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LLC Cost in Idaho – How Much To Pay In Fees & Taxes in ID

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Last updated February 17, 2023
Written by Dmytro Kondratiev
Editor, lawyer
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Opening an LLC in Idaho doesn't take much time or involve complex manipulations. However, of course, it does require financial investments. Let's see how much you will need to spend to open an Idaho LLC in more detail.

To give you a complete picture of all the related costs, we'll answer the following questions:

  • How much does it cost to open an LLC in Idaho for local and foreign companies?
  • What is the cheapest way to start an LLC in Idaho?
  • What taxes do Idaho LLCs pay in the state?
  • What additional services might require to properly run an LLC and how much do they cost?

If you'd like to learn more about how to form an LLC in the state, we suggest reading "How Do I Open an LLC in Idaho?".

How Much Does an LLC Cost in Idaho

When it comes to forming an LLC in Idaho, you will also need to consider your registered agent service, name reservation, business licenses/permits, certified copies of your documents, and other related costs.

Therefore, we decided to give a more complete answer to the question of how much it costs to get an LLC in Idaho. And the following section is focused on the main registration costs.

LLC Fees in Idaho: Online Filing Fee: $100

In any state, forming an LLC is done by filing Articles of Organization (Certificate of Organization) with the Secretary of State. And just like in any other state, in Idaho, it's easier and cheaper to file online on the Secretary of State's website.

You will need to download and complete the Idaho Certificate of Organization form from the website. The following 5 fields have to be filled out correctly: 

  • Name of the LLC;
  • Street and mailing addresses of the principal office;
  • Name and address of your registered agent;
  • Name and address of (at least) one governor of the LLC;
  • Mailing address for future correspondence (annual report notices).

Once all the fields are filled out, you will also need to sign the document form as the organizer, i.e. a person responsible for the entire formation process of the LLC. You can get more information about LLC organizers from "LLC Organizer: Who is it?"

How much does it cost to form an LLC in Idaho online? The filing fee for online applications is $100. Document processing usually takes up to 1 week, but you can accelerate the process by paying $40 extra for the expedited service.

Alternatively, if you need your registration documents reviewed by the Secretary on the same day, you will need to add another $100 to the filing fee.

Note that you can also file the Certificate of Organization by mail with the Secretary of State. In this case, you will have to pay $120 (incl. $20 for manual document processing).

Mail to:

Office of the Secretary of State

450 N 4th Street

P.O. Box 83720

Boise, ID 83720-0080

Annual LLC Fee Idaho: Annual Report Fee: $0

In Idaho, all LLC owners need to file annual reports online or by mail by the end of their LLC's anniversary month. The state government will alert you by sending a notification when the annual report deadline is approaching.

To file your annual report online, you need to: 

  • Create an account on SOSbiz.idaho.gov;
  • Select your company name and annual report form;
  • Fill out the form and confirm its submission.

Note that even though the state does not charge any state fees or late filing fees for your annual reports, failure to file the report could result in the dissolution of your LLC.

Idaho LLC Cost: Registered Agent Fee: From $50

According to Idaho law, every LLC and corporation needs to appoint and maintain a registered agent (RA) to receive official legal/tax correspondence and service of process (if any) on behalf of the company.

Who can be your registered agent? You can choose from the following three options:

  • Appoint yourself as your own RA for the LLC;
  • Appoint your family member, friend, colleague, or anyone else you trust (must be 18 years old and have a physical street address in the state of Idaho);
  • Appoint a commercial registered agent (or a professional RA service) for the LLC.

Of course, a business owner who becomes a registered agent for the LLC will not have to pay any RA fees, which means impersonating an RA will get you a cheaper Idaho LLC.

Assigning a family member or friend also seems like a cost-effective option. You can negotiate a below-market rate, and in doing so, you can limit your responsibilities. However, such decisions also entail the following risks and inconveniencies:

  • Getting service of process in front of your clients or business partners (if you're working from home);
  • Not complying with all the necessary state requirements due to not being available at the office during normal business hours;
  • Privacy issues. Your RA's name and address will be part of the public record and available on the Secretary of State’s website;
  • If you decide to change your business address, you will need to file additional documents with the Secretary of State.

It's always more beneficial and convenient to hire a professional RA who will be responsible for getting your business mail and timely informing you about your annual report filing deadlines.

In Idaho, RA services start at $50 per year and can go up to $300 per year, depending on the service you choose.

Idaho LLC Fees: Income Tax

All business owners are required to pay state income tax on any money they pay to themselves, which flows through to their personal tax return, minus state allowances or deductions.

The rate depends on the amount of total income and can range from 1.125% to 6.925%. LLC owners will also pay self-employment tax on business profits and federal income tax on any profits, minus federal allowances or deductions.

All these taxes fall under pass-through taxation for LLC owners/members or managers who receive profits from the business. The income tax calculation will be different for residents and non-residents:

  • Residents pay tax on all sources of income;
  • For non-residents, only Idaho source income will be taxed. 

Idaho Sales Tax

If your company sells physical goods or services, you may need to pay sales tax to the Idaho State Tax Commission, which is generally collected at the point of purchase. The statewide static sales tax rate is 6% in Idaho.

Cost to Form a Foreign LLC in Idaho

If you already have an LLC in some other state and want to expand to Idaho, you can register a foreign LLC with the Idaho Secretary of State.

According to Idaho law, to form a foreign LLC in Idaho, you must file a Foreign Registration Statement for the LLC and attach a Certificate of Existence (Certificate of Good Standing) from your home state to your application.

If you submit a certified copy of the Certificate of Organization (Articles of Organization) or Certificate of Tax Status instead of your Certificate of Existence with your foreign LLC application, the application will not be accepted.

Also, don't forget to include the Idaho state filing fee for LLCs with your application. When applying through the Secretary of State's website, the cost for registering an Idaho foreign LLC is $100. Other options are also available as follows:

  • $120 if you send the application by regular mail;
  • +$40 for the expedited service;
  • +$100 if you want your application to be reviewed on the same day.

Cost to Form a PLLC in Idaho

The state allows those individuals who provide professional types of services to form a professional limited liability company (PLLC). In Idaho, professional services include, for example, medical or legal services.

To create a PLLC, follow these next steps:

To file the PLLC certificate by mail, download and fill out this form and mail or deliver it to the following address:

Office of the Secretary of State

450 N 4th Street

PO Box 83720

Boise ID 83720-0080

Note that according to Idaho law, a PLLC is sometimes referred to as a "professional company." 

Business License Renewal Fee

You don't need to obtain a general business license from the state of Idaho. However, depending on the industry of your LLC, your location, and the type of business you run, you may still need to obtain a certain business license or permit from your local government. 

Thus, if you sell taxable goods or services in the state, you will definitely need to obtain an Idaho sales tax permit (or a seller's permit), which does not have to be renewed.

Initially, we recommend contacting your local Idaho city or county clerk or recorder’s office for more information on business licenses or permits that may be required for your LLC.

Other LLC Filing Costs

Next, we'll talk about what else you may need to properly set up a limited liability company for residents and non-residents of the state, as well as how much it will cost.

LLC Name Reservation

When you file your Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of State, you will need to indicate your business name. Make sure the name is available to use in the state, meets all the necessary naming requirements, and is also available as a web domain.

In case you don't plan to file the Certificate of Organization right away but still want to reserve the name, make sure you follow these next steps:

Mail to:

Office of the Secretary of State 

450 N 4th Street 

PO Box 83720 

Boise, ID 83720-0080

Your chosen business name can be reserved for up to 4 months.

Foreign LLC Name Registration

The name reservation process for a foreign LLC is the same as for a domestic LLC.

You don't have to go through the entire name reservation process if you already have a legal business name that meets the naming requirements and that is not occupied by any other existing business in the state. All you have to do is to apply for foreign registration.

If you do have a need for a foreign LLC registration, you can do so by filing a Foreign Registration Statement with the Idaho Secretary of State. You can also fill out the required form and mail it to the Secretary. However, this will take more time and expenses.

How much is an LLC in Idaho name reservation?

  • $20 for an online name reservation;
  • $40 for name reservation by mail.

Assumed Business Name

A "doing business as" (DBA) name or an assumed business name is a fictitious name for companies, which is used for branding purposes. Before you apply for a DBA registration, make sure you do your business name search. 

You can apply to file a DBA through the Secretary of State's online portal. The cost to register a fictitious name for an LLC in Idaho is $25.

Note that your DBA can be canceled or amended if necessary. The amendment fee is $10, and there's no fee for DBA cancellation.

Certified Document Copies

If you need a certified copy of your Certificate of Organization, you can get one through the Secretary of State's website, by mail (paper document), by phone, or by fax.

The fee is $10 + $0.25 for each additional page.

How long will it take to get certified copies of the Certificate of Organization? Up to 3 business days. No expedited processing is available at the moment.

Certificate of Existence

In Idaho, the Certificate of Good Standing is known as the Certificate of Existence, and you can order one from the Secretary of State by filling out a document request form and paying a $10 filing fee.

You will receive the document within a few days if your LLC is fully compliant, i.e. meets all state requirements and does not have any violations. Otherwise, your application will be denied.

When do you need the Certificate of Existence? You will need such a document in the following cases:

  • You plan to expand your business outside the state of Idaho;
  • You want to get a business loan from a bank;
  • You want to open a separate bank account for the LLC;
  • You want to get an insurance policy for your business.

The Certificate of Existence does not have an expiration date, however, a bank or other entity requesting the document may require a certificate that's no older than 60 days.

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