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Tennessee corporation cost

Official fees for forming and keeping a corporation in Tennessee, from Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services.

1 yearat least $220
3 yearsat least $460
5 yearsat least $700

Formation plus recurring state fees and taxes. Excludes registered agent costs. Adjust in the calculator.

Tennessee corporation cost at a glance

Forming a corporation in Tennessee costs $100 in state filing fees. After that, Tennessee charges a report fee of $20 a year plus at least $100 a year in state tax or license fees. Over five years the state's own charges come to at least $700, the 41st lowest of the 51 states with full corporation figures here (the median is $285). Registered agent service and local licenses are extra.

Line by line

ItemAmountOfficial source
Formation filing fee$100sos.tn.gov
Annual or biennial report fee
An additional $20 applies only if a change is made to the registered agent or registered office.
$20sos.tn.gov
Annual state tax or minimum franchise tax
Minimum franchise tax applies to entities registered through the Secretary of State to do business.
$100 minimumwww.tn.gov
Foreign registration (another state's corporation)$600sos.tn.gov

What to know

How to form a corporation in Tennessee

  1. Check the name. Search the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services business records to confirm the name is free. State filing page.
  2. File the articles of incorporation. The Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services charges $100 to form a corporation.
  3. Name a registered agent. The agent needs a physical address in Tennessee. You can serve as your own.
  4. Get an EIN. The IRS issues it free on its own website.
  5. Stay in good standing. Tennessee charges a report fee of $20 a year plus at least $100 a year in state tax or license fees. See What to know above for the details that are easy to miss.

Other business types in Tennessee

An LLC costs $300 to start, then a report fee of at least $300 a year plus at least $100 a year in state tax or license fees. A nonprofit corporation costs $375 to start including the IRS Form 1023-EZ fee, then a report fee of $20 a year. Registering an assumed business name (DBA) with the state costs $20. Compare them in the calculator.

Registering an out-of-state corporation in Tennessee

A corporation formed in another state registers in Tennessee as a foreign corporation. The Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services charges $600 for the registration.

Common questions

How much does it cost to start a corporation in Tennessee?

The state filing fee is $100, and Tennessee then charges a report fee of $20 a year plus at least $100 a year in state tax or license fees.

What does a corporation in Tennessee cost over five years?

at least $700 in state fees and taxes, counting formation and every recurring charge.

How much does it cost to register a foreign corporation in Tennessee?

$600, paid to the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services.

Compare with nearby states in cost

See every state ranked

Guides

What you'll need to start a corporation in Tennessee

  1. 1

    File your Articles of Incorporation

    $100

    The document that creates your corporation with the state of Tennessee.

    Have it done

    • Tailor Brands$0 + state feestate filing (Articles of Incorporation), processing in 14 business days. Registered agent $199/yr; EIN $99; Essential $199/yr and Elite $249/yr plans add faster filing and compliance
    • ZenBusiness$0 + state feestate filing (Articles of Incorporation), name check. Registered agent $99 first year, then $199/yr; EIN +$99
    • Zenind$0 + state feestate filing, name check, filing within 7 days. Registered agent and address +$99/yr; bylaws and certificates $99 unless on Standard or Premium
    • Registered Agents Inc$100 + state feestate filing, registered agent (1 yr), online account. Registered agent $200/yr after year 1
    • LegalZoomfrom $149 + state feestate filing (Articles of Incorporation), name search, tax consultation. Registered agent optional, price not stated on page

    Lowest listed price first, from each company’s own pricing page.

  2. 2

    Name a registered agent

    $0 yourself, or $99 to $200 a year

    A person or company with a street address in Tennessee who receives legal and state mail for the corporation.

    Do it yourself

    Be your own agent if you have a street address in Tennessee.

    Have it done

    • ZenBusiness$99/yrregistered agent (first year). Renews at $199/yr
    • Zenind$99/yrregistered address, mail scanning and forwarding. $99 per year
    • Registered Agents Inc$200/yrannual report filing. $200 per year

    Lowest listed price first, from each company’s own pricing page.

  3. 3

    Get an EIN (tax ID)

    Free

    The federal number banks and the IRS use for your corporation.

    Do it yourself

    Apply on IRS.gov. The IRS states you can get one "in minutes for free".

  4. 4

    File the annual report

    $20 a year plus $100 minimum a year tax

    The recurring filing that keeps the corporation in good standing.

  5. 5

    Open a business bank account

    $0 a month

    Keeps business money separate from personal money. Banks ask for your EIN.

    Options

    • Bluevine$0/mono minimum balance, no overdraft fees. Opening deposit: no minimum balance requirement
    • Mercury$0/mono minimum balance, no account opening fee. Opening deposit: none stated
    • Relay$0/mono minimum balance. Grow $30/month; opening deposit none (no minimum balance)

    Lowest listed price first, from each company’s own pricing page.

  6. 6

    Optional: elect S corporation status

    Filed with the IRS

    The IRS describes Form 2553 this way: a corporation or other entity eligible to be treated as a corporation files it to make an election under section 1362(a) to be an S corporation.

    Do it yourself

    IRS Form 2553.

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