As of 2026-07-23 · verified against primary sources
Michigan charitable solicitation registration: requirements, fees, and deadlines
| Registration | Required |
| Agency | Michigan Attorney General — Charitable Trust Section |
| Initial fee | No fee |
| Renewal fee | No fee |
| Renewal / report due | 6 months after fiscal year end |
| Filing channel | Electronic filing available |
Who must register
Michigan generally requires charitable organizations to register with the Michigan Attorney General — Charitable Trust Section before soliciting contributions there, unless an exemption applies. Requirements attach to out-of-state charities soliciting Michigan residents as well as local ones.
MCL 400.273(1) · official source
Exemptions we check for
Likely exempt if it is a duly constituted religious organization (or an affiliated group forming an integral part of one) with current IRS tax-exempt status and no inurement — Michigan excludes these from the definition of charitable organization entirely (MCL 400.272(a)(i)); nothing is filed to claim this, though the AG offers an optional CTS-03 confirmation.
MCL 400.272(a)(i) verbatim in mi-primary-sources.md (definitional exclusion; 2010 PA 196, eff. 2010-10-05). Machine proxy: IRS filing codes 06 and 13 — both …
Likely exempt if its contributions are $25,000 or less in a 12-month period, its fundraising is carried on by unpaid persons, and it makes a financial statement of its most recent fiscal year available to members and the public (MCL 400.283(b)) — self-executing (optional CTS-03 confirmation), and registration is required within 30 days once contributions exceed $25,000.
MCL 400.283(b) verbatim in mi-primary-sources.md, incl. the built-in 30-day registration clock. Unpaid-fundraising prong approximated by the professional-fun…
The state, not Steadworthy, decides whether an exemption applies.
Financial statement thresholds
- CPA review at $325,000+ contributions · MCL 400.273(2)(j) base $250k + the (3)(a) escalator (+$25k per 5-year step since 2015)
- Independent audit at $575,000+ contributions · MCL 400.273(2)(j) base $500k + escalator
Is your charity registered in Michigan? Check free.
Citations
- MCL 400.273(1) · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.273(1) (register 'with the attorney general'); administered by the Charitable Trust Section (P.O. Box 30214, Lansing). Public search: michigan.gov/ag… · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.275(2) · source · verified 2026-07-23
- No renewal or late fee exists in the act (full read; MCL 400.275(2) no-charge rule). · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.277 · source · verified 2026-07-23
- AG · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.272(a)(i) verbatim in mi-primary-sources.md (definitional exclusion; 2010 PA 196, eff. 2010-10-05). Machine proxy: IRS filing codes 06 and 13 — both … · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.283(b) verbatim in mi-primary-sources.md, incl. the built-in 30-day registration clock. Unpaid-fundraising prong approximated by the professional-fun… · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.273(2)(j) base $250k + the (3)(a) escalator (+$25k per 5-year step since 2015) · source · verified 2026-07-23
- MCL 400.273(2)(j) base $500k + escalator · source · verified 2026-07-23
Statuses and requirements reflect public records and cited sources as of the dates shown. Informational, not legal advice.