Alaska LLC – How to Form an LLC in Alaska

Alaska LLC. How to Form an LLC in Alaska. Learn how to get an LLC name, registered agent, Articles of Organization, Alaska LLC operating agreement, and EIN.
This guide will help you set up an LLC in Alaska. It includes step-by-step instructions for obtaining tax IDs and filing documents.

If you want to use an LLC formation service, visit our list of the best LLC services in Alaska.

Forming an LLC in Alaska

To form an Alaska LLC, you’ll need to file your Articles of Organization with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, which costs $250. You can apply online or by mail. The Articles of Organization is the legal document that officially creates your Alaska limited liability company.

Because they are affordable to set up, offer flexibility for the owners, and are simple to manage, LLCs are the most preferred business structure. Your LLC legalizes your business and limits your personal liability. It also allows you to have tax flexibility. As you go through this process, the following steps will guide you.

An important perk to forming an LLC in Alaska is no State Income Tax. Alaska does not have a personal income tax. LLCs are automatically subject to pass-through taxation so they do not pay income taxes.

This page will provide you with all the necessary steps to do an Alaska entity name search, draft an Alaska LLC operating agreement, and answer questions like, can I be my own registered agent in Alaska? and how long does it take to get an Alaska LLC? and ensure your Alaska LLC is properly formed.

Alaska LLC Registration Guide

1. 1. Check Name Availability

      Your LLC’s legal name may not be in conflict with any registered name. You can search for the name you want to check availability.

      Name Search:	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing Name search
      Name Reservation:	Optional
      Suffix:	A limited liability company must have its name listed in its articles of organization. It must include the words “limited liability” or the abbreviation L.L.C. or “LLC”. The abbreviation for “limited” is “Ltd.,” while “company” can be abbreviated “Co.” AS SS10.50.020

   2. Name an Alaska Registered Agent

      Before you can file to officially create an Alaska LLC, you must decide who your Alaska registered agents will be. Register agents are the legal representative of a business that receives notices about lawsuits and other legal notices.

      Every LLC must have a registered agent according to state law. When you file Alaska articles of incorporation with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing, the registered agent will be designated.

       

   3. Limited Liability Company – Alaska Certificate of Formation

      To create a limited liability company, file the articles of organization

      Agency:	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
      Form:	Articles for Organization
      Filing Method	Mail or online
      Agency Fee:	$150 filing fee + $100 biennial license fee = $250 total
      Turnaround:	Online immediately Paper copies are available for a minimum of 10-15 business days.
      Law:	Alaska Statutes Chapter 10.50: Alaska Revised Limited Liability Company Act
      Notes:	Send one original and one duplicate along with a check for the State Fee. Attach the Contact Information Sheet.

   4. Start a Report

      Agency:	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
      Form:	Enter your entity # and click ‘Print Form’
      Filing Method	Mail or online
      Agency Fee:	$0
      Due:	Within six months of receiving the form from Department of Commerce.
      Law:	Alaska Stat. SS 10.50.760

   5. Establish Company Records

      Your LLC must maintain accurate and complete records. Your LLC’s first records will be your filed articles of organization. Other official records that your LLC may produce include:

      • Minutes of meetings
      • Operating agreement
      • EIN verification letter
      • Amendments to and other filings made by the LLC during its lifetime

       

   6. Make an Alaska LLC Operating Agreement

      An Operating Agreement is the governing document of the LLC. This document outlines the rules and procedures for how the LLC will operate, such as holding an annual meeting. The agreement will be reviewed and approved at your organization meeting.

   7. The Organizational Meeting

      The organizational meeting is the first meeting of members of an LLC. To conduct this meeting, you will need to have your operating agreement and the filed articles of organization. Keep a record of the meeting and keep it in your company records book.

   8. Register for a Federal Employer Identification Number (EIN)

      An EIN is required for any LLC that has more than one member, or hires employees. A bank account opening requires an EIN.

      Agency:	Internal Revenue Service (IRS).
      Form:	IRS Form S-4
      Filing Method	You can send mail, fax or online by phone.
      IRS fee	$0
      Turnaround:	Online or over the phone, immediately. 4 business days via fax. 4-5 weeks via mail
      Notes:	Only certain hours are available for the IRS website. Before closing your session, print your EIN. For more information, please refer to IRS Pub 1635 Understanding Your EIN.

   9. Get Alaska State Tax Identification Numbers/Accounts

      Alaska does not offer a single state tax registration application. You must apply for each tax account.

      Guidance:

      
      Alaska Tax Types

      Send your submission to:

      Alaska Department of Revenue

      http://www.tax.alaska.gov/

1. Consider Electing C-Corp Taxation or S-Corp Fiscal

   Your LLC will automatically be subject to pass-through taxation. However, the majority of LLCs maintain this tax classification. Some LLCs can choose to elect S-Corp and C-Corp tax treatment.

   • S Corp treatment is available to owner-employees earning more than $75,000 annually and can help them save on self-employment tax.
   • Double taxation is a problem for C-Corps: members pay taxes on distributions and the corporation pays taxes. You may be eligible for C-Corp tax treatment if your profits exceed $250,000 or you offer employee benefits.

2. Get Business Licenses and Permits

   You must have the appropriate licenses and permits to run your business legally. It is easy to find the right licenses and permits for your state and federal business.

   Alaska Business License

   Agency:	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
   Law:	AS SS 43.70.020

3. You must continue to file for your LLC

   You are required to file both federal and state tax returns.

   To maintain good standing with the secretary-of-state, many states require that business entities file an annual report. The table below shows how LLCs in Alaska must file an annual report.

   Domestic Alaska Corporation Annual Report Requirements:

   Agency:	Alaska Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing
   Form:	Enter your entity # and click ‘Print Form’
   Filing Method	Mail or online.
   Agency Fee:	$100
   Due:	By January 2, the Biennial Report will be due. Biennially by January 2. If you originally filed in an odd-numbered years, the Biennial report will be due January of each odd-numbered. You can file reports as early as October 2.
   Law:	Alaska Stat. SS 10.06.811
   Penalties:	Beginning February 2. Domestic corporations pay a late fee of $37.50

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