People also ask
The program does NOT:
- Help participants change their identities or relocate.
- Remove or delete existing public records.
- Offer legal advice.
- Relieve participants of their legal or financial responsibilities.
Under the Tennessee Public Records Act, T.C.A. § 10-7-501 et. seq., all state or local government records are considered public and are available for public inspection and copying, unless specifically protected by other law. This means that any member of the public can request that a state or local government official allow them to inspect and/or take a copy of certain records, which may contain an another individual’s name, address, or phone number. This means that an abuser may be able to track or discover the residential address of a victim through public records. The primary goal of the Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program is to prevent this from happening and provide victims of domestic violence and other crimes with a sense of security in their own homes and freedom from intimidation or further abuse.
If you are unsure as to what type of business (i.e. Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Partnership, etc.), you may need to contact an attorney or tax professional, as this office is unable to assist in that determination. For information on types of business entities and tax, treatments consult the IRS, Tennessee Office of the U.S. Small Business Administration or the Business Enterprise Resource Office (BERO) at the Tennessee Department of Economic and Community Development.
"Solicit" or "solicitation" means any oral or written request, however, communicated, whether directly or indirectly, for a contribution. See T.C.A. §48-101-501(11).
The Tennessee Secretary of State offers an online search of charities. Please note, if you do not locate the organization, please consider the following:
The Safe at Home Address Confidentiality Program is a statewide address confidentiality program administered by the Office of the Tennessee Secretary of State. It is open to all victims of domestic abuse, stalking, human trafficking, rape, sexual battery, or any other sexual offense who satisfy eligibility and application requirements at no cost. Once a participant has been approved, they are provided with a ‘substitute’ address that can be used by them and their children as their official mailing address for all state and local government purposes, including public school or public benefits enrollment, subject only to a few limited exceptions.
The initial registration fee is $50 dollars. The fee for renewing your registration is based on the following scale:
GROSS REVENUE REGISTRATION FEE
$0 – $48,999.99 $80
$49,000 – $99,999.99 $120
$100,000 – $249,999.99 $160
$250,000 – $499,999.99 $200
$500,000 and above $240
“Contributions" means the promise or grant of any money or property of any kind or value, including the payment or promise to pay in consideration of a sale, performance or show of any kind which is advertised or offered in conjunction with the name of any charity. “Contribution” does not include bona fide fees, dues or assessments paid by members; provided, that membership is not conferred solely as consideration for making a contribution in response to a solicitation. See T.C.A. §48-101-501(3).
- Prohibits entities from denying an individual any service, financial aid, or other benefit because of race, color or national origin.
- Prohibits entities from providing a different service or benefit or providing these in a different manner from those provided to others under the program.
- Prohibits segregation or separate treatment in any manner related to receiving program services or benefits.
- Prohibits entities from requiring different standards or conditions as prerequisites for serving individuals.
- Encourages the participation of minorities as members of planning or advisory bodies for programs receiving federal funds.
- Prohibits discriminatory activity in a facility built in whole or part with Federal funds.
- Requires information and services to be provided in languages other than English when significant numbers of beneficiaries are of limited English speaking ability.
- Requires entities to notify the respective population about applicable programs.
- Prohibits locating facilities in any way that would limit or impede access to a Federally funded service or benefit.
- Requires assurance of nondiscrimination in purchasing of services.
Renewal Filing fees are based the gross revenue for the filing period. Late fees are assessed per month.
For Renewal Dates after 7/1/2021:
Gross Revenue Filing Fee
- $0 to $50,000 $0.00 *
- $50,000.01 to $99,999.99 $10.00
- $100,000.00 to $249,999.99 $10.00
- $250,000.00 to $499,999.99 $10.00
- $500,000 and over $10.00
Late Fees: $10/month
For Renewal Dates on or before 6/30/2021
Gross Revenue Filing Fee
- $0 to $50,000 $0.00 *
- $50,000.01 to $99,999.99 $120.00
- $100,000.00 to $249,999.99 $160.00
- $250,000.00 to $499,999.99 $200.00
- $500,000 and over $240.00
Late Fees: $25/month
* Based on answers on the renewal form, an organization may qualify for an exemption because they received less than $50,000 in gross contributions from the public. Organizations that qualify for this exemption will not be charged a filing fee for the filing period.
A civil penalties up to $5,000 may be imposed for each and any violation. Further, anyone who willfully and knowingly violates any provision of the Charitable Solicitations Act, or willfully and knowingly gives false or incorrect information in filing statements or reports to the division commits a Class B misdemeanor. A second or subsequent offense is a Class E felony.
- State and local government: Agencies distributing federal assistance or entities distributing federal assistance to the state or local government entity.
- Higher education: college, university, or other post-secondary institution
- Local education agency or system of vocational education, or other school system
- An entire corporation, partnership, or other private organization, or an entire sole proprietorship
- The entire plant or private corporation or other organization which is a geographically separate facility to which federal financial assistance is extended.
Title VI of the 1964 Civil Rights Act says, ”No person in the United States shall, on the grounds of race, color or national origin, be excluded from participation in, be denied the benefit of, or be subjected to discrimination under any program or activity receiving federal financial assistance.” 42 U.S.C.§2000d
Yes, for good cause shown (e.g. application for extension to file an exempt organization return that was filed with the IRS), the division may extend the time for filing a renewal application for a period not to exceed ninety (90) days, during which time the previous registration remains in effect. An organization may request a second extension of time for a period of sixty (60) days, as long as it provides proof that it has been granted an extension of time to file with the IRS.
- Does not apply to Federal assistance provided through insurance or guaranty contracts, (e.g. FHA loan insurance).
- Does not apply to employment, except where employment practices result in discrimination against program beneficiaries or where the purpose of the Federal assistance is to provide employment.
- Does not apply to direct benefit programs such as Social Security.
- Does not apply only to contracts and set-aside programs.
Domestic and Foreign Nonprofit Corporation filings can be filed through our online filing system.
Title VI is a mechanism that directs the federal financial assistance, which drives or promotes economic development. By legislative mandate, Title VI examines the following public policy issues:
- Accessibility for all persons
- Infrastructure development
- Accountability in public funds expenditures
- Minority participation in decision making
- Disparate impact
- Program service delivery
- Economic empowerment
- Public-Private partnerships in part or whole with public funds
- Environmental Justice
- Site and location of facilities
New businesses can be formed using the Secretary of State's online business registration system.
Yes, the organization must renew its registration by the last day of the 6th month after the end of its accounting year.
Organizations that are exempt from the registration requirements of the Act include bona fide religious institutions, as defined by T.C.A. §48-101-502(c); educational institutions and supporting organizations as defined by T.C.A. §48-101-502(b); volunteer fire departments, rescue squads and local civil defense organizations; political parties, candidates, and Political Action Committees; hospitals; nursing homes; any corporation established by an act of congress of the United States that is required by federal law to submit annual reports of its activities to congress containing itemized accounts of all receipts and expenditures after being fully audited by the department of defense; and organizations that do not intend to solicit and receive and do not actually raise or receive gross contributions from the public in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) during a fiscal year. Organizations that do not intend to solicit and do not actually raise or receive gross contributions from the public in excess of fifty thousand dollars ($50,000) during a fiscal year must file an Exemption Request annually.
An assumed name is a name other than the true entity name under which it conducts business. Tennessee does not recognize 'DBAs' (doing business as) or fictitious names. The assumed name is good for 5 years and can be renewed.
You are not required to use an attorney to file a new entity; however, using the services of a professional may be helpful.
- The required filing fee was not enclosed.
- The document has not been signed
- The document is not clear and legible.
- The document was not enclosed.
- The document is not dated.
- An email address was not provided.
- The name that you have requested is unavailable because it is not distinguishable from another business entity on file.
- We were not able to obtain tax clearance from the Department of Revenue. Please, contact the Tennessee Department of Revenue at (615) 253-0600 or (800) 342-1003. Once you have satisfied their requirements, resubmit your document to our office for filing.
- The address of the registered office must be a physical Tennessee address; it cannot be a post office box, route number, or box number alone.
To ensure the broad, institution wide application of Title VI and other civil rights statutes Congress passed The Civil Rights Restoration Act of 1987. This act clarifies the definition of “programs and activities” covered by the nondiscrimination provisions of civil rights statutes. The revised definition states that discrimination is prohibited throughout an entire agency or institution, if any part of that agency or institution receives Federal financial assistance.
Examples:
- (A) a department, agency, special purpose district, or other instrumentality of a state or local government; or (B) the entity of such state or local government that distributes such assistance and each such department or agency (and each other state or local government entity) to which the assistance is extended, in the case of assistance to a state or local government;
- (A) a college, university, or other postsecondary institution, or a public system of education; or system of vocational education, or other school system.
Title VI applies to discrimination throughout an agency, not just to actions involving the federally assisted program. Therefore, if an agency receives any federal financial assistance for any program or activity the entire agency is required to comply with Title VI, not just that particular program. Example: The Harriet Tubman Express program receives money from HUD, the agency /division that Harriet Tubman Express programs are under (Health Services) must also be in compliance with Title VI rules and regulations.
Federal financial assistance means more than just money. It is also aid that enhances the ability to improve or expand allocation of a recipient’s own resources.
Examples:
- Student aid (releases recipient’s funds for other uses)
- Training of employees (permits better use of the employer)
- Grants and Loans, tax-exempt bonds
- Property
- Loan of Personnel
- Tax incentives and tax-exempt status
- Technical assistance, etc.
A registered agent is a person or company who agrees to accept legal mail on behalf of your entity. Tennessee requires that all entities (except General Partnerships (GP) to maintain a registered agent/office in the State of Tennessee at all times.