As of 2026-07-22 · verified against primary sources
Georgia charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines
| Registration | Required |
| Agency | Georgia Secretary of State — Securities and Charities Division |
| Initial fee | $35 |
| Renewal fee | $20 |
| Renewal / report due | every 24 months from the registration's effective date |
| Filing channel | Electronic filing available |
Who must register
Georgia generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Georgia Secretary of State — Securities and Charities Division before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Georgia residents as well as local ones.
O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(a),(b)(1) · official source
Exemptions we check for
Likely exempt if it is a religious organization — one that conducts regular worship services, or is a 501(c)(3) religious organization never required to file IRS Form 990 (O.C.G.A. §§ 43-17-9(a)(8), 43-17-2(14)); self-executing, no filing required.
O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9(a)(8) + § 43-17-2(14) definition, prong (B) verbatim
Likely exempt if it has no agreement with a paid solicitor and its total revenue from contributions was under $25,000 for both the immediately preceding and current calendar years (O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9(a)(5)); self-executing, no filing required.
O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9(a)(5), verbatim in ga-primary-sources.md. CAVEATS
The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.
Financial statement thresholds
- CPA review at $500,000+ gross revenue · O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(b)(4)
- Independent audit at $1,000,000+ gross revenue · O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(b)(4)
Is your charity registered in Georgia? Check free.
Citations
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(a),(b)(1) · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(b)(1) (registration filed with the Secretary of State) · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(c) · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(c) · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(b)(9) · source · verified 2026-07-22
- Online ENCOURAGED, not mandatory · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9(a)(8) + § 43-17-2(14) definition, prong (B) verbatim · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-9(a)(5), verbatim in ga-primary-sources.md. CAVEATS · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(b)(4) · source · verified 2026-07-22
- O.C.G.A. § 43-17-5(b)(4) · source · verified 2026-07-22
Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.