Form Your Hawaii S Corporation
Incorporate in the Aloha State for a $50 filing fee, then elect S-corp status for pass-through taxation and self-employment tax savings on distributions
Filed in Hawaii
The Aloha State · HI
- State filing fee$50
- Processing time3-5 business days (standard)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$15 — due End of quarter the corporation was formed
- State tax rate4.4%-6.4% corporate income tax
- Expedited option1-3 business days (+$25)
Form your Hawaii S-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Hawaii S-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $50 state filing fee. All core services are included at no extra charge.
Articles of Incorporation (plus IRS Form 2553) filing
We prepare and submit your Articles of Incorporation (plus IRS Form 2553) to the Hawaii DCCA, Business Registration Division.
Registered agent
Required in Hawaii — 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 S-Corp in Hawaii
Hawaii pairs a low $50 incorporation fee and a $15 annual report with a tourism-driven economy and gateway access to Pacific Rim markets — an attractive base for S-corp owners who want pass-through taxation plus payroll-tax savings on distributions. Note that Hawaii's 4.4%-6.4% corporate income tax and General Excise Tax still apply, so the S-corp election eliminates federal double taxation but not every state-level obligation.
Pass-through taxation avoids the corporate double tax — profits flow to your personal return
Self-employment tax savings: only your reasonable W-2 salary is payroll-taxed, not distributions
Low Hawaii corporation filing fee of just $50
Extremely low $15 annual report keeps ongoing compliance costs minimal
No Hawaii franchise tax on your corporation
Gateway to Pacific Rim and Asian markets with a tourism-driven economy
Limited liability protection separates personal assets from business debts
Build credibility with a formal corporate structure and defined shareholders
Key features of a Hawaii S-Corp
- S-corp status is an IRS election (Form 2553) layered on a Hawaii corporation
- Pass-through taxation with payroll-tax savings on distributions
- Low $50 filing fee and $15 annual report
- Hawaii corporate income tax of 4.4%-6.4% still applies to certain income
- General Excise Tax (GET) instead of a traditional sales tax
Major industries in Hawaii
Form your Hawaii S-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 3-5 business days (standard).
- 01
Choose Your Corporation Name
Your name must include a corporate designator such as 'Incorporated,' 'Corporation,' 'Inc.,' or 'Corp.' Check availability through the Hawaii DCCA business name search before filing.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Hawaii requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address who can accept legal documents during business hours.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Hawaii DCCA, Business Registration Division. The filing fee is $50 and standard processing takes 3-5 business days. This creates the corporation that will elect S-corp status.
- 04
Obtain an EIN and Hold the Organizational Meeting
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS, adopt bylaws, appoint directors, and issue a single class of stock. You need the EIN to file the S-corp election and open a bank account.
- 05
File IRS Form 2553 to Elect S-Corp Status
File Form 2553 with the IRS within 75 days of formation (or by March 15 to apply for the current tax year). All shareholders must sign. This is the tax election that turns your Hawaii corporation into an S corporation.
- 06
Set a Reasonable Salary and File the Annual Report
Pay shareholder-employees a reasonable W-2 salary before taking distributions, then file the Hawaii annual report ($15) by the end of the quarter in which the corporation was formed.
Hawaii S-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Hawaii S-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Hawaii S-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the Hawaii DCCA ($50)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Hawaii address
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation (or by March 15)
- Meet S-corp eligibility: 100 or fewer shareholders, US citizens/residents only, one class of stock
- Pay shareholder-employees a reasonable W-2 salary before distributions
- File the Hawaii annual report quarterly ($15) and obtain a General Excise Tax license
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation (plus IRS Form 2553)
- Filing agency
- Hawaii DCCA, Business Registration Division
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $10 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $50 Hawaii state filing fee and nothing more for the Starter plan. Optional plans add registered agent, EIN, corporate bylaws, and compliance.
Starter
- Articles of Incorporation (plus IRS Form 2553) filing
- Name availability check
- Digital document delivery
- Formation status tracking
Booster
- Everything in Starter
- Registered agent (required in Hawaii)
- 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.
Hawaii S-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an S-Corp in Hawaii. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How do I form an S corporation in Hawaii?
An S corporation is a tax election, not a separate state filing. You first form a Hawaii corporation by filing Articles of Incorporation with the DCCA ($50), then file IRS Form 2553 to elect S-corp status. Standard processing for the corporation is 3-5 business days.
How much does it cost to start an S corp in Hawaii?
The Hawaii corporation filing fee is $50, one of the lowest in the nation, and the annual report is just $15. The S-corp election itself (IRS Form 2553) has no IRS filing fee.
When must I file Form 2553 for my Hawaii S corp?
File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of forming your corporation, or by March 15 to have the election apply to the current tax year. All shareholders must sign the form.
Does Hawaii recognize the S-corp election and tax it?
Yes. Hawaii follows the federal S-corp election, so income generally passes through to shareholders. However, Hawaii's 4.4%-6.4% corporate income tax can apply to certain income, and there is no state franchise tax.
Who is eligible to be an S-corp shareholder?
An S corporation can have no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom must be US citizens or residents, and it can issue only one class of stock. Foreign owners are not eligible — those businesses should consider a standard C corporation or LLC instead.
What is the reasonable salary requirement?
The IRS requires S-corp shareholder-employees to be paid a reasonable W-2 salary for their work before taking profit distributions. Distributions avoid self-employment tax, which is the core payroll-tax savings of the S-corp structure.
When is the Hawaii annual report due?
The annual report is due by the end of the quarter in which your corporation was originally formed, and the fee is $15. It is filed with the Hawaii DCCA, Business Registration Division.
Does my Hawaii S corp have to file a federal BOI report?
No. Under FinCEN's March 2025 interim final rule, US domestic entities and US persons are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting. Only foreign-formed entities registered to do business in a US state still file.
Hawaii government filing resources
Filing fees for common S-Corp services
Official Hawaii state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Flat $10.00 for all entity types (LLC, corp, nonprofit, LP, LLP, GP).
Fee does NOT vary by entity type: $5.00 standard / $10.00 expedited for LLC, profit corp, nonprofit, LP, LLP and GP alike (per HRS Ch.
Learn moreCertification (Certified Copy) is a flat $10.00 regardless of entity type (same $10.00 for expedited).
$3.00 per document (raised from $1.00 in July 2025).
$25.00 nonrefundable filing fee for 200 or fewer affected entities ($1.00 each for 201 or more).
Learn more$25.00 nonrefundable filing fee for a domestic Profit Corporation (HRS 414-403).
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Hawaii S-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Hawaii S-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $50 Hawaii state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 3-5 business days (standard).
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