Virginia · Corporation
How to Start a Corporation in Virginia
In Virginia the number of shares you authorize is also the number that prices your corporation, so choose it deliberately.
See the stepsShort answer
To start a corporation in Virginia, file Articles of Incorporation (Form SCC619-DOC) with the State Corporation Commission. At checkout that is $75 for Virginia plus $123.75 for our formation, $198.75 before card processing. The cost is $75 for up to 25,000 authorized shares, and more shares cost more. After that, you pay an annual registration fee, $100 for up to 5,000 authorized shares, that also scales with shares.
Last checked .How do I incorporate in Virginia, step by step?
In Virginia the share count in your articles sets your costs. The charter fee is $75 for up to 25,000 authorized shares and rises $50 for each additional 25,000, and the annual registration fee rises with authorized shares too. Most small founders need few shares, so a modest number saves money every year. Amend later if you outgrow it.
Choose and check the name
A Virginia corporate name shall contain the word corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or the abbreviation corp., inc., co. or ltd. It must also be distinguishable from other names on the State Corporation Commission's records. Use the SCC's Clerk's Information System business name search before filing. See the Virginia 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 SCC619-DOC) with Virginia. The fee at our checkout is $75. 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
A Virginia corporation has a board of directors of one or more individuals who elect the officers. 4 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
Before you pay wages, open a payroll withholding account with the state’s tax department, and a sales tax account if you sell taxable goods or services.
File the annual report
Put the first deadline on your calendar before you file anything else. See the Virginia annual report page and the filings below.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Virginia?
| Item | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|
| State fees (what our checkout charges) | $75 | At filing |
| Our formation, bylaws included | $123.75 | At filing |
| Total for the filing | $198.75 | Before card processing |
| With our registered agent for a year (Formation + Registered Agent) | $253.20 | At filing |
| With the Day-One Bundle | $297 | At filing |
| Annual Registration Fee (each year) | $100 5 | on or before the last day of the month the corporation was formed |
| Registered agent after the first year | $74.25 a year | Optional |
Card processing is added at checkout and shown before you pay. Virginia's fees are the same whoever files.
Virginia at a glance
| Question | Virginia |
|---|---|
| Formation filing and state fee | Articles of Incorporation (Form SCC619-DOC), $75 1 |
| Name rule | Must contain corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or corp., inc., co. or ltd. 2 |
| Registered agent | Registered agent: a Virginia-resident officer or director, or a Virginia State Bar member, whose business office is the registered office; or a domestic/foreign entity 3 |
| Directors and officers | At least 1 director; officers: as described in the bylaws or board resolution, enough to sign documents 4 |
| Annual report | Annual Registration Fee, $100, due on or before the last day of the month the corporation was formed 5 |
| Corporate income tax | 6% flat 6 |
Do I need a registered agent in Virginia?
A Virginia corporation's registered agent can be a Virginia-resident officer or director of the corporation. 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. Virginia registered agent rules.
What goes in the Virginia articles of incorporation?
File the Articles of Incorporation (Form SCC619-DOC) with the State Corporation Commission, online or on paper. The articles set the corporate name, the number of authorized shares, the registered agent and office, and the incorporators. The registered agent can be a Virginia-resident officer or director.
Which annual reports and franchise taxes will a Virginia corporation owe?
Virginia charges an annual registration fee instead of a franchise tax. It is due on or before the last day of the month the corporation was formed, and you pay it through the SCC's Clerk's Information System. Keep your registered agent current and hold an organizational meeting.
How do I start an S corp in Virginia?
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) 8. Virginia treats S corporations as pass-through entities whose owners report their share on their own returns. 7
We file Form 2553 for $165. Run your own numbers in the calculator or read Virginia: S corp or C corp.
Should I form a corporation or an LLC in Virginia?
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 Virginia.
Raising venture money? Investors usually ask for a Delaware C corporation, which you then register in Virginia as a foreign corporation. See how to start a corporation in Delaware.
What do I do after filing in Virginia?
- 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 Virginia corporation
We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee ($75), 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 Virginia?
For a stock corporation with 1 to 25,000 authorized shares, the State Corporation Commission charges $75 in total. The charter fee goes up by $50 for each additional 25,000 shares.
What is the Virginia annual registration fee for a corporation?
$100 for 1 to 5,000 authorized shares, and more as authorized shares rise.
Can I be my own registered agent in Virginia?
Yes, if you are a Virginia resident and an officer or director of the corporation.
How many directors does a Virginia corporation need?
One or more individuals, who elect the officers.
Sources 8 links, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Virginia charges $75 in total to incorporate a stock corporation with 1 to 25,000 authorized shares, and the charter fee rises $50 for each additional 25,000 shares. scc.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Virginia corporate name shall contain the word corporation, incorporated, company or limited, or the abbreviation corp., inc., co. or ltd. law.lis.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Virginia corporation's registered agent can be a Virginia-resident officer or director of the corporation. law.lis.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Virginia corporation has a board of directors of one or more individuals who elect the officers. scc.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Virginia's annual registration fee for a stock corporation is $100 for 1 to 5,000 authorized shares, and it rises with authorized shares. scc.virginia.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Virginia C corporation pays a flat 6% on Virginia taxable income. tax.virginia.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- Virginia treats S corporations as pass-through entities whose owners report their share on their own returns. tax.virginia.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.