How to Fill Out California Form SI-100 (w/Examples) + FAQs

California Form SI-100 is the Statement of Information that every domestic nonprofit corporation, credit union, and consumer cooperative corporation registered in California must file with the California Secretary of State to disclose current officer, agent, and address information. Filing it on time keeps the entity in good standing, protects its tax‑exempt status, and prevents the costly suspension that follows missed deadlines.

Roughly 180,000 California nonprofits file an SI-100 each cycle, and the Secretary of State’s office reports that more than 1 in 8 filings are rejected the first time because of small drafting errors — wrong entity number, missing agent address, or an unsigned signature block. This guide walks you line by line through the current SI‑100 (Rev. 01/2024) so you do not become part of that rejection statistic.

Here is what you will learn:

📌 What every box on Form SI‑100 actually asks and how to answer it
🧾 Three full filled‑out examples for the most common nonprofit scenarios
⏰ Deadlines, the $20 fee, and how to dodge the $50 FTB penalty
🖥️ How to file through bizfileOnline, by mail, or in person
⚠️ The 10 mistakes that get SI‑100s rejected and how to avoid each one

What the Form Is and Who Must File It

California Form SI‑100 is the biennial Statement of Information required of domestic nonprofit corporations, credit unions, and consumer cooperative corporations under California Corporations Code §§ 6210, 8210, and 9660. The form tells the state who runs the corporation, where it is located, and who can legally accept lawsuits on its behalf. Without a current SI‑100 on file, the state has no reliable way to contact the entity, and that gap triggers real consequences.

Every nonprofit public benefit, mutual benefit, religious, credit union, or consumer cooperative corporation organized in California must file SI‑100 within 90 days of incorporation and then every two years during the calendar month the entity was first registered. Foreign nonprofits use Form SI‑350 instead, and stock corporations use SI‑550, so confirm your entity type on the Secretary of State’s business search before you start.

The agency that receives the form is the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division. The penalty for not filing is a $50 fine assessed by the Franchise Tax Board under Revenue and Taxation Code § 19141, followed by suspension or forfeiture of the corporation’s powers. A suspended nonprofit cannot sue, defend a lawsuit, sign contracts, or keep its 501(c)(3) status with the IRS, so missing this filing is far more dangerous than the small fee suggests.

A common misconception is that volunteer‑run nonprofits are excused. They are not. Even an inactive shell nonprofit with zero revenue must file SI‑100 every two years until it formally dissolves through Form DISS NP.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Open a single folder on your desktop and gather every item below before you log in. The portal times out after about 20 minutes of inactivity, so hunting for an officer’s home address mid‑filing is the fastest way to lose your work.

California Secretary of State Entity Number. This is the 7‑digit number (sometimes prefixed with a “C”) assigned at incorporation. Without it, bizfileOnline cannot pull your record, and a wrong number routes the filing to another nonprofit’s file.
Exact corporate name. Use the name printed on your stamped Articles of Incorporation, including punctuation and “Inc.” if applicable. A mismatch causes immediate rejection.
Principal office street address. This must be a physical street address — not a P.O. Box — although a mailing address can also be added.
Mailing address. Optional, used when mail goes to a P.O. Box, lockbox, or accountant.
Names and complete street addresses of the CEO, Secretary, and CFO. Home or business addresses are acceptable, but each must be a deliverable street address.
Agent for Service of Process. Either an individual residing in California with a physical street address, or a registered 1505 corporate agent such as CT Corporation or CSC.
Brief description of the principal business activity. One sentence, plain English (e.g., “Operating a free after‑school tutoring program for low‑income students”).
Email address for the filer. bizfileOnline sends the conformed copy and receipt to this address — typos here mean no proof of filing.
Credit or debit card. The filing fee is $20, and the portal does not accept ACH for SI‑100s.
Most recent prior SI‑100. Pull a copy from your records so you can confirm what changed and what stayed the same.

If any item is missing, stop and gather it. A second login will not save you the headache of a rejected filing.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official PDF lives on the Secretary of State’s forms, samples, and fees page under “Statement of Information.” Look for the file labeled SI‑100 (Rev. 01/2024); older revisions are still in circulation online but the office now rejects them at intake.

Most filers no longer use the PDF. As of 2024 the Secretary of State requires almost all SI‑100 submissions to go through bizfileOnline, the state’s e‑filing portal. To access it, create a free account, verify your email, and search for your entity by name or entity number. Once you select your nonprofit, choose “File a Statement of Information” from the action menu.

Paper PDFs are still accepted by mail or drop‑off, but only when bizfileOnline cannot process the entity (for example, when the agent is being changed to a 1505 corporate agent that has not registered electronically). For accessibility needs, the Secretary of State provides large‑print and screen‑reader‑friendly versions on request through the Customer Service line.

A frequent misconception is that the IRS provides Form SI‑100. It does not. SI‑100 is purely a California document. The IRS receives Form 990 and the Franchise Tax Board receives Form 199; SI‑100 only goes to the Secretary of State.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out California Form SI-100 Line by Line

The form has eight numbered items plus a signature block. Each one looks simple, but each carries its own trap. Walk through them in order.

Item 1 — Corporate Name

This box asks for the exact legal name of the nonprofit as it appears on the Articles of Incorporation filed with the California Secretary of State.

To answer it, copy the name letter for letter, including capitalization, commas, and any “Inc.” or “A California Nonprofit Public Benefit Corporation” suffix. Do not abbreviate “Incorporated” to “Inc.” unless the Articles do.

For example, Maria Lopez, secretary of Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc., types “Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc.” — not “Sunrise Youth Found.” and not “SUNRISE YOUTH FOUNDATION INC” in all caps.

A nuance arises when the corporation has changed its name. The name on SI‑100 must match the most recent Certificate of Amendment, not the original Articles. If a name change is in progress, finish that filing first.

The most common mistake on Item 1 is dropping the comma before “Inc.” A computer match against the entity record fails on that single character, and the filing is rejected with a “Name does not match record” notice.

A misconception is that you can use a “doing business as” name here. You cannot. DBAs (fictitious business names) are filed at the county level and never appear on SI‑100.

Item 2 — California Secretary of State Entity (File) Number

This box asks for the 7‑digit entity number (sometimes shown as “C” plus 7 digits) assigned the day the corporation was formed.

To answer it, look at the upper right corner of your stamped Articles of Incorporation, or run a free business search. Type only the digits — no spaces, no dashes.

For example, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc. enters “4218765”.

A nuance: the entity number is different from the EIN (federal tax ID). Putting the EIN here points the filing at the wrong record.

The mistake to avoid is transposing two digits. The portal will sometimes still accept the filing if the wrong number matches another active nonprofit, and that nonprofit’s record is then quietly polluted with your information.

A misconception is that the entity number changes after a name change or restatement. It does not — the entity number stays with the corporation for life.

Item 3 — Complete Street Address of Principal Office in California

This field asks where the nonprofit actually conducts its business in California.

To answer it, enter the full street number, street name, suite or unit number, city, “CA,” and ZIP code. P.O. Boxes are not allowed because the state needs a physical location for service.

For example, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc. enters “482 Mission Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94105.”

A nuance arises for home‑based nonprofits. The founder’s home address is acceptable, but it becomes a public record searchable on bizfileOnline. Founders who want privacy should rent a low‑cost coworking address or use a registered agent’s office.

The mistake to avoid is listing the accountant’s office. The principal office is where corporate decisions get made, not where the books are kept.

A common misconception is that nonprofits with no California presence can leave this blank. They cannot — a domestic California nonprofit by definition has a California principal office.

Item 4 — Complete Mailing Address (If Different from Item 3)

This box asks for a separate mailing address when the nonprofit receives mail somewhere other than its principal office.

To answer it, enter the full mailing address including any P.O. Box. Leave blank if the principal office address also receives mail.

For example, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc. enters “P.O. Box 19044, San Francisco, CA 94119” because their treasurer collects checks at a private mailbox.

A nuance: out‑of‑state mailing addresses are allowed in Item 4 even though Item 3 must be in California.

The mistake to avoid is duplicating the Item 3 address here. The system flags duplicates, and some intake clerks treat duplicates as data‑entry errors.

A misconception is that the mailing address is private. It is not — every entry on SI‑100 is searchable on bizfileOnline within 24 hours of filing.

Item 5 — Names and Complete Business or Residence Addresses of the Chief Executive Officer, Secretary, and Chief Financial Officer

This is the longest field on the form. It asks for the full legal name and a complete street address of three corporate officers: the CEO (often titled President), the Secretary, and the CFO (often titled Treasurer).

To answer it, list each officer on its own line with first name, middle initial, last name, and a deliverable street address. One person may hold all three positions in a small nonprofit, in which case the same name appears three times.

For example, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc. enters: – CEO: Maria E. Lopez, 482 Mission Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94105 – Secretary: David K. Chen, 1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109 – CFO: Maria E. Lopez, 482 Mission Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94105

A nuance arises with religious corporations that use “Pastor,” “Rabbi,” or “Imam” as titles. Use the statutory titles (CEO, Secretary, CFO) on SI‑100 even if the bylaws use different titles internally.

The mistake to avoid is listing only board members. Directors do not belong in Item 5; only the three officers do.

A misconception is that an officer’s home address can be replaced with the nonprofit’s office address. It can — California allows business addresses — but the address must be one where the officer can actually be reached, not a vacant P.O. Box.

Item 6 — Agent for Service of Process

This field asks who will receive lawsuits, subpoenas, and official notices on behalf of the nonprofit. Under Corporations Code § 1502, every California corporation must designate one.

To answer it, choose either an individual agent or a registered corporate agent (a “1505 agent”), but never both.

If you choose an individual, enter their full legal name on Item 6a and a complete California street address on Item 6b. P.O. Boxes are forbidden here. The agent must be at least 18, reside in California, and consent to the role.

For example, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc. enters Item 6a “David K. Chen” and Item 6b “1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109.”

If you choose a corporate agent (CT Corporation, CSC, Northwest, etc.), enter only the corporation’s name on Item 6a and leave Item 6b blank because that address is already on file under the agent’s 1505 filing.

A nuance: if the individual agent moves, the nonprofit must file a fresh SI‑100 within 30 days, even mid‑cycle. A stale agent address means lawsuits get served on a stranger and default judgments roll in.

The mistake to avoid is listing a P.O. Box for an individual agent. This single error accounts for the largest share of SI‑100 rejections.

A misconception is that the agent must be a board member. Anyone — a friend, attorney, or paid registered agent — can serve, as long as they consent.

Item 7 — Type of Business

This box asks for a one‑sentence description of the nonprofit’s principal activity.

To answer it, write a plain‑English phrase that a stranger could understand, no jargon. Aim for 6–12 words.

For example, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc. enters “Operating after‑school tutoring programs for low‑income youth.”

A nuance: religious corporations should describe the religious activity (e.g., “Operating a Buddhist meditation temple”), not just write “religious.”

The mistake to avoid is leaving Item 7 blank. The state treats it as an incomplete filing and rejects it.

A misconception is that the description must match the IRS Form 990 NTEE code. It does not — the SI‑100 description is informal and does not bind the nonprofit.

Item 8 — The Information Contained Herein, Including Any Attachments, Is True and Correct

This is the certification and signature block. It asks the signer to swear, under penalty of perjury, that everything above is accurate.

To answer it, the signer types or writes their name, title, and the date. On bizfileOnline, the signature is a typed name plus a checkbox; on paper, an ink signature is required.

For example, David K. Chen types “David K. Chen,” selects “Secretary,” and dates the form “02/14/2026.”

A nuance: any officer or director may sign. The signer does not have to be one of the officers listed in Item 5.

The mistake to avoid is leaving the date blank. Undated signatures are treated as defective and the form is returned.

A misconception is that an electronic signature is somehow weaker than ink. Under California Uniform Electronic Transactions Act it carries identical legal weight.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

Scenario 1 — Brand‑New 501(c)(3) Public Charity (Maria Lopez, Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc.)

Maria just incorporated her tutoring nonprofit and must file her initial SI‑100 within 90 days.

Form Section	What Maria Enters
Item 1 — Corporate Name	Sunrise Youth Foundation, Inc.
Item 2 — Entity Number	4218765
Item 3 — Principal Office	482 Mission Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94105
Item 4 — Mailing Address	P.O. Box 19044, San Francisco, CA 94119
Item 5 — CEO	Maria E. Lopez, 482 Mission Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94105
Item 5 — Secretary	David K. Chen, 1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Item 5 — CFO	Maria E. Lopez, 482 Mission Street, Suite 210, San Francisco, CA 94105
Item 6 — Agent	David K. Chen, 1290 Sutter Street, San Francisco, CA 94109
Item 7 — Type of Business	Operating after‑school tutoring programs for low‑income youth
Item 8 — Signature	David K. Chen, Secretary, 02/14/2026

Scenario 2 — Small Religious Nonprofit, Biennial Filing With No Changes (Pastor Janet Rivera, Grace Community Church)

Janet’s church has had the same officers and address for four years. She is filing the routine biennial SI‑100.

Form Section	What Janet Enters
Item 1 — Corporate Name	Grace Community Church
Item 2 — Entity Number	3091422
Item 3 — Principal Office	755 Oak Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Item 4 — Mailing Address	(left blank — same as Item 3)
Item 5 — CEO	Janet M. Rivera, 755 Oak Avenue, Bakersfield, CA 93301
Item 5 — Secretary	Thomas J. Greene, 412 Pine Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Item 5 — CFO	Linda S. Park, 980 Cedar Drive, Bakersfield, CA 93308
Item 6 — Agent	Thomas J. Greene, 412 Pine Lane, Bakersfield, CA 93304
Item 7 — Type of Business	Operating a non‑denominational Christian church
Item 8 — Signature	Janet M. Rivera, CEO, 06/03/2026

Scenario 3 — Nonprofit Changing Its Agent and Principal Address (Marcus Bell, Bay Area Food Rescue, Inc.)

Marcus’s nonprofit moved offices and switched to a corporate agent. He files a mid‑cycle SI‑100 to update the record.

Form Section	What Marcus Enters
Item 1 — Corporate Name	Bay Area Food Rescue, Inc.
Item 2 — Entity Number	3776109
Item 3 — Principal Office	2200 Broadway, 4th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Item 4 — Mailing Address	P.O. Box 5512, Oakland, CA 94605
Item 5 — CEO	Marcus T. Bell, 2200 Broadway, 4th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Item 5 — Secretary	Aisha N. Patel, 2200 Broadway, 4th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Item 5 — CFO	Robert L. Kim, 2200 Broadway, 4th Floor, Oakland, CA 94612
Item 6 — Agent	CT Corporation System (Item 6b left blank)
Item 7 — Type of Business	Recovering surplus food and redistributing to food banks
Item 8 — Signature	Marcus T. Bell, CEO, 09/12/2026

How to File the Completed Form

The Secretary of State accepts SI‑100 filings through three channels, and the right channel depends on whether anything unusual is happening with your entity. Pick one and stick with it; do not file the same form twice.

Online (preferred): Log into bizfileOnline, find your entity, choose “File Statement of Information,” and complete all eight items inside the portal. The fee is $20, paid by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. Processing takes about 1 business day, and the conformed copy arrives by email. Save the email and the PDF receipt — that is your proof of filing.

By mail: Print the SI‑100 PDF, complete it in black ink, and mail it with a check for $20 payable to “Secretary of State” to Statement of Information Unit, P.O. Box 944230, Sacramento, CA 94244‑2300. Processing takes 3–4 weeks. Always mail certified with return receipt; that green card is your only proof if the form is lost.

In person: Drop the completed form and a $20 check (or money order) at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814. Counter service runs Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–5 p.m. Add a $15 special handling fee for same‑day intake. The clerk hands you a date‑stamped copy on the spot, which is the cleanest proof of filing available.

A nuance: nonprofits that owe back filings cannot use the online portal for any year except the current one. Old missed cycles must be filed on paper, each with its own $20 fee.

What Happens After You File

Within 24 to 72 hours of an online filing, the Secretary of State updates the public record on bizfileOnline so anyone — donors, lenders, attorneys — can see the new officers and agent. A conformed PDF lands in the email used at filing; print two copies and store one with the corporate minute book.

If anything is wrong, the office sends a rejection letter explaining the defect. Common defects are name mismatches, P.O. Boxes in the agent address, and missing signatures. The fee is not refunded for rejections, but the corrected refile within 30 days does not require a second $20 payment when filed on paper with the rejection notice attached.

For ongoing compliance, the Secretary of State mails a postcard reminder roughly three months before the next biennial deadline to the principal office address. Do not rely on the postcard — calendar the deadline yourself, because mail delivery and address changes regularly cause reminders to disappear. Late filers receive a Notice of Pending Suspension from the Franchise Tax Board about 60 days after the deadline, followed by suspension if the form is still missing.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Filing under the wrong form. SI‑100 is for domestic nonprofits, credit unions, and consumer cooperatives only — using it for a stock corporation gets it kicked back the same day.
Wrong entity number. A transposed digit routes the data to another nonprofit’s record and requires a costly correction filing.
Listing a P.O. Box for the principal office. California requires a physical street address in Item 3 and rejects the filing on sight.
Listing a P.O. Box for an individual agent. Item 6b must be a California street address, full stop.
Naming both an individual and a corporate agent. The form allows only one; picking both voids Item 6.
Putting directors in Item 5. Only the CEO, Secretary, and CFO go there — directors are reported separately in attorney general filings.
Leaving Item 7 blank. “Type of business” is mandatory, even for inactive nonprofits.
Forgetting to sign or date Item 8. Unsigned or undated forms are returned without processing.
Using an outdated form revision. The current revision is 01/2024; older PDFs are rejected at intake.
Missing the 90‑day initial deadline. New nonprofits often think the first SI‑100 is due with the biennial cycle; it is due within 90 days of incorporation.
Paying the wrong fee. SI‑100 is $20; sending $25 (the SI‑550 fee) creates a refund headache and delays processing.

Do’s and Don’ts

Do’s

Do verify your entity number on bizfileOnline business search before opening the form, because every other field depends on it.
Do calendar the biennial deadline for two years out the moment the conformed copy arrives, since the postcard reminder cannot be trusted.
Do file electronically when possible — the 1‑day turnaround beats the 3‑4‑week mail backlog.
Do save the conformed PDF in your minute book the same day it arrives, because the corporate record must show timely compliance.
Do confirm your agent’s consent in writing every cycle, since an unwilling agent can resign and leave the nonprofit exposed.
Do update Item 3 within 30 days of any office move, even mid‑cycle, so service of process reaches you.

Don’ts

Don’t abbreviate the corporate name unless the Articles of Incorporation do, because mismatches trigger automatic rejection.
Don’t list home addresses for officers who value privacy without first considering a coworking or registered‑agent address, because Item 5 is fully public.
Don’t assume the IRS or FTB tells the Secretary of State about address changes — they do not share data for SI purposes.
Don’t sign on behalf of someone else without written authorization, since perjury attaches to Item 8.
Don’t wait until the last day; portal outages and card declines are common and the late penalty hits the next morning.
Don’t pay with a personal check from a closed account, because the FTB adds a $25 dishonored‑check fee on top of the $50 late penalty.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Pros of Filing Yourself

Cost. The fee is only $20, versus $150–$400 for a paid filer — meaningful for a small nonprofit budget.
Speed. A founder who knows the data can finish online in 10 minutes, faster than briefing an outside service.
Control. Filing yourself means you confirm the data is right rather than trusting a third party’s typing.
Learning. Walking through SI‑100 once teaches founders the corporate basics they will need for every future filing.
Privacy from intermediaries. No third party sees the officers’ home addresses or the nonprofit’s internal contact list.

Cons of Filing Yourself

Rejection risk. First‑time filers account for the bulk of rejections, and a rejected filing eats time and sometimes the fee.
Calendar burden. You alone must remember the next biennial deadline; professional services calendar it for you.
Agent role. Acting as your own agent for service of process means lawsuits show up at your home or office, which can be jarring.
Privacy of officers. Listing home addresses publicly can attract unwanted mail and solicitation.
No backstop. If you misread a field, no one is checking your work before it becomes the public record.

Filing Channel Comparison

Channel	When It Makes Sense
bizfileOnline — $20, ~1 business day	Routine biennial filing with no unusual changes
Mail to Sacramento — $20, 3–4 weeks	Paper‑only situations, back filings, or no card on file
In‑person counter — $20 + $15 handling	Last‑minute filings where same‑day stamp is critical

FAQs

Is Form SI‑100 the same as Form SI‑550?

No. SI‑100 is for domestic nonprofit corporations, credit unions, and consumer cooperatives. SI‑550 is for domestic stock corporations. They share a layout but are filed under different statutes.

Do I need to file SI‑100 if my nonprofit had no activity this year?

Yes. SI‑100 is required regardless of revenue, programs, or activity. Only formal dissolution through Form DISS NP ends the obligation.

Can I list a P.O. Box in Item 3?

No. Item 3 must be a physical California street address. P.O. Boxes are only allowed in Item 4, the mailing address line.

Can my agent for service of process use a P.O. Box in Item 6b?

No. An individual agent’s address in Item 6b must be a complete California street address. A P.O. Box voids the filing.

Do I list directors in Item 5?

No. Item 5 is limited to the CEO, Secretary, and CFO. Directors are not reported on SI‑100; they appear in the attorney general’s RRF‑1.

Can one person hold all three officer positions?

Yes. California allows a single person to be CEO, Secretary, and CFO of a small nonprofit. Repeat the same name and address three times in Item 5.

What happens if I file late?

Yes, there is a penalty. The FTB assesses a $50 late penalty under Revenue and Taxation Code § 19141, and the Secretary of State may suspend the corporation’s powers.

Is the $20 fee refundable if my filing is rejected?

No. The Secretary of State keeps the fee on rejection. A timely refile with the rejection notice usually avoids a second $20 charge on paper filings.

Can I sign Item 8 if I’m only a director, not an officer?

Yes. Any current officer or director can sign SI‑100. The signer certifies the data, not their officer status.

Do I attach my Articles of Incorporation to SI‑100?

No. SI‑100 takes no attachments. Sending extra pages slows processing and may cause the filing to be rejected as nonconforming.

Is the SI‑100 the same as the IRS Form 990?

No. SI‑100 is a state corporate filing with the Secretary of State. Form 990 is a federal information return filed with the IRS. Both are required for most California 501(c)(3)s.

Can I change my agent for service of process between biennial filings?

Yes. File a fresh SI‑100 (or Form RA‑100 for an agent‑only change) the moment the agent or address changes, even mid‑cycle, to keep the record current.

What if the nonprofit has only a religious corporate structure?

Yes, religious corporations file SI‑100 too. Use the statutory officer titles (CEO, Secretary, CFO) in Item 5 even if your bylaws use Pastor, Elder, or Trustee.

Does filing SI‑100 satisfy my Attorney General registration?

No. SI‑100 goes to the Secretary of State. Charitable trust registration and the annual RRF‑1 go to the California Attorney General’s Registry of Charitable Trusts, a separate filing entirely.

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