LLC Annual Fees by State (2026) — Every State's Report Fee + Franchise Tax

Most states require LLCs to file an annual or biennial report with the state and pay a fee to keep the LLC in good standing. This fee goes by many names — annual report fee, franchise tax, privilege tax, or renewal fee — but the result is the same: you pay it or your LLC falls into bad standing and can be administratively dissolved. Beyond the report fee, some states layer on additional taxes like California's minimum franchise tax or Tennessee's excise tax that apply regardless of whether the LLC made money.

The variation between states is enormous. New Mexico charges no ongoing fees whatsoever. California charges a minimum of $800 per year even if your LLC has zero revenue. Understanding this gap matters if you're choosing a state of formation, running a multi-state business, or just trying to forecast annual operating costs.

States with no annual LLC fee

A handful of states stand out for charging nothing on an ongoing basis to keep your LLC alive. These are worth serious consideration for business owners who want to minimize recurring overhead.

• New Mexico — No annual report required and no annual fee. New Mexico is consistently ranked as the cheapest state to maintain an LLC. The only ongoing cost is your registered agent if you use a commercial one.
• Missouri — No annual report and no annual LLC fee. Missouri LLCs only need to file if there are changes to the registered agent or organization.
• Idaho — No annual report requirement for LLCs (only corporations file annual reports in Idaho). Your LLC stays active without any annual filing.
• Arizona — No annual report and no annual fee for LLCs. Arizona eliminated its annual report requirement years ago, making it one of the most maintenance-free states for LLCs.
• Ohio — No annual report or annual fee for LLCs. Ohio is an underrated no-fee state that also has no personal income tax on LLC pass-through income starting in 2023.
• Mississippi — No annual report required for LLCs, keeping ongoing costs at zero for the state fee itself.
• Minnesota — No annual renewal or report fee for LLCs. Minnesota is one of the few Midwest states with zero annual filing requirements.

States with under $50/year

These states require annual or biennial reports but keep the fee very low — generally under $50 per year when you average out biennial filings.

• Kentucky — $15/year annual report. One of the cheapest annual fees among states that do require a report.
• Iowa — $30 biennial report (every two years), averaging $15/year. Iowa requires reports only every other year.
• Indiana — $31.20 biennial report filed every two years online, averaging about $15.60/year.
• Montana — $15/year annual report. Montana also has no sales tax, making it attractive for certain business types.
• West Virginia — $25/year annual report fee.
• Pennsylvania — $7/year annual report (one of the lowest in the country). Pennsylvania lowered its LLC annual fee significantly in recent years.
• Michigan — $25/year annual statement. Michigan keeps ongoing LLC fees minimal.
• Wisconsin — $25/year annual report filed online with the Wisconsin DFI.
• Oklahoma — $25/year annual certificate of compliance.
• Vermont — $35/year annual report fee.

States with $50–$100/year

The majority of states fall into this mid-range bracket. These fees are reasonable but worth tracking as an annual operating expense.

• Alabama — $50/year Business Privilege Tax (BPT) minimum, based on net worth. The minimum applies to most small LLCs.
• Wyoming — ~$60/year annual report (minimum; fee is based on assets in Wyoming, but the minimum is $60). Wyoming is still popular for asset protection and privacy despite this fee.
• Colorado — $10/year periodic report. Colorado has one of the lowest mandatory annual fees in the country for states that require filings.
• Utah — $18/year annual renewal fee. Utah is an underrated low-cost state for LLC maintenance.
• Georgia — $50/year annual registration fee paid to the Georgia Secretary of State.
• Louisiana — $35/year annual report. Louisiana LLCs file annually with the Secretary of State.
• Arkansas — $150 franchise tax per year (minimum). Arkansas is on the higher end of this bracket and edges toward expensive for small LLCs.

States with $100–$200/year

These states charge fees in the $100–$200 range annually. Many are popular business states, so the fees are often justified by other advantages.

• Florida — $138.75/year annual report fee (the exact amount includes a supplemental fee). Florida LLCs must file the annual report or risk administrative dissolution.
• Connecticut — $80/year annual report fee filed with the Connecticut Secretary of State.
• Oregon — $100/year annual report. Oregon's fee is straightforward with no additional franchise tax for most LLCs.
• New Hampshire — $100/year annual report. New Hampshire has no income tax or sales tax, which offsets the annual report cost.
• New Jersey — $75/year annual report. New Jersey also has an additional business tax depending on the LLC structure.
• Virginia — $50/year annual registration fee. Virginia is reasonable for annual fees but has a higher state income tax rate.
• Hawaii — $15 annual report fee, but Hawaii also imposes a 4% General Excise Tax (GET) on gross revenue, not profit, making the true cost much higher for revenue-generating businesses.
• Washington — $60/year annual report fee, but Washington state also imposes a Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts, which can significantly raise the effective annual cost for active businesses.

The most expensive states for LLC annual fees

Some states are notoriously expensive to maintain an LLC in. If you form in one of these states (or do business there), expect a significant ongoing cost.

• California — $800/year minimum franchise tax, due regardless of income, revenue, or profitability. This applies to every LLC doing business in California. Add the $20 biennial Statement of Information fee and the cost climbs further. California LLCs with revenue over $250,000 pay additional graduated fees up to $11,790/year.
• Massachusetts — $500/year annual report fee for LLCs. Massachusetts is one of the most expensive states solely for the annual report filing.
• Tennessee — $300 minimum annual franchise and excise tax for LLCs. Tennessee imposes both a franchise tax (on property/net worth) and excise tax (on income), with a $100 minimum on each.
• Nevada — $350/year annual list of managers/members fee (plus a $200 state business license). Nevada often gets marketed as a tax haven, but the ongoing fees add up to $550+/year.
• Maryland — $300/year personal property tax return (required for most LLCs). Maryland's annual filing is one of the more expensive in the Mid-Atlantic region.
• New York — $25 biennial report (low), but New York has a unique LLC Publication Requirement that costs $1,000–$2,000+ once at formation (not annual, but worth flagging). Certain LLCs also pay the NYC Unincorporated Business Tax.
• Delaware — $300/year franchise tax for LLCs (flat fee). Delaware is the most popular state for incorporation but charges $300/year just to maintain the LLC, on top of any registered agent fees.

Annual fee vs total annual cost: don't forget the registered agent

The state annual report fee is only part of your true annual LLC cost. If you use a commercial registered agent — which most LLC owners do, especially for out-of-state LLCs — you'll pay an additional $49–$300/year depending on the provider. Northwest Registered Agent charges $125/year and includes privacy protections. Cheaper bare-bones services start around $49/year.

For a Wyoming LLC with a $60 state fee and a $125/year registered agent, your real annual cost is $185. For a New Mexico LLC with a $0 state fee and a $49 registered agent, your annual cost is $49. The cheapest all-in annual cost for any LLC is a no-fee state plus the lowest-cost registered agent you trust.

• New Mexico + low-cost registered agent: ~$49–$125/year total
• Wyoming + Northwest Registered Agent: ~$185/year total
• Delaware + registered agent: ~$425–$500/year total
• California (any LLC doing business there): $800+ just in franchise tax, before registered agent
• Massachusetts: $500 annual report + registered agent = $600+/year

Should you pick a state based on annual fees?

For most small business owners and solopreneurs, yes — annual fees are a real and recurring cost that compounds over time. If your LLC costs $800/year to maintain (California) versus $49/year (New Mexico), that's $751 per year going to government fees instead of your business. Over 10 years, that's $7,510.

That said, where you form your LLC and where you do business are separate decisions. If you live in California and run a California-based business, you owe California franchise tax regardless of where you formed your LLC. Forming in Wyoming doesn't eliminate the California tax — it just adds Wyoming fees on top. The no-fee state arbitrage only works cleanly for online businesses, remote consultants, and businesses without a physical nexus in an expensive state.

For online businesses, e-commerce stores, freelancers, and digital service providers with no physical presence in any high-fee state, New Mexico, Wyoming, or Missouri are often the best choices for keeping annual costs low while maintaining good legal standing.

Don’t want to file yourself? Northwest Registered Agent files your LLC for $39 + state fee and acts as your registered agent the first year free.