How to start an LLC in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania forms an LLC with a Certificate of Organization rather than Articles of Organization, filed with the Department of State for $125. The rule almost every existing guide gets stale on is the annual report: Pennsylvania used to ask for a report only once a decade, but that changed. Starting in 2025, most LLCs must file a report every year, and missing it repeatedly can lead to administrative dissolution.
Pennsylvania LLC facts at a glance
| Official filing agency | Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations |
|---|---|
| Formation document | Certificate of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company (DSCB:15-8821) |
| State filing fee | $125 |
| Filing methods | Online through the PA Business One-Stop Hub, Mail to Harrisburg |
| Typical processing (recent) | 7-10 business days |
| Typical expedited processing | 24 hours for an extra $100 |
| Registered agent | Required |
| Annual Report (new 2025) | $7, due September 30 (LLCs) |
| Late penalty | Administrative dissolution after 6 months of non-compliance |
| State-level business tax | No franchise tax. Corporate Net Income Tax of 8.99% (dropping to 4.99% by 2031) if C-Corp elected. |
| Publication requirement | None |
| Registered office | Pennsylvania uses the term registered office rather than registered agent. It must be an actual street address or rural route box number in Pennsylvania; a PO box alone is not acceptable. An LLC may list a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) instead of its own address. |
| Filing fee | $125 to file the Certificate of Organization, nonrefundable whether the filing is accepted or rejected |
| Veteran and reservist-owned business exemption | Qualifying veteran-owned and reservist-owned small businesses can claim a fee exemption on the Certificate of Organization |
Processing times reflect recent official guidance and change often. Check the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations current processing calendar before you rely on a date.
File it yourself
Pennsylvania accepts filings directly from business owners. You do not need us, or any other company, to form your LLC. Here is the official portal.
Business Filing Services on the PA Business One-Stop HubThe Pennsylvania lessons
- 1Name your Pennsylvania LLCRequired designator wording, restricted words, and checking availability before you file.
- 2Set up your Pennsylvania registered officeWhy Pennsylvania uses registered office instead of registered agent, and the CROP option.
- 3File the Certificate of OrganizationForm DSCB:15-8821, the $125 fee, and what happens once it is filed.
- 4Get an EIN and open a bank accountThe free IRS EIN, myPATH tax registration, and what Pennsylvania banks typically ask for.
- 5Pennsylvania LLC taxes and licencesPersonal income tax on pass-through profit, corporate net income tax if you elect it, sales tax, and local Philadelphia taxes.
- 6Stay compliant in Pennsylvania: the new annual reportThe annual report that replaced the old decennial report, its $7 fee and September 30 deadline, plus keeping the registered office current.
Related Gullia Filing pages
Or let us file your Pennsylvania LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Certificate of Organization Domestic Limited Liability Company (DSCB:15-8821), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Official sources
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Certificate of Organization Domestic LLC (DSCB:15-8821)
- Pennsylvania Department of State: fees and payments
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Annual Reports
- Pennsylvania Department of State: Commercial Registered Office Providers
- IRS: apply for an Employer Identification Number
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team, Corporate formation specialists and registered agents