It depends - many small nonprofits are not legally required to have an independent audit, but several things can trigger one. There is no blanket IRS rule that every nonprofit must be audited; the IRS requires Form 990-series filings, not an independent audit. Instead, an audit requirement usually comes from one of three places.
1. State law. Many states require an independent audit once a charity's annual revenue or contributions exceed a set threshold, often tied to charitable-solicitation (fundraising) registration. These thresholds vary widely - some states require an audit at a few hundred thousand dollars while others not until several million, and a number have no audit requirement at all - so check the rules in your own state and in any state where you actively fundraise. 2. Grants and funders. Some foundations, government agencies, or lenders require audited financial statements as a condition of funding, regardless of your size. 3. The federal Single Audit. If your organization spends $1,000,000 or more in federal awards (including federal money passed through a state or local agency) in a single fiscal year, you must have a Single Audit under the Uniform Guidance. (This threshold rose from $750,000 and applies to fiscal years beginning on or after October 1, 2024 - that is, fiscal years ending on or after September 30, 2025.)
It also helps to know the three service levels, which differ in cost and assurance: an audit is the most rigorous (an opinion on your financials), a review offers limited assurance, and a compilation simply organizes your numbers with no assurance. Many small nonprofits use a review or compilation when a full audit isn't required. This is general information, not legal or tax advice - confirm your specific obligations with a CPA or attorney.
What to do next
- Look up your state's audit/charitable-registration threshold (and any state where you actively fundraise), and verify it with a CPA or attorney.
- Read your grant agreements for audit, review, or "audited financials" language.
- Tally your federal award spending for the year to see if you near the $1,000,000 Single Audit threshold.
- If no audit is required, ask a CPA whether a lower-cost review or compilation fits your needs and budget.
A quick note
This is general information for nonprofits, not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Rules and figures change and vary by state — verify with a qualified professional before you act.
Sources & tools
Free, primary sources
- National Council of Nonprofits - State Law Nonprofit Audit Requirements — Overview of which states require audits and how revenue/contribution thresholds vary by state.
- National Council of Nonprofits - Federal Law Audit Requirements — Explains the federal Single Audit requirement and the audit-vs-review-vs-compilation distinction.
- U.S. Office of Management and Budget - 2 CFR Part 200 (Uniform Guidance), Subpart F - Audit Requirements — The federal regulation setting the $1,000,000 Single Audit spending threshold and audit rules for federal awards.
- IRS - Annual Filing and Forms (Form 990 series) — Federal filing rules for exempt organizations; confirms the IRS requires Form 990 filings, not an independent audit.
Last verified 2026-06-17. Rules and figures change — verify at the source before you act.
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