Arkansas · Corporation
How to Start a Corporation in Arkansas
Arkansas files the corporate paperwork cheaply and then charges an annual franchise tax with a $150 floor.
See the stepsShort answer
To start a corporation in Arkansas, file Articles of Incorporation (Form DN-01) with the Secretary of State for $45 online or $50 on paper. At checkout that is $45 for Arkansas plus $123.75 for our formation, $168.75 before card processing. Then plan on the annual franchise tax report, due May 1, with a $150 minimum tax.
Last checked .How do I incorporate in Arkansas, step by step?
Arkansas looks cheap at the start, but every corporation files an annual franchise tax report. The minimum tax is $150, or $300 for a corporation without authorized stock, and no-par stock counts at $25 per share. The report is due May 1.
Choose and check the name
Search the Secretary of State's business name database before you file, and use the legal ending your name needs. See the Arkansas name search guide.
Name a registered agent
Every corporation needs one in the state (the rule). Ours is $74.25 a year.
File articles of incorporation
File the Articles of Incorporation (Form DN-01) with Arkansas. The fee at our checkout is $45. Details are below.
Adopt bylaws
Bylaws are the board's rules: how directors are elected, how meetings run and how officers are chosen. Every corporation we form includes them.
Name directors, officers and issue shares
Hold an organizational meeting, record it in minutes, and issue stock to the owners.
Get an EIN
The EIN is the corporation's federal tax ID. The IRS issues it free at irs.gov.
Register for state taxes
Register with Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration: register for a tax account (sales, withholding) through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point (ATAP). 7
File the annual report
Put the first deadline on your calendar before you file anything else. See the Arkansas annual report page and the filings below.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Arkansas?
| Item | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|
| State fees (what our checkout charges) | $45 | At filing |
| Our formation, bylaws included | $123.75 | At filing |
| Total for the filing | $168.75 | Before card processing |
| With our registered agent for a year (Formation + Registered Agent) | $223.20 | At filing |
| With the Day-One Bundle | $267 | At filing |
| Annual Corporation Franchise Tax Report (each year) | $150 4 | May 1 |
| Registered agent after the first year | $74.25 a year | Optional |
Card processing is added at checkout and shown before you pay. Arkansas's fees are the same whoever files.
Arkansas at a glance
| Question | Arkansas |
|---|---|
| Formation filing and state fee | Articles of Incorporation (Form DN-01), $45 1 |
| Name rule | Must contain Corporation, Incorporated, Company or Limited, or Corp., Inc., Co. or Ltd. (or like words in another language) 2 |
| Registered agent | Registered agent must have a street address in Arkansas and be located there; no PO box or mail drop 3 |
| Annual report | Annual Corporation Franchise Tax Report, $150, due May 1 4 |
| Franchise or minimum tax | Arkansas corporation franchise tax: computed on the annual report; no-par stock counts at $25 per share; corporations without authorized stock pay $300, due May 1 5 |
| Corporate income tax | 1% to 4.3%, graduated 6 |
Do I need a registered agent in Arkansas?
An Arkansas corporation's registered agent must have a street address in Arkansas and be located at that address; a PO box or mail drop is not allowed. 3 You can be your own agent if you have a street address in the state and are there in business hours, but the address goes on the public record. Ours, through our partner Registered Agents Inc, is $74.25 a year, or $178.20 with the formation. Arkansas registered agent rules.
What goes in the Arkansas articles of incorporation?
File Articles of Incorporation, Form DN-01, with the Secretary of State, along with the no-fee Franchise Tax Registration. List your authorized shares carefully, because they drive your franchise tax later.
Which annual reports and franchise taxes will a Arkansas corporation owe?
Your annual obligation is the franchise tax report, due on or before May 1. Put that date on your calendar when you form.
- Arkansas corporations file an annual franchise tax report with a $150 minimum tax, due May 1. 4
- Arkansas's franchise tax has a $150 minimum, no-par stock counts at $25 per share, corporations without authorized stock pay $300, and the report is due May 1. 5
- An Arkansas C corporation pays graduated rates from 1.0% to 4.3%: 1.0% on the first $3,000 of net income, 2.0% on the second $3,000, 3.0% on the next $5,000 and 4.3% on net income exceeding $11,000. 6
How do I start an S corp in Arkansas?
A corporation is a C corporation unless it elects otherwise. An S corp is a tax election, not another kind of entity. The order is plain: form the corporation, get the EIN, then file IRS Form 2553 within 2 months and 15 days after start of the tax year the election takes effect (or any time in the prior tax year) 9. Arkansas recognizes the federal S election and, since 2018, requires a federal S corporation to file as an Arkansas S corporation. 8
We file Form 2553 for $165. Run your own numbers in the calculator or read Arkansas: S corp or C corp.
Should I form a corporation or an LLC in Arkansas?
Shares, a board and officers. The usual choice when you plan to raise money from investors or issue stock options.
Fewer formalities and flexible ownership. Often the simpler choice for one owner or a small team.
Compare the two: How to start an LLC in Arkansas.
Raising venture money? Investors usually ask for a Delaware C corporation, which you then register in Arkansas as a foreign corporation. See how to start a corporation in Delaware.
What do I do after filing in Arkansas?
- Adopt the bylaws and hold the first board meeting; write minutes.
- Issue stock to the owners and keep a stock ledger.
- Get the EIN, open a business bank account and keep money separate.
Form your Arkansas corporation
We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee ($45), with bylaws included. Add the registered agent for $178.20 in all, or take the Day-One Bundle at $222.
Common questions
How much does it cost to incorporate in Arkansas?
$45 online or $50 on paper for Articles of Incorporation, Form DN-01. The Franchise Tax Registration filed with it has no fee.
What is the Arkansas corporation franchise tax minimum?
$150. If the tax you calculate is less, you pay $150. Corporations without authorized stock pay $300.
When is the Arkansas franchise tax report due?
On or before May 1 each year. Penalty and interest apply after that date.
How is no-par stock taxed in Arkansas?
The report counts no-par stock at $25 per share when it calculates the tax.
Sources 9 links, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Arkansas charges $45 to file Articles of Incorporation (Form DN-01) online and $50 on paper; the Franchise Tax Registration filed with it has no fee. sos.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- An Arkansas corporation's name must contain the word corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or the abbreviation Corp., Inc., Co. or Ltd. sos.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- An Arkansas corporation's registered agent must have a street address in Arkansas and be located at that address; a PO box or mail drop is not allowed. sos.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Arkansas corporations file an annual franchise tax report with a $150 minimum tax, due May 1. sos.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Arkansas's franchise tax has a $150 minimum, no-par stock counts at $25 per share, corporations without authorized stock pay $300, and the report is due May 1. sos.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- An Arkansas C corporation pays graduated rates from 1.0% to 4.3%: 1.0% on the first $3,000 of net income, 2.0% on the second $3,000, 3.0% on the next $5,000 and 4.3% on net income exceeding $11,000. dfa.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- A new Arkansas business registers for state tax accounts with the Department of Finance and Administration through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point. dfa.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Arkansas recognizes the federal S election and, since 2018, requires a federal S corporation to file as an Arkansas S corporation. dfa.arkansas.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- IRS: Form 2553 instructions irs.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
Last verified Nov 7, 2026.
This page explains the rules; it is not legal or tax advice.