South Dakota LLC cost at a glance
| Cost | South Dakota amount |
|---|---|
| Cost to form | $150 online, $165 on paper |
| Annual report | $55 online, $70 on paper |
| When it is due | First day of the anniversary month, every year |
| State tax on the LLC | No franchise tax and no state income tax |
| First-year state fees (minimum) | $150 |
| Yearly state fees after that (minimum) | $55 |
| 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 South Dakota Secretary of State and other official South Dakota sources listed at the end of this page.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in South Dakota?
The South Dakota Secretary of State charges $150 to file Articles of Organization online, or $165 on paper. Online filings are processed immediately, and paper filings take one to three business days on average.
Expedited service costs $50. A name reservation costs $25. A foreign LLC pays $750 online to register, five times the domestic fee.
Our walkthrough on how to file articles of organization in South Dakota covers the form field by field.
How much does a South Dakota LLC cost every year?
Every South Dakota LLC files an annual report on the first day of its anniversary month, and the fee is $55 online or $70 on paper. Filing opens two months before the due date. Filing online saves $15 on formation and $15 on every report.
From 1 January 2027, a South Dakota entity can choose either its anniversary month or 31 January as its annual report date, and new formation documents must state the choice.
What does a South Dakota LLC cost over the first three years?
The table below adds up the state fees a South Dakota LLC pays in its first three years, using the minimum amounts South Dakota 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 | $150 | $150 |
| Year 2 | $55 | $202 |
| Year 3 | $55 | $202 |
| Three-year total | $260 | $554 |
Does South Dakota charge a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
South Dakota has no franchise tax on LLCs, no personal income tax and no corporate income tax. An LLC taxed as a partnership or a disregarded entity pays no state income tax, and neither do its members on their share of profit.
Sales tax and other state taxes apply to the business activity itself, not to the LLC’s existence.
How much does a registered agent cost in South Dakota?
Every South Dakota LLC must name a registered agent with a physical street address in South Dakota. 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.
See whether BusinessAnywhere can be your registered agent in South Dakota for the state-specific details.
If you are weighing the free option, read can I be my own registered agent first.
Does a South Dakota LLC need an EIN, and what does it cost?
An EIN costs nothing when you apply directly with the IRS. A South Dakota 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 South Dakota LLC fees should you budget for?
These fees apply only when you need the service. They are the South Dakota state charges as of October 2026.
| Item | Fee | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Name reservation | $25 | Reservation of Name. |
| Expedited filing | $50 | Expedited Service fee. Online filings are processed immediately; paper filings take 1 to 3 business days on average. |
| Certificate of good standing | $20 online; $35 paper | Certificate of Good Standing or Existence; online requests produce an immediate PDF download. |
| Certified copy | $15 plus $2 per page | Certified copies; plain copies are $2 per page. |
| Amending the articles | $60 | Amended or Restated Domestic Articles. |
| DBA (assumed or trade name) | $10 | DBA (Fictitious Business Name) registration $10, renewal $10; registrations last five years. |
| Changing registered agent | $10 | Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Address. |
| Foreign LLC registration | $750 online; $765 paper | Foreign Certificate of Authority; an amended Certificate of Authority is also $750. |
| Reinstatement after dissolution | $150 plus delinquent reports and fees | Domestic reinstatement requires a Tax Clearance Certificate from the SD Department of Revenue. Foreign entities cannot be reinstated and must apply for a new Certificate of Authority. |
An operating agreement carries no state fee in South Dakota, and South Dakota 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 South Dakota LLC deadline?
A South Dakota LLC becomes delinquent when its annual report is not filed within two months of the due date, and a report filed after that adds a $55 late fee. The Secretary of State can begin administrative dissolution once the report is 60 days overdue.
Reinstatement costs $150 plus every delinquent report and fee, and requires a Tax Clearance Certificate from the South Dakota Department of Revenue. A foreign LLC cannot reinstate and must apply for a new certificate of authority.
If you intend to close the business, file formally instead of letting it lapse. Our guide on how to dissolve an LLC in South Dakota sets out the steps.
How does South Dakota compare with other states?
South Dakota is expensive to form and mid-priced to keep. Its $150 online formation fee is $50 above the national median, while its $55 online report costs slightly less each year than Wyoming’s $60 minimum license tax, and neither state has an income tax.
| State | Formation fee | Yearly state fees (minimum) | What drives the cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| South Dakota | $150 | $55 | $150 online to form, $55 annual report |
| North Dakota LLC cost | $135 | $50 | $135 to form, $50 annual report due 15 November |
| Wyoming LLC cost | $100 | $60 | $60 minimum license tax, no income tax |
| Montana LLC cost | $35 | $0 | Cheapest formation fee; free annual report if filed by 15 April |
| Nevada LLC cost | $425 | $350 | $200 business license every year |
| Iowa LLC cost | $50 | $15 | $50 to form, $30 report every two years |
For all 51 jurisdictions side by side, see our full table of LLC cost by state.
How to form a South Dakota LLC for $0 plus state fees
BusinessAnywhere files your South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota 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 South Dakota first.
South Dakota LLC cost FAQs
How much does an LLC cost in South Dakota?
A South Dakota LLC costs $150 to form online or $165 on paper. After that it pays $55 a year for the online annual report, or $70 on paper.
When is the South Dakota LLC annual report due?
On the first day of the LLC’s anniversary month every year. From 1 January 2027, an entity can choose its anniversary month or 31 January.
What is the South Dakota annual report late fee?
$55, for reports filed after the delinquency date two months after the due date. Dissolution can start once the report is 60 days overdue.
Does South Dakota have a state income tax?
No. South Dakota has no personal income tax, no corporate income tax and no franchise tax on LLCs.
How much does it cost to reinstate a South Dakota LLC?
$150 plus every delinquent report and fee, with a Tax Clearance Certificate from the Department of Revenue.
How much does a South Dakota LLC cost over three years?
At the minimum, $260 in state fees: $150 to form online and two $55 annual reports. With a commercial registered agent from year two at $147 a year, the total is $554.
Sources
- South Dakota Secretary of State, filing fees
- South Dakota Secretary of State, corporations FAQ
- South Dakota Codified Laws 59-11-25 (annual report date)
- South Dakota Department of Revenue, individual taxes
Fees change. Every figure on this page was checked against the official source in October 2026. Confirm the current amount with the South Dakota Secretary of State before you file.
