registration, required for organizations holding charitable assets in New York regardless of whether they solicit. Many organizations are dual-registered under both Article 7-A and EPTL.