TO DO list for newly Chartered Posts
Your Department website www.vfwms.org has a lot of information and forms that are downloadable. If you go looking for something and are not able to locate it, please let us know. (The members only section is a log in. Easiest way for new members to access this part of the website is to email secretary@vfwms.org and ask for a log in account. (the accounts are set up individually and when new members are put into the National system an account is not automatically made for the Department)
ok so now for the good stuff:
1. Please go to https://www.irs.gov/charities-non-profits/obtaining-an-employer-identification-number-for-an-exempt-organization and file the necessary information for your VFW Post EIN number. This needs to be done even if you do not have employees. The EIN number is the first step in obtaining non-profit status under the Department umbrella 501(c)4. You will need to file a tax record every year (most posts file a ‘E990 postcard online-less than 10 minutes) to keep your non-profit status.
a. after you receive your number please send to your Department Quartermaster adjutant@vfwms.us so that the A/Q can send it to the IRS and place your VFW post under the Department umbrella as a 501(c)4.
2. Now that you have filed for your EIN we will need to get your post Incorporated.
a. First fill out the Incorporation papers (attached)
b. Email a copy to secretary@vfwms.org
a. We will send them to National for C-I-C approval and stamp
b. National will send them back to Department and the approved Articles of Incorporation will be sent back to you with the stamp of approval. (these need to be archived in your VFW Post paperwork)
c. When you get the approved copy back you will need to go to the Secretary of State website and file them with the State. Cost is $50.
i. Business documents in Mississippi may only be filed using the Secretary of State’s online filing system. To use the system, you will need to set up a filing account https://corp.sos.ms.gov/corp/portal/c/portal.aspx
3. Now we need to open a bank account with the EIN number.
a. You will need minutes from your election meeting, all persons that will be on the account with driver’s license and your EIN (the bank account will be listed under your post EIN instead of an individual’s SSN.)
4. Now you have a bank account
a. fill out the form and send it to National. National will forward your membership dues and any money due to your post through the bank account. National no longer mails paper checks to the VFW Posts for anything. If you do not send National your bank routing information you will not receive any monies due from National.