Form Your Louisiana S Corporation
Incorporate in the Pelican State for a $75 state fee, then elect S-corp status with the IRS to unlock pass-through taxation and payroll tax savings
Filed in Louisiana
The Pelican State · LA
- State filing fee$75
- Processing time1-2 business days (online geauxBIZ)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$30/year annual report — due Anniversary month of formation, yearly
- State tax rate5.5% flat corporate income tax
- Expedited option24 hours (+$30)
Form your Louisiana S-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Louisiana S-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $75 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 Louisiana Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Louisiana — 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 Louisiana
Louisiana pairs an affordable $75 incorporation fee and fast geauxBIZ processing with a repealed franchise tax, making it an efficient base for an S corporation seeking pass-through tax treatment. Owners benefit from Gulf Coast port access and a strong energy economy, though the state's 5.5% flat corporate income tax still applies even after the federal S-corp election.
Pass-through taxation avoids the entity-level double tax C corporations pay
Self-employment tax savings on profit distributions beyond a reasonable W-2 salary
Affordable $75 state filing fee with the Louisiana Secretary of State
Fast 1-2 business day processing through the geauxBIZ online portal
Low $30 annual report keeps ongoing compliance inexpensive
Franchise tax repealed for periods on or after January 1, 2026
Strategic Gulf Coast location with major port and energy infrastructure
Limited liability protection shields personal assets from business debts
Key features of a Louisiana S-Corp
- S-corp status is an IRS Form 2553 election layered on a Louisiana corporation
- Pass-through taxation with no entity-level federal income tax
- $75 state filing fee via the geauxBIZ online portal
- Franchise tax repealed for periods on or after January 1, 2026
- 5.5% flat Louisiana corporate income tax still applies at the state level
Major industries in Louisiana
Form your Louisiana S-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes 1-2 business days (online geauxBIZ).
- 01
Choose Your Corporation Name
Pick a name that includes 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Company,' or an abbreviation, and confirm availability through the Louisiana Secretary of State's business database before filing.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Louisiana requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address to receive service of process and official correspondence for your corporation.
- 03
File Articles of Incorporation
Submit your Articles of Incorporation to the Louisiana Secretary of State. The state filing fee is $75 and online filing through geauxBIZ typically processes in 1-2 business days.
- 04
File IRS Form 2553 to Elect S-Corp Status
An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a separate state filing. File Form 2553 with the IRS within 75 days of formation (or by March 15) to have your corporation taxed as an S corp.
- 05
Obtain an EIN and Set Up Payroll
Get a free EIN from the IRS, then set up payroll so each owner-employee is paid a reasonable W-2 salary before taking distributions.
- 06
File Your Annual Report
File the Louisiana annual report during your anniversary month each year. The fee is $30 to keep your corporation in good standing.
Louisiana S-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Louisiana S-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Louisiana S-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State ($75)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Louisiana address
- File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation (or by March 15) to elect S-corp status
- Meet S-corp eligibility: 100 shareholders max, US citizens or residents only, one class of stock
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS and run payroll for owner-employees
- Pay each owner-employee a reasonable W-2 salary before distributions
- File the Louisiana annual report each anniversary month ($30)
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Louisiana Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $25 (60 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $75 Louisiana 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 Louisiana)
- 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.
Louisiana S-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an S-Corp in Louisiana. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How do I form an S corporation in Louisiana?
An S corporation is a tax status, not a separate entity. You first form a corporation by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State ($75), then file IRS Form 2553 to elect S-corp tax treatment.
How much does it cost to start an S corp in Louisiana?
The Louisiana state filing fee for the underlying corporation is $75. Filing IRS Form 2553 to elect S-corp status is free, and the annual report costs $30 per year.
How long does Louisiana take to process the filing?
Online filings through the geauxBIZ portal are typically processed in 1-2 business days by the Louisiana Secretary of State.
What is the deadline to file Form 2553 for S-corp status?
File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of forming your corporation, or by March 15 of the tax year you want the election to take effect. Missing the deadline can delay S-corp treatment to the following year.
Who can own a Louisiana S corporation?
An S corp may 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; if you have non-resident owners, a standard corporation or LLC is the alternative.
How does an S corp save on taxes in Louisiana?
S-corp profits pass through to owners without an entity-level federal income tax, and only the reasonable W-2 salary you pay yourself is subject to payroll taxes, while distributions above that salary avoid self-employment tax. Louisiana's 5.5% flat corporate income tax still applies, and the franchise tax was repealed for periods on or after January 1, 2026.
Does my Louisiana S corp have to file a 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.
Does Louisiana have a franchise tax for S corporations?
Louisiana repealed its corporate franchise tax for periods on or after January 1, 2026, so most corporations no longer owe it. You still file a $30 annual report during your anniversary month to stay in good standing.
Louisiana government filing resources
Filing fees for common S-Corp services
Official Louisiana state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
$25 filing fee.
Louisiana issues a Certificate of Good Standing (the SOS also refers to it as a 'duplicate' certificate).
Learn more$15 for a certified copy of an individual filed document (corporations, LLCs, foreign entities).
$20 per document (reduced to $10 per document if the document relates to an adoption).
S-Corp is a federal IRS election (Form 2553), not a separate Louisiana entity — identical to the C-Corp/corporation filing.
Learn moreS-Corp is a federal IRS election (Form 2553), not a separate Louisiana entity — identical to the C-Corp/corporation filing.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Louisiana S-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Louisiana S-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $75 Louisiana state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in 1-2 business days (online geauxBIZ).
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