Form Your New Mexico C Corporation
Build an investor-ready company in the Land of Enchantment with a low $100 filing fee, no franchise tax, and the stock and cap-table structure VCs require
Filed in New Mexico
The Land of Enchantment · NM
- State filing fee$100
- Processing time1-3 business days (online)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$25 biennial report; no franchise tax — due Biennial corporate report, every two years
- State tax rate4.8%-5.9% graduated corporate income tax
Form your New Mexico C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your New Mexico C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $100 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation to the New Mexico Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in New Mexico — we act as your agent for the first year.
EIN from the IRS
Your federal Tax ID — required to open a US business bank account and file taxes.
Corporate bylaws
Professionally drafted corporate bylaws — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an C-Corp in New Mexico
New Mexico pairs a low $100 incorporation fee and no franchise tax with a graduated 4.8%-5.9% corporate income tax, giving founders an affordable home base for an investor-ready C Corporation. The state's expanding film, aerospace (Spaceport America), and energy sectors and low operating costs make it a practical place to incorporate before raising priced rounds.
The structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require to write a check
Issue multiple classes of stock and build a clean cap table for equity grants and priced rounds
Perpetual existence that survives changes in ownership, directors, and officers
Affordable formation at a $100 state filing fee with no franchise tax in New Mexico
QSBS / Section 1202 benefits may apply to qualifying C Corporation stock
Strong New Mexico privacy posture - shareholder names are not required in the public filing
Low ongoing maintenance: a single $25 report due only every two years
Access to growing film, aerospace, and energy sectors with low operating costs
Key features of a New Mexico C-Corp
- Investor-ready C Corporation structure for VCs and SAFEs
- Stock issuance, multiple share classes, and a clean cap table
- Board of directors and corporate bylaws governance
- Perpetual existence independent of owners
- No New Mexico franchise tax; low $25 biennial report
Major industries in New Mexico
Form your New Mexico C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 1-3 business days (online).
- 01
Choose Your Corporate Name
Your name must include a corporate designator such as 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' 'Limited,' or an abbreviation like 'Corp.' or 'Inc.' Check availability through the New Mexico Secretary of State's business search.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
New Mexico requires corporations to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in the state to accept service of process and official notices on the company's behalf.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the New Mexico Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $100 and online filing is typically processed in 1-3 business days. You will state the number of authorized shares of stock.
- 04
Appoint Directors and Adopt Bylaws
Name an initial board of directors and adopt corporate bylaws that govern how the company operates, holds meetings, and issues stock. Hold an organizational meeting to ratify these actions.
- 05
Issue Stock and File 83(b) if Needed
Issue shares to founders and record them on your cap table. Founders receiving restricted stock should consider filing an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the grant to manage future tax treatment.
- 06
Obtain an EIN and Register for State Tax
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS, then register with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department for corporate income tax and Gross Receipts Tax as applicable.
New Mexico C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
New Mexico C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a New Mexico C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the New Mexico Secretary of State ($100)
- Designate a registered agent with a physical New Mexico address
- Appoint a board of directors and adopt corporate bylaws
- Authorize and issue shares of stock; maintain a cap table and stock ledger
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File a biennial corporate report ($25) every two years
- Register with the New Mexico Taxation and Revenue Department for corporate income and Gross Receipts Tax
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- New Mexico Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $20 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $100 New Mexico state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, corporate bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in New Mexico)
- EIN / Federal Tax ID
- Expedited processing (1–2 days)
- Corporate bylaws
- Priority support
- Kicker Voice — 3-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 15 days
Founder
- Everything in Booster
- Business mailing address
- Bookkeeping — 3 months free
- Dedicated account manager
- Rush processing
- Kicker Voice — 6-day free trial
- Kicker Pay — free for 30 days
Kicker
- Everything in Founder
- ITIN filing & preparation
- Same-day priority processing
- 2nd year annual filing $0
- Kicker Voice 12-day + Kicker Pay 60 days free
Compare all plans on our pricing page.
New Mexico C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in New Mexico. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a C Corporation in New Mexico?
The New Mexico Secretary of State charges a $100 state filing fee for Articles of Incorporation. Ongoing costs are minimal: a $25 corporate report filed only every two years, with no state franchise tax. Our service fee is added on top of the state fee.
How long does it take to incorporate in New Mexico?
Online filings with the New Mexico Secretary of State are typically processed in 1-3 business days, so most C Corporations are formed within that window.
Why choose a C Corporation instead of an LLC?
A C Corporation is the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require. It lets you issue stock and multiple share classes, build a cap table, raise priced rounds and SAFEs, grant equity to employees, and exist perpetually - all things an LLC cannot do cleanly.
How is a New Mexico C Corporation taxed?
C Corporations pay the flat 21% federal corporate income tax plus New Mexico's graduated 4.8%-5.9% corporate income tax. Because the corporation pays tax on profits and shareholders pay tax again on dividends, this is known as 'double taxation.' New Mexico has no franchise tax.
What is QSBS and could my New Mexico C Corporation qualify?
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) under Section 1202 can let eligible shareholders exclude part or all of the gain when they sell qualifying C Corporation stock. Only C Corporations can issue QSBS, so these benefits may apply to your company - consult a tax advisor, as the rules changed in 2025.
What is an 83(b) election and when do I file it?
Founders who receive restricted stock that vests over time can file an 83(b) election with the IRS to be taxed at grant rather than as the stock vests. The election must be filed with the IRS within 30 days of receiving the restricted stock, so file it promptly after incorporating.
Does my New Mexico C Corporation need to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, US domestic entities and US persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. Only entities formed in a foreign country and registered to do business in a US state still file, so a domestic New Mexico C Corporation generally has no BOI filing obligation.
Do I need a registered agent and a board of directors?
Yes. New Mexico requires a corporation to maintain a registered agent with a physical in-state address. You must also appoint a board of directors (one director is sufficient) and adopt corporate bylaws to govern the company.
New Mexico government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official New Mexico state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Filed as 'Application for Name Reservation' under Other Filings in the SOS Enterprise portal (form confirmed in the official Business Online Filing Help PDF).
In New Mexico the good-standing document is the 'Certificate of Status Filing' (verifies the status of a registered business entity).
Learn more$25 flat for certified, file-stamped copies of business filings via 'Business Certified Copies Request Filing' (NOT per page.
$3.00 per document for a certification of appointment or apostille.
NMSA 53-2-1: filing an application for a certificate of authority of a foreign corporation = $1.00 per 1,000 authorized shares represented in New Mexico, MINIMUM $200,…
Learn moreNew Mexico levies a gross receipts tax (not a conventional sales tax) and issues NO traditional resale permit/seller's permit.
Learn moreAmends the Articles of Incorporation for a domestic profit corporation.
Learn more$25 for filing a statement of a change of address of the registered office or change of the registered agent, or both (NMSA 53-2-1).
Learn more$200 reinstatement ('letter of reinstatement of a domestic or foreign corporation') fee under NMSA 53-2-1, PLUS the delinquent Biennial Corporate Report fee of $25 per…
Learn moreNMSA 53-2-1: filing a statement of intent to dissolve, a statement of revocation of voluntary dissolution proceedings, or articles of dissolution = $50.00 each.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your New Mexico C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your New Mexico C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $100 New Mexico state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 1-3 business days (online).
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