Kentucky Articles of Incorporation
Kentucky articles of incorporation form a corporation by filing Form PAI with the Secretary of State for a 50 dollar minimum fee, setting the name, agent, and shares. Attorney review available.
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Introduction
Kentucky sets its formation cost with a 50 dollar minimum, a 40 dollar base fee plus a 10 dollar minimum organization tax, paid when you file Articles of Incorporation (Form PAI) with the Kentucky Secretary of State to create the corporation as a separate legal entity. Filing brings the corporation into existence so it can own property, sign contracts, and give its owners limited liability for the corporation debts. Kentucky law requires the articles to set forth the corporation name, the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue, the initial registered office and registered agent, and each incorporator (KRS 271B.2-020). The minimum fee paid to the Secretary of State is 50 dollars, which is a 40 dollar base filing fee plus a 10 dollar minimum organization tax for 1,000 or fewer authorized shares. The corporate name must contain a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, Company, or Limited, or an abbreviation. After the corporation is formed, Kentucky charges no traditional corporation franchise tax, but corporations owe a Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET) with a 175 dollar minimum, collected by the Kentucky Department of Revenue (KRS 141.0401). Every corporation must also file an annual report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and June 30 each year, with a 15 dollar fee (KRS 271B.16-220). DocDraft builds your Kentucky articles of incorporation from your facts, with attorney review available before you file. These fee and tax figures come from two agreeing grounded sources and should be re-confirmed against the Secretary of State fee schedule before filing.
Key Things to Know
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Filing Kentucky's Articles of Incorporation (Form PAI) with the Secretary of State creates the corporation as a separate legal entity, at a 50 dollar minimum made up of a 40 dollar base fee plus a 10 dollar minimum organization tax.
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You file the articles with the Kentucky Secretary of State. The minimum fee is 50 dollars, made up of a 40 dollar base filing fee and a 10 dollar minimum organization tax for 1,000 or fewer authorized shares.
- 3
Kentucky requires the articles to set forth the corporation name, the number of authorized shares, the initial registered office and registered agent, and the name and mailing address of each incorporator (KRS 271B.2-020). The name must include a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, Company, or Limited, or an abbreviation.
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The corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and a registered agent in Kentucky to receive service of process and official documents (KRS 271B.5-010).
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After formation, Kentucky charges no traditional corporation franchise tax, but corporations owe a Limited Liability Entity Tax (LLET) with a 175 dollar minimum, collected by the Kentucky Department of Revenue (KRS 141.0401).
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Every Kentucky corporation must file an annual report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and June 30 each year, with a 15 dollar fee (KRS 271B.16-220). Missing the June 30 deadline can lead to administrative dissolution.
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Articles of incorporation form a corporation. To form a Kentucky limited liability company you file articles of organization instead, and corporate bylaws are a separate internal document the corporation keeps rather than files.
Key decisions before you file
Before you file a Articles of Incorporation in Kentucky, a few decisions shape the document: which option to choose and what each one means. The Articles of Incorporation guide walks through them.
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Kentucky Requirements for Articles of Incorporation
File Form PAI With the Secretary of State
A Kentucky for-profit corporation is formed by filing Articles of Incorporation (Form PAI) with the Kentucky Secretary of State. The minimum fee is 50 dollars, made up of a 40 dollar base filing fee plus a 10 dollar minimum organization tax for 1,000 or fewer authorized shares. The corporation legally exists once the Secretary of State files the articles.
Corporate Name With a Designator
The corporation name in the articles must include a word such as Corporation, Incorporated, Company, or Limited, or an abbreviation, and must be distinguishable from other entities on file with the Kentucky Secretary of State (KRS 271B.2-020).
Registered Office and Agent
The articles must state the street address of the initial registered office and the name of the initial registered agent at that office. The corporation must continuously maintain a registered office and agent in Kentucky (KRS 271B.5-010).
Name and Address of Each Incorporator
The articles must set forth the name and mailing address of each incorporator, and the incorporator signs the articles. The incorporator does not have to be an owner, director, or officer of the corporation (KRS 271B.2-020).
Authorized Shares
The articles must state the number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue, and must authorize at least one class of shares with unlimited voting rights and one class entitled to the net assets on dissolution (KRS 271B.6-010).
File the Annual Report by June 30
Every Kentucky corporation must file an annual report with the Secretary of State between January 1 and June 30 each year, with a 15 dollar fee (KRS 271B.16-220). Missing the June 30 deadline can lead to administrative dissolution.
Limited Liability Entity Tax Instead of Franchise Tax
Kentucky charges no traditional corporation franchise tax. Corporations owe a Limited Liability Entity Tax with a 175 dollar minimum, collected by the Kentucky Department of Revenue (KRS 141.0401). Confirm the amount with the Department of Revenue.
Corporation Versus LLC
Articles of incorporation form a corporation. To form a Kentucky limited liability company you file articles of organization instead. Corporate bylaws are a separate internal document the corporation keeps rather than files with the state.