Form Your Washington LLC
Build your business in the Evergreen State with no state income tax, home to tech giants like Amazon and Microsoft, and Pacific Rim market access
Filed in Washington
The Evergreen State · WA
- State filing fee$180
- Processing time~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$70 — due Anniversary month of formation
- State tax rateNo corporate income tax; B&O tax applies
- Expedited optiongenerally within 3 working days (+$100)
Form your Washington LLC — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Washington LLC
Free formation means you pay only the $180 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Certificate of Formation filing
We prepare and submit your Certificate of Formation 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.
Operating agreement
Professionally drafted operating agreement — defines ownership, voting, and profit splits.
Benefits of forming an LLC in Washington
Washington is one of only a few states with no corporate or personal income tax. Home to tech giants Amazon, Microsoft, and many others, the Seattle metro area offers a world-class tech ecosystem. The state's B&O tax is a gross receipts tax that replaces traditional income taxes.
No state corporate or personal income tax
Home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, and Starbucks
World-class tech ecosystem in Seattle area
No franchise tax for LLCs
Growing clean energy and sustainability sectors
Access to Pacific Rim markets and major port
Key features of a Washington LLC
- No state income tax (corporate or personal)
- Home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks
- Business & Occupation tax instead of income tax
- Pacific Rim market access
Major industries in Washington
Form your Washington LLC in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes ~5 business days online; 5-6 weeks by mail.
- 01
Choose Your LLC Name
Your name must include 'Limited Liability Company,' 'LLC,' or 'L.L.C.' Check availability through the Washington Secretary of State's business search.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Washington requires a registered agent with a physical address in the state to accept legal documents on behalf of your LLC.
- 03
File Certificate of Formation
...The filing fee is $180 (plus a $20 portal fee for online filing, $200 total)...
- 04
Create an Operating Agreement
Washington does not require an Operating Agreement, but having one is strongly recommended.
- 05
Obtain an EIN
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS for tax filing, banking, and hiring employees.
- 06
Register for Business & Occupation Tax
Washington LLCs must register for the Business & Occupation (B&O) tax with the Department of Revenue. Rates vary by business activity.
Washington LLC costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Washington LLC requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Washington LLC in 2026.
- File Certificate of Formation with WA Secretary of State ($180; $200 with online portal fee)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Washington address
- Create an Operating Agreement (recommended)
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File annual report during anniversary month ($70)
- Register for B&O tax with Department of Revenue
Filing information
- Formation document
- Certificate of Formation
- Filing agency
- Washington Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Operating agreement
- 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, operating agreement, and compliance.
Starter
- Certificate of Formation 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)
- Operating agreement
- 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 LLC questions, answered
Common questions about forming an LLC in Washington. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Washington?
The state filing fee is $180 (about $200 with the $20 online portal fee). The annual report is $70/year. Our service fee starts at $100 plus the state fee.
Does Washington have state income tax?
No. Washington has no state corporate or personal income tax. However, the state imposes a Business & Occupation (B&O) tax on gross receipts.
What is the B&O tax?
...0.471% for retailing, 0.484% for manufacturing, and Service & Other Activities tiered by prior-year WA gross — 1.5% under $1M, 1.75% from $1M to $4,999,999.99, and 2.1% at $5M or more (effective Oct 1, 2025).
Is Washington good for tech companies?
Yes. Washington is home to Amazon, Microsoft, Boeing, Starbucks, and thousands of tech companies. The Seattle area has one of the deepest tech talent pools in the world.
When is the Washington annual report due?
The annual report is due by the entity's expiration date — the last day of the formation-anniversary month. The fee is $70.
Can I form a Washington LLC online?
Yes, you can file online through the Washington Secretary of State's website.
Washington government filing resources
Filing fees for common LLC 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.
There is NO charge for a WA reseller permit — confirmed 'No.' on the DOR 'questions answered' page.
Learn more$30 base filing fee per the official form (records name/address and other article changes).
Learn moreFee schedule (RCW 25.15 LLC): "Change of Registered Agent / Office — No Fee." Optional expedited service +$100 (3 working days) or same-day +$150 (in person).
Learn moreFee schedule (RCW 25.15 LLC): Reinstatement = $140 + all missed annual report fees.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Washington LLC
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Washington LLC?
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.
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