A New York LLC costs $200 to form with the New York Department of State. Within 120 days it must publish a notice in two newspapers for six weeks and file a $50 Certificate of Publication; the newspaper charges come on top. After that, the LLC files a $9 biennial statement every two years and, if it has New York-source income, pays the yearly LLC filing fee of $25 to $4,500 to the Department of Taxation and Finance.
A Kentucky LLC costs $40 to form with the Kentucky Secretary of State, the second-lowest formation fee of the 50 states and DC. The annual report costs $15 and must be filed between 1 January and 30 June. Kentucky also charges the Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET), with a $175 minimum that applies even to single-member LLCs, so the real yearly cost for a small LLC is $190.
A Connecticut LLC costs $120 to form with the Connecticut Secretary of the State through Business.CT.gov. The annual report costs $80 and must be filed between 1 January and 31 March every year, whatever month the LLC was formed. Connecticut repealed its $250 Business Entity Tax for tax periods after 2018, so most small LLCs pay $120 in year one and $80 a year after that.
A District of Columbia LLC costs $99 to form with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. Every LLC then files a $300 biennial report by 1 April every second year, starting the year after formation, and a late report adds a $100 fee. DC also charges an unincorporated business franchise tax of 8.25% with a $250 minimum once an LLC has more than $12,000 of gross income. The minimum state filing cost over three years is $399.
A Puerto Rico LLC costs $250 to form with the Puerto Rico Department of State. After that the LLC pays a $150 annual fee by 15 April each year, with no annual report or financial statement to file. An unpaid fee draws a $500 penalty plus 1.5% interest a month. Puerto Rico taxes an LLC as a corporation unless it elects pass-through treatment, so the tax choice matters more than the filing fees.
Learn how to apply for an EIN as a U.S. citizen or foreign applicant, including methods, requirements, and common challenges faced.
A US Virgin Islands LLC costs at least $300 to form with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor, Division of Corporations and Trademarks. Every LLC then files an annual report and pays annual filing fees of at least $300 by 30 June each year. On top of that, the Bureau of Internal Revenue charges a 5% gross receipts tax, and income tax follows the US Internal Revenue Code through the mirror code.
If you’re a non-US resident who owns a US LLC, you’re likely required to file IRS Form 5472, and yes, you can absolutely do it yourself without hiring an accountant.
