Kentucky LLC Cost

Documents you need

• Articles of Organization (Form KLC) — Must state: the LLC name (must contain 'limited liability company' or 'limited company' or the abbreviation 'LLC' or 'LC', and be distinguishable from names on record); the street address of the initial registered office in Kentucky and the name of the initial registered agent at that office; the mailing address of the initial principal office; and whether the LLC is to be managed by a manager(s) or its member(s). Signed by an organizer, with the registered agent's written consent/signature. Fee $40.
• Registered agent and registered office in Kentucky — Each business entity must appoint and continuously maintain a registered agent to receive legal service of process, who shall be an individual resident of Kentucky, a Kentucky entity, or a foreign entity authorized to transact business in Kentucky. The registered office address shall be the street address in Kentucky where the registered agent is located (no PO Box for the registered office). The registered agent must give written consent to the appointment by signing the Articles of Organization or an attachment (Form KLC instructions).
• Copy of Articles of Organization for the county clerk — After filing with the Secretary of State, a copy of the Articles of Organization must be delivered to the county clerk of the county where the registered office is located (see other_mandatory_costs). Annual reports do not go to the county clerk.

How forming works in Kentucky

1. Line up the agent: Registered agent and registered office in Kentucky — Each business entity must appoint and continuously maintain a registered agent to receive legal service of process, who shall be an individual resident of Kentucky, a Kentucky entity, or a foreign entity authorized to transact business in Kentucky. The registered office address shall be the street address in Kentucky where the registered agent is located (no PO Box for the registered office). The registered agent must give written consent to the appointment by signing the Articles of Organization or an attachment (Form KLC instructions).
2. File the Articles of Organization with the Kentucky Secretary of State — the filing fee is $40 at the cheapest channel (file online at the official portal linked below).
3. Handle the filings due straight after formation: Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET); County clerk recording of Articles of Organization copy.

Annual report & ongoing costs

Kentucky requires a annual report — fee $15.

All entities conducting business in Kentucky must file annual reports by June 30 of each year; reports can be filed any time between January 1 and June 30. The first annual report is due between January 1 and June 30 of the year following the calendar year in which the entity was formed (Secretary of State Annual Reports page and Form KLC instructions).

Fee $15.00 per the Secretary of State Fees page (Domestic LLC: 'Annual Report: $15.00') and the Annual Reports page ('accompanied by a $15 filing fee'). Domestic entities that fail to file by June 30 are administratively dissolved; the Fees page lists a $100.00 reinstatement penalty after administrative dissolution.

Kentucky tax pages

Once the LLC is formed, these pages work out what it keeps: Kentucky Tax Brackets · Kentucky Income Tax Calculator · Kentucky Paycheck Calculator.

Compare Kentucky with the rest of the country

Kentucky's first-year minimum of $215 sits in the full ranking of all 51 jurisdictions — the cheapest first year is Montana at $35 and the most expensive is California at $870.