How to Incorporate in Washington
If you’re looking to incorporate in Washington, you’re in the right place. This guide will help you file formation documents, get tax identification numbers, and set up your company records.
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Choose a Corporate Structure
Incorporating means starting a corporation. If you want to form an LLC, please see "How to Form an LLC in Washington".
Is your corporation for-profit or not-for-profit? If you are starting a nonprofit, please see "How to Start a Non-Profit Organization in Washington".
C-Corp and S-Corp refer to taxation with the IRS, not to legal structures. Your corporation is taxed as a C-Corp unless you file an election to be taxed as an S-Corp (explained below).
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Check Name Availability
The legal name of your corporation may not conflict with any other registered name. Check availability of your desired name by conducting a name search.
Name Search: Washington Secretary of State - Corporations Division Name Reservation: Optional Suffix Requirements: Must contain the word "corporation," "incorporated," "company," or "limited," or the abbreviation "corp.," "inc.," "co.," or "ltd.". In the case of a social purpose corporation, must contain the words "social purpose corporation" or the abbreviation "SPC" or "S.P.C."
RCW §23.95.305 -
Appoint a Registered Agent
Before you officially file to create your Washington LLC, you will need to decide who your Washington registered agent will be. A registered agent is a business's legal appointee to receive notice of lawsuit and other legal or government notices.
State law requires every LLC to have a registered agent. The registered agent is designated when you file Washington articles of organization with the Washington Secretary of State - Corporations Division.
Our reliable registered agent service fulfills this requirement. You get:
- Same-day documents from our local office in Spokane
- Immediate online access to state forms with our address and, where required, our signature
- Annual fees from $89 to $99 per state with no additional charges
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File Washington Articles of Incorporation
File the articles of incorporation to create your corporation.
Agency: Washington Secretary of State - Corporations Division Form: Filing Method: Mail, in-person, or online.
Agency Fee: $180 by mail or in-person. $230 expedited by mail or in-person. $200 online.
Turnaround: ~2 months by paper. ~2-3 business days expedited paper or online.
Law: Notes: - The Secretary of State will issue your Unified Business Identifier (UBI) which is your state id across state departments.
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File Initial Report
Agency: Washington Secretary of State - Corporations Division Form: Use the form the secretary mailed to you with your formation certificate or file online.
Filing Method: Mail or online.
Agency Fee: $10 application fee + $20 online filing fee.
Due: Within 120 days of incorporation or qualification.
Law: RCW 23B.16.220.
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Establish Bylaws & Corporate Records
Your corporation must keep correct and complete books and records.
Draft bylaws (potentially using a template) which is the governing document for the corporation. The bylaws of a corporation may contain any provision for managing the business and regulating the affairs of the corporation that is not inconsistent with law or with the articles of incorporation (C.R.S. 7-102-106). You will review and ratify the bylaws at your first board of directors meeting.
A corporation shall keep as permanent records minutes of all meetings of its shareholders and board of directors, a record of all actions taken by the shareholders or board of directors without a meeting, a record of all actions taken by a committee of the board of directors in place of the board of directors on behalf of the corporation, and a record of all waivers of notices of meetings of shareholders and of the board of directors or any committee of the board of directors (C.R.S. 7-116-101).
Your filed articles of incorporation and bylaws are the first documents for your corporate records. Your corporation will generate many other official records such as:
- Meeting minutes
- Shareholder resolutions
- EIN verification letter
- Amendments and other filings made to the corporation over its lifetime
Organizations need a secure, centralized tool for managing and accessing sensitive records. Our Records Manager software offers a simple, efficient way for corporations to store records, track officers, directors, and shareholders, and customize meeting notifications.
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Appoint Initial Directors
The initial directors serve on the board until the annual meeting of shareholders (when directors are elected to the board). If the initial directors are not named in the articles of incorporation, they are appointed by the incorporator. The incorporator documents and signs this action for the corporate records.
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Hold Organizational Meeting
Hold the organizational meeting of the incorporators or initial directors in compliance with RCW §23B.02.050. Keep minutes of this meeting.
The following state laws apply unless overridden by the organizational documents, where permissible.
Directors Officers - Number: One or more required.
- Qualifications: None.
- Quorum: Majority of directors, unless bylaws or articles of incorporations fix a different number. No less than one third.
- As stated in the bylaws, but a minimum of one. One person may hold multiple offices. One officer is required to be responsible for maintaining corporate records.
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Issue Stock Certificates
The owners may be issued stock certificates to serve as proof of ownership in the corporation. Remember to hold the first annual meeting of the shareholders (the owners of the corporation) according to bylaws and keep minutes of this meeting.
The following state laws apply unless overridden by the organizational documents, where permissible.
Shareholders Annual Shareholder Meeting - Qualifications: N/A
- Stock Certificate: Not required.
- Voting Trusts Allowed: Yes.
- Required: Yes, unless directors are elected by written consent.
- Action by written consent: Allowed if enough shareholders consent to equal the number required to take action by vote.
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Get a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)
Your corporation must obtain an EIN regardless of whether it will hire employees.
Submit to: Internal Revenue Service
http://www.irs.gov/Form: IRS Form SS-4 Guidance: IRS Pub 1635: Understanding Your EIN Filing Method: Mail, phone, fax, or apply online with the IRS Fee: $0 Turnaround: Immediately online Notes: The IRS website is only available during certain hours. Print your EIN before closing your session. -
Get Washington State Tax Identification Numbers/Accounts
The Unified Business Identifier (UBI) issued to your corporation by the Secretary of State is also your organization's id with the Department of Revenue.
You must register with the Department of Revenue if you meet any of the following conditions:- Your business is required to collect sales tax.
- Your gross income is $12,000 per year or more.
- Your business is required to pay taxes or fees to the Department of Revenue.
- You are a buyer or processor of specialty wood products.
Agency: Washington Department of Revenue Form: Form BLS-700-028: Washington Business License Application Filing Method: Mail or online Agency Fee: $19 Turnaround: ~2 business days online. ~21 business days by mail. Notes: Washington Department of Revenue - New Business Tax Basics Booklet -
Consider Electing S-Corp Taxation
By default, your corporation is taxed as a C-Corporation. Some corporations, especially smaller ones, benefit from electing S-Corp tax treatment:
- C-Corps suffer from double taxation: the corporation pays taxes on profits then members pay taxes on their distributions. If profits exceed $250,000 per owner, you provide employee benefits, or you will re-invest most of your profit in the business, you may benefit from the low tax rates on retained earnings under C-Corp treatment.
- S-Corp treatment avoids double-taxation. It is generally the best choice for small businesses. To accomplish this, file Form 2553: S-Corp Election with the IRS.
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Obtain Business Licenses & Permits
To run your business legally, you must obtain applicable licenses and permits. The easiest way to navigate the wide range of federal, state, and local requirements is to search by your business type and locality using the Small Business Administration Business License & Permit look-up tool.
Washington Business License
Initial Registration
Form: Filing Method: Mail or online.
Agency Fee: $19
Registration Renewal
Form: Filing Method: Mail or online.
Agency Fee: $19
Due: Only after changes or updates to the business.
Penalties: Late license renewal fee.
Renewal Not Required
Not required
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Ongoing Filings to Maintain Your Corporation
You must file federal and state tax returns.
Many states also require business entities to file an annual report to maintain good standing with the secretary of state. If an annual report is required for corporations formed in Washington, view the table below.
Washington Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
Agency: Washington Secretary of State - Corporations Division Form: Filing Method: Mail or online.
Agency Fee: $60
Due: By the end of the registration anniversary month. So if you incorporated or foreign-qualified on March 15, then your annual report is due every year by March 31. You may start filing 45 days prior.
Law: RCW 23.95.255
Penalties: $25 late fee. Your business also risks being dissolved or revoked.
Notes: - Anyone with authority may file.
- Original signatures are not required.
- Expedited service is available for an additional $50.
For more details, see our Washington annual report information center page.
You will need to demonstrate your company’s good standing to banks, customers, and other state agencies. After all the work involved in forming your Washington corporation, don’t let a missed annual report filing cause your new business to fall out of compliance.
Tracking and filing annual reports on your own can be time consuming and lead to accidental lapses. Protect your corporation’s good standing with Managed Annual Report Service, which tracks and automatically files reports on time, every time, so you can focus on your business.
