Wyoming · Corporation
How to Start a Corporation in Wyoming
Wyoming keeps the paperwork short and the up-front fee low. The part to understand is how the yearly license tax is figured.
See the stepsShort answer
To start a corporation in Wyoming, file Articles of Incorporation with the Secretary of State for $100. At checkout that is $103 for Wyoming plus $123.75 for our formation, $226.75 before card processing. After that the yearly cost is the annual report license tax: $60 or $.0002 per dollar of Wyoming assets, whichever is greater. There is no expedited filing, so plan on the normal queue.
Last checked .How do I incorporate in Wyoming, step by step?
Wyoming does not allow expedited filing, so your articles go through in the order received.
Choose and check the name
Pick a name distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records that states no purpose beyond your articles. See the Wyoming 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 (Profit Corporation) with Wyoming. The fee at our checkout is $103. 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 Wyoming board must have at least one director, and the officers are whoever the bylaws or the board appoint. 5 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 Wyoming annual report page and the filings below.
How much does it cost to incorporate in Wyoming?
| Item | Cost | When |
|---|---|---|
| State fees (what our checkout charges) | $103 | At filing |
| Our formation, bylaws included | $123.75 | At filing |
| Total for the filing | $226.75 | Before card processing |
| With our registered agent for a year (Formation + Registered Agent) | $281.20 | At filing |
| With the Day-One Bundle | $325 | At filing |
| Annual Report with license tax (each year) | $60 6 | first day of the anniversary month of formation |
| Registered agent after the first year | $74.25 a year | Optional |
Card processing is added at checkout and shown before you pay. State fees: the state's published fee for the Articles of Incorporation (Profit Corporation) is $100; our checkout charges $103 on the state side, and the state's fee schedule does not itemize the other $3. You see it before you pay.
Wyoming at a glance
| Question | Wyoming |
|---|---|
| Formation filing and state fee | Articles of Incorporation (Profit Corporation), $100 1 |
| Expedited filing | None offered 2 |
| Name rule | Must be distinguishable on Secretary of State records and may not imply a purpose other than the one the articles allow 3 |
| Registered agent | Registered agent with a physical street address in Wyoming; a drop box is not acceptable 4 |
| Directors and officers | At least 1 director; officers: as set by the bylaws or the board; no officer titles required by statute 5 |
| Annual report | Annual Report with license tax, $60, due first day of the anniversary month of formation 6 |
| Franchise or minimum tax | Annual report license tax: $60 or $.0002 per dollar of assets located and employed in Wyoming, whichever is greater, due first day of the anniversary month of formation 7 |
| Corporate income tax | 0% flat 8 |
Do I need a registered agent in Wyoming?
A Wyoming registered agent must have a physical address in Wyoming, and a drop box is not acceptable. 4 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. Wyoming registered agent rules.
What goes in the Wyoming articles of incorporation?
File Articles of Incorporation (profit corporation) online at wyobiz.wyo.gov with a card, or mail the form with a check. The registered agent needs a physical Wyoming address. A drop box does not count.
Which annual reports and franchise taxes will a Wyoming corporation owe?
Your first annual report is due on the first day of the anniversary month of formation, and the same filing carries the license tax. Miss it by more than 60 days and the corporation can be dissolved.
- Wyoming's annual report license tax for a profit corporation is $60 or $.0002 per dollar of assets in Wyoming, whichever is greater. 6
- Wyoming has no separate franchise tax; the annual report license tax is the yearly charge, at least $60 or $.0002 per dollar of in-state assets. 7
- Wyoming has no corporate income tax, so a C corporation pays no state income tax. 8
How do I start an S corp in Wyoming?
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) 10. Wyoming has no individual or corporate income tax, so there is no state S election to follow. 9
We file Form 2553 for $165. Run your own numbers in the calculator or read Wyoming: S corp or C corp.
Should I form a corporation or an LLC in Wyoming?
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 Wyoming.
Raising venture money? Investors usually ask for a Delaware C corporation, which you then register in Wyoming as a foreign corporation. See how to start a corporation in Delaware.
What do I do after filing in Wyoming?
- 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 Wyoming corporation
We file it for $123.75 plus the state fee ($103), 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 Wyoming?
The Secretary of State charges $100 for the Articles of Incorporation of a profit corporation.
Can I expedite a Wyoming incorporation?
No.
What is the Wyoming annual report license tax for a corporation?
$60 or $.0002 per dollar of assets in Wyoming, whichever is greater. Wyoming has no separate franchise tax.
How many directors does a Wyoming corporation need?
At least one; the bylaws set your officers.
Sources 10 links, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wyoming charges a $100 filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation of a profit corporation, payable by card for online filing or by check for paper. sos.wyo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wyoming offers no expedited filing; the Secretary of State processes filings in the order received. sos.wyo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wyoming corporate name must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records and may not state or imply a purpose other than the one in its articles. wyoleg.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wyoming registered agent must have a physical address in Wyoming, and a drop box is not acceptable. sos.wyo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- A Wyoming board must have at least one director, and the officers are whoever the bylaws or the board appoint. wyoleg.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wyoming's annual report license tax for a profit corporation is $60 or $.0002 per dollar of assets in Wyoming, whichever is greater. sos.wyo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wyoming has no separate franchise tax; the annual report license tax is the yearly charge, at least $60 or $.0002 per dollar of in-state assets. sos.wyo.gov, checked Nov 7, 2026
- Wyoming has no corporate income tax, so a C corporation pays no state income tax. wyo.gov, checked Nov 6, 2026
- Wyoming has no individual or corporate income tax, so there is no state S election to follow. wyo.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.