Rhode Island LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | Rhode Island amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $150 |
| Annual report and $400 annual charge | $50 report ($52.50 online) plus $400 to the Division of Taxation |
| When it is due | Report 1 February to 1 May; $400 charge with Form RI-1065 |
| State tax on the LLC | $400 annual charge, owed even with no income |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $550 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $450 |
| Registered agent | Required. Free if you act as your own; commercial services charge a yearly fee |
| EIN from the IRS | $0 |
Fees verified October 2026 against the Rhode Island Department of State and other official Rhode Island sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Rhode Island?
The Rhode Island Department of State charges $150 to file Articles of Organization (Form 400), online or on paper. A name reservation costs $50 and holds the name for 120 days.
The formation fee is only the first part of the first-year bill. The $400 annual charge from the Division of Taxation applies from the LLC’s first tax year, so a realistic first-year budget is $550.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in Rhode Island covers the form field by field.
How much does a Rhode Island LLC cost every year?
Every Rhode Island LLC files an annual report with the Department of State between 1 February and 1 May, and the fee is $50. Filing online adds $2.50. The first report falls due the year after formation.
On top of the report, every LLC that is not taxed as a corporation files Form RI-1065 with the Division of Taxation and pays a $400 annual charge, equal to the state’s minimum corporate tax. The charge applies to single-member LLCs and to LLCs that earned nothing that year.
Together the two make Rhode Island one of the most expensive states to keep an LLC: $450 a year, against $60 in Wyoming.
What does a Rhode Island LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a Rhode Island LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts Rhode Island charges. The second column adds the BusinessAnywhere registered agent service, which is free for the first year and $147 a year after that.
| Year | State fees only | With a registered agent service |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $550 | $550 |
| Year 2 | $450 | $597 |
| Year 3 | $450 | $597 |
| Three-year total | $1,450 | $1,744 |
Does Rhode Island charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
Rhode Island charges every LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity a $400 annual charge, filed with Form RI-1065. The Division of Taxation sets the due date as the 15th day of the third month after the tax year ends, or the fourth month for a single-member LLC. For a calendar-year LLC, that is 15 March or 15 April.
The charge is a flat amount, not a tax on profit. Members still report their share of the LLC’s profit on their own Rhode Island income tax returns.
How much does a registered agent cost in Rhode Island?
Every Rhode Island LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in Rhode Island. Acting as your own agent costs nothing, but your address goes on the public record and you must be available at that address during business hours. Commercial registered agent services charge a yearly fee for the same role.
The BusinessAnywhere registered agent service is free for the first year and $147 a year after that, with every document scanned to your online dashboard the day it arrives.
Our Rhode Island registered agent guide explains the state rules in full.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a Rhode Island LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A Rhode Island LLC needs one to hire employees, to open a business bank account and whenever it has more than one member. US residents with an SSN or ITIN apply through the IRS online EIN application and receive the number at the end of the session.
Founders outside the United States cannot use the online tool. They apply by phone, fax or post with IRS Form SS-4, and do not need an SSN to do it. The BusinessAnywhere EIN application service handles that process for $97. Our guide on how to obtain an EIN for your LLC covers both routes.
What other Rhode Island LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the Rhode Island state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $50 | Reserved for 120 days (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-10 and 7-16-65) |
| Certificate of good standing | $22 online, $20 by mail | Certificate of good standing/legal existence; long form certificate $30 by phone |
| Certified copy | $10 plus $0.15 per page | Certification fee plus per-page charge |
| Amending the articles | $50 | Amending, restating, or amending and restating the articles of organization |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $50 | Fictitious business name statement filed with the Department of State |
| Changing registered agent | $20 | Statement of change of resident agent and address |
| Foreign LLC registration | $150 | Application for registration as a foreign LLC; amendment to registration $50 |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $50 per year since revocation, plus missed filings | Must file the documents not filed, pay $50 for each year or part of year since revocation, and supply a Division of Taxation good standing certificate; available within 20 years (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-43) |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in Rhode Island, and Rhode Island does not collect it, but every LLC should have one to set out ownership and decision rights. BusinessAnywhere sells an operating agreement template for $97.
What happens if you miss a Rhode Island LLC deadline?
An annual report filed after 1 May carries a $25 penalty, added on 1 June. If the report stays unfiled, the Department of State can revoke the LLC’s certificate after giving at least 60 days’ notice (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-41).
Reinstatement requires every missing filing, $50 for each year or part of a year since revocation, and a good standing certificate from the Division of Taxation, so unpaid $400 charges must be cleared first. Reinstatement is available for up to 20 years (R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-43).
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island sets out the steps.
How does Rhode Island compare with other states?
Rhode Island is mid-priced to form and one of the most expensive states to keep. The $150 formation fee is $50 above the national median, but the $400 annual charge plus the $50 report puts the yearly cost above Delaware’s $400 annual tax.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rhode Island | $150 | $450 | $50 annual report plus $400 annual charge |
| Massachusetts | $520 | $500 | Most expensive state to form and keep |
| Connecticut | $120 | $80 | $80 annual report, no entity tax |
| New Hampshire | $100 | $100 | $100 annual report |
| Delaware LLC cost | $110 | $400 | $400 flat annual tax due 1 June |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a Rhode Island LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your Rhode Island LLC for $0 plus the $150 state fee. The filing comes with a free first year of registered agent service, so your first-year cost is the state fee and nothing else.
- Formation: $0 service fee plus the Rhode Island filing fee.
- Registered agent: free for the first year, then $147 a year.
- EIN application: $97, with no SSN required for non-US founders.
- Compliance reminders: every Rhode Island deadline on this page tracked in your dashboard.
- Virtual mailbox: a US street address with mail scanning, from $20 a month.
Start with our LLC formation service, or read the full guide on how to start an LLC in Rhode Island first.
Rhode Island LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in Rhode Island?
A Rhode Island LLC costs $150 to form and $450 a year after that: a $50 annual report plus a $400 annual charge paid to the Division of Taxation.
What is the Rhode Island $400 LLC fee?
It is an annual charge equal to the state’s minimum corporate tax. Every LLC not taxed as a corporation pays it with Form RI-1065, whether or not it earned income.
Do single-member LLCs pay the Rhode Island $400 charge?
Yes. The Division of Taxation applies the $400 charge to single-member LLCs, with a due date of the 15th day of the fourth month after the tax year ends.
When is the Rhode Island LLC annual report due?
Between 1 February and 1 May every year, starting the year after formation. The fee is $50, plus $2.50 when filed online.
What happens if I miss the Rhode Island annual report?
A $25 penalty is added on 1 June. The Department of State can later revoke the LLC, and reinstatement costs $50 for each year since revocation plus the missing filings.
How much does a Rhode Island LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $1,450 in state fees and charges: $550 in year one and $450 in each of the next two years. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $1,744.
Sources
- Rhode Island Department of State, start your Rhode Island business
- Rhode Island Department of State, file your annual report
- Rhode Island Division of Taxation, tax filing requirements
- Rhode Island General Laws, 7-16-65 (fees)
- Rhode Island General Laws, 7-16-43 (reinstatement)
- Official Rhode Island source: Certificate of good standing fee
- Official Rhode Island source: Certified copy fee
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the Rhode Island Department of State before you file.
