Tennessee Corporation cost

Forming a Tennessee Corporation

You file Charter, For-Profit Corporation (Form SS-4417) with the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services. The state fee is $100. See the official fee.

File it yourself with the state →

Every year after

• Annual Report: $20, filed every year. Due: On or before the 1st day of the 4th month after the close of the corporation's fiscal year (April 1 for calendar-year corporations).
• First one: 1st day of the 4th month after the close of the first fiscal year ending after incorporation.
• If you're late: No separate late fee published; failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution (delinquent reports accepted within 4 months after the due date).
• Official report page

State taxes that apply even to a small Corporation

• Franchise tax: $100 — $100 minimum franchise tax per year, based on net worth; applies to LLCs (including most single-member LLCs) and corporations source
• Excise tax: $0 — 6.5% of Tennessee net earnings; $0 if the business has no net earnings source

Worth knowing

• LLC formation and annual report fees are $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum.
• Every LLC and corporation owes at least the $100 minimum franchise tax each year to the Department of Revenue, plus 6.5% excise tax on net earnings.
• Annual reports are due the 1st day of the 4th month after fiscal year end (April 1 for calendar-year entities).
• Corporations pay only $100 to form and $20 per annual report, far less than LLCs.

Registered agent

Tennessee requires a registered agent. Must maintain a registered agent and registered office in Tennessee. You can serve as your own agent if you have a qualifying address; paid services usually charge a yearly fee.