Form Your Washington C Corporation
Build a fundraising-ready company in the Evergreen State — stock and a cap table for investors, no state corporate income tax, and Seattle's world-class tech talent pool
Filed in Washington
The Evergreen State · WA
- State filing fee$180
- Processing time~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail; expedite +$50/$100
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$60/year annual report — due Anniversary month of incorporation
- State tax rateNo corporate income tax; B&O tax applies
- Expedited optiongenerally within 3 working days (+$100)
Form your Washington C-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Washington C-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $180 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 Washington Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Washington — 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 Washington
Washington imposes no state corporate income tax, instead levying a Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts, and its Seattle-area tech ecosystem puts founders within reach of one of the deepest engineering talent pools in the world. For a C Corporation raising priced rounds or courting institutional investors, the state pairs that investor-rich environment with a clean, fundraising-ready entity built on stock, a board, and perpetual existence.
The structure venture capitalists and institutional investors expect
Issue stock and equity to build a cap table for fundraising
Perpetual existence independent of any one shareholder
No Washington state corporate income tax (B&O tax applies instead)
QSBS / Section 1202 benefits may apply to qualifying stock
Home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and a world-class tech talent pool
Supports priced rounds, SAFEs, and stock-option pools for employees
Pacific Rim market access and a major West Coast port
Key features of a Washington C-Corp
- Preferred structure for VC and institutional fundraising
- Stock issuance and a cap table for equity rounds
- Board of directors and corporate bylaws governance
- No Washington state corporate income tax (B&O tax instead)
- 21% flat federal corporate income tax rate
Major industries in Washington
Form your Washington C-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes ~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail; expedite +$50/$100.
- 01
Choose Your Corporate Name
Your name must include 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' 'Limited,' or an abbreviation such as 'Corp.,' 'Inc.,' or 'Ltd.' Check availability through the Washington Secretary of State's business search before filing.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Washington requires a registered agent with a physical address in the state to accept legal and official documents on behalf of your corporation.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Washington Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $180 (plus a $20 portal fee for online filing, $200 total). Online filing processes in about 5 business days; mail takes 5-6 weeks. Expedite is available for an extra $50/$100.
- 04
Adopt Bylaws and Appoint Directors
Hold an organizational meeting to adopt corporate bylaws, appoint your board of directors, and authorize the issuance of stock to founders and early investors.
- 05
Obtain an EIN and Issue Stock
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS, then issue shares and record them on your cap table. Founders receiving restricted stock should file an 83(b) election with the IRS within 30 days of issuance.
- 06
Register for Business & Occupation Tax
Washington corporations must register for the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax with the Department of Revenue. Rates vary by business activity.
Washington C-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Washington C-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Washington C-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the WA Secretary of State ($180; $200 with online portal fee)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Washington address
- Adopt corporate bylaws and appoint a board of directors
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- Issue stock to shareholders and maintain a cap table
- File an annual report each year during the anniversary month ($60)
- Register for B&O tax with the Department of Revenue
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Washington Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $30 (180 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $180 Washington 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 Washington)
- 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.
Washington C-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an C-Corp in Washington. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form a C Corporation in Washington?
The state filing fee is $180 (about $200 with the $20 online portal fee). The annual report is $60/year. Our service fee is added on top of the state fee.
How long does it take to incorporate in Washington?
Online filings with the Washington Secretary of State process in about 5 business days. Filing by mail takes 5-6 weeks. Expedited service is available for an additional $50 or $100.
Does Washington have a corporate income tax or franchise tax?
No. Washington has no state corporate income tax and no franchise tax. Instead, the state imposes a Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts, plus a 6.5% state sales tax. Note that C Corporations still pay the 21% flat federal corporate income tax.
Why choose a C Corporation over an LLC?
A C Corp is the structure venture capitalists and institutional investors expect. It can issue stock and equity, supports a cap table, priced rounds, and SAFEs, is governed by a board of directors and bylaws, and has perpetual existence independent of any one shareholder.
What is double taxation?
A C Corporation pays the 21% flat federal corporate income tax on its profits, and shareholders then pay tax again on dividends they receive. This is the trade-off for the fundraising advantages a C Corp offers; many growth-stage companies reinvest profits rather than distribute dividends.
What is the 83(b) election and when must I file it?
If you receive restricted stock that vests over time, an 83(b) election lets you be taxed on its value at grant rather than as it vests. You must file it with the IRS within 30 days of receiving the stock — the deadline is strict and cannot be extended.
Can my Washington C Corp qualify for QSBS / Section 1202 benefits?
Potentially. Qualified Small Business Stock under Section 1202 may offer significant tax benefits on a later sale if the stock and company meet the requirements. The rules changed in 2025, so confirm current eligibility with a tax advisor.
Does my Washington C Corporation have to file a BOI report with FinCEN?
No. Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, US domestic entities and US persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. Only entities formed abroad and registered to do business in a US state still file.
Washington government filing resources
Filing fees for common C-Corp services
Official Washington state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Fee varies by entity type: $30 for all for-profit entity types (LLC, profit corporation).
$20 for the Express PDF Certificate of Existence (Short Form).
Learn more$20 processing fee for a certified copy/certificate ordered through the CCFS 'Certified Copies/Certificates' section.
$15 per document (flat.
$180 base filing fee for all for-profit types, including C-Corp and S-Corp.
Learn moreThere is NO charge for a WA reseller permit — confirmed 'No.' on the DOR 'questions answered' page.
Learn moreFee schedule (RCW 23B Profit Corporation): "Change of Registered Agent / Office — No Fee." Optional expedited service +$100 (3 working days) or same-day +$150 (in pers…
Learn moreFee schedule (RCW 23B Profit Corporation): Reinstatement = $140 + all missed annual report fees.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Washington C-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Washington C-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $180 Washington state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in ~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail; expedite +$50/$100.
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