Form Your Pennsylvania C Corporation
Build the investor-ready structure VCs require — stock, a cap table, and a board — in the Keystone State, with no franchise tax and a low-cost $7 annual report (effective 2025)
Filed in Pennsylvania
The Keystone State · PA
- State filing fee$125
- Processing time7-10 business days online; longer by mail
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$7/year (annual report req. as of 2025) — due Jan 1 - Jun 30 annually (corps, since 2025)
- State tax rate7.99% corporate net income tax
- Expedited optionsame day (request received before 10:00 a.m.) (+$100)
Form your Pennsylvania C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Pennsylvania C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $125 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 Pennsylvania Department of State.
Registered agent
Required in Pennsylvania — 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 Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania pairs a strategic Northeast location between New York and D.C. with two startup-dense metros in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh, making it a credible home for a C Corporation built to raise venture capital. The state eliminated its franchise tax in 2016 and now charges only a $7 annual report; corporations pay the 21% flat federal corporate income tax and Pennsylvania's 7.99% corporate net income tax.
Issue multiple classes of stock and maintain a cap table — the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require
Perpetual existence: the corporation continues independent of any single shareholder, founder, or director
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) under Section 1202 may apply to C Corp shares, potentially offering federal capital-gains benefits to early investors
Raise capital cleanly through priced rounds and SAFEs, with equity grants and a board-governed option pool
No Pennsylvania franchise tax — the Capital Stock/Foreign Franchise Tax was fully eliminated in 2016
Strategic Northeast location between New York and Washington, D.C., with two major metros in Philadelphia and Pittsburgh
Strong healthcare, education, and technology sectors, anchored by Carnegie Mellon and the University of Pittsburgh
Low-cost ongoing compliance: a $7/year annual report replaced the former decennial report effective 2025
Key features of a Pennsylvania C-Corp
- Articles of Incorporation filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State for $125
- Stock issuance, a cap table, a board of directors, and bylaws — the framework investors expect
- Subject to the 21% flat federal corporate income tax, plus Pennsylvania's 7.99% corporate net income tax
- Newspaper publication of the incorporation notice is required for PA corporations
- No Pennsylvania franchise tax (eliminated 2016); $7/year annual report effective 2025
Major industries in Pennsylvania
Form your Pennsylvania C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 7-10 business days online; longer by mail.
- 01
Choose Your Corporate Name
Your name must include a corporate designator such as 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' 'Limited,' or an abbreviation (Corp., Inc., Co., Ltd.). Check availability through the Pennsylvania Department of State's business entity search.
- 02
Appoint Directors and a Registered Office
A Pennsylvania corporation needs at least one director. You must maintain a registered office address in the state (a commercial registered office provider may be used in place of a street address).
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Pennsylvania Department of State. The filing fee is $125, and online filing is available. Online processing typically takes 7-10 business days; mail filings take longer.
- 04
Publish Notice of Incorporation
Pennsylvania requires every new corporation to publish notice of its incorporation in two newspapers (one a legal journal where available). Keep the proofs of publication with your corporate records.
- 05
Adopt Bylaws, Issue Stock, and Hold the Organizational Meeting
Adopt corporate bylaws, appoint officers, authorize and issue stock to founders, and open your cap table. Founders receiving restricted stock should consider filing an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the grant.
- 06
Obtain an EIN
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS for federal tax filing, opening a corporate bank account, and hiring employees.
Pennsylvania C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Pennsylvania C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Pennsylvania C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the PA Department of State ($125)
- Maintain a registered office address in Pennsylvania
- Appoint at least one director and adopt corporate bylaws
- Publish notice of incorporation in two newspapers (required for PA corporations)
- Issue stock to founders and maintain a cap table; file 83(b) elections with the IRS within 30 days of any restricted-stock grant where applicable
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File the annual report each year ($7), due January 1 - June 30 (replaced the decennial report effective 2025)
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Pennsylvania Department of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $70 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $125 Pennsylvania 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 Pennsylvania)
- 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.
Pennsylvania C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in Pennsylvania. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a C Corporation in Pennsylvania?
The state filing fee for Articles of Incorporation is $125, paid to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Pennsylvania also requires every new corporation to publish a notice of incorporation in two newspapers, and a $7/year annual report applies (effective 2025, replacing the former decennial report).
How long does it take to incorporate in Pennsylvania?
Online filings with the Pennsylvania Department of State typically take about 7-10 business days, while mail filings take longer. Expedited handling may be available for an additional fee.
Does Pennsylvania require annual reports for corporations?
Yes. Pennsylvania corporations file an annual report for $7 (effective January 1, 2025, under Act 122 of 2022), which replaced the former decennial report. For corporations the report window runs January 1 through June 30 each year.
How is a Pennsylvania C Corporation taxed?
A C Corporation pays the 21% flat federal corporate income tax on its profits, and dividends paid to shareholders are taxed again on their personal returns — the 'double taxation' of C Corps. In Pennsylvania, corporations also pay a 7.99% corporate net income tax; the state has no franchise tax (eliminated in 2016).
Why choose a C Corporation instead of an LLC?
A C Corporation issues stock, maintains a cap table, and is governed by a board of directors and bylaws with perpetual existence — the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors require. It is the standard vehicle for raising priced rounds and SAFEs and for granting equity through an option pool.
What are QSBS and the 83(b) election?
Qualified Small Business Stock (QSBS) under Section 1202 may apply to C Corporation shares and can offer federal capital-gains benefits to qualifying early shareholders; eligibility depends on current IRS rules. Separately, founders who receive restricted stock should consider filing an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of the grant to be taxed on the value at grant rather than at vesting.
Does my Pennsylvania corporation have to file a BOI report?
Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, U.S. domestic entities and U.S. persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting. Only entities formed outside the U.S. and registered to do business in a U.S. state still file, so a domestically formed Pennsylvania corporation generally has no BOI filing obligation.
Is Philadelphia or Pittsburgh better for an investor-backed startup?
Both have strong startup ecosystems. Philadelphia is larger with deep financial-services and healthcare networks, while Pittsburgh excels in AI, robotics, and technology, anchored by Carnegie Mellon University and the University of Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official Pennsylvania state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Reservation lasts 120 days (bank name reservations last 6 months).
PA does NOT issue 'Certificate of Good Standing.' Domestic filing associations get a Subsistence Certificate.
Learn moreCertified copies: $55 base plus $3 per page.
$15 per document (NOT per page).
No fee: PA's official Business One-Stop hub help guide states 'There is no fee to submit your application.' Registration is via the Pennsylvania Online Business Tax Re…
Learn moreApplication for Reinstatement: $35 delivered electronically / $40 not delivered electronically, plus $15 for each Annual Report not previously paid plus the $7 Annual…
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Pennsylvania C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Pennsylvania C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $125 Pennsylvania state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 7-10 business days online; longer by mail.
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