Form Your Minnesota S Corporation
Incorporate in the North Star State for $155, then elect S-corp status to unlock pass-through taxation, payroll-tax savings, and free annual renewals
Filed in Minnesota
The North Star State · MN
- State filing fee$155
- Processing timeImmediate online/in-person; ~11-12 business days by mail ($135)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$0 (annual renewal, no fee) — due December 31st annually
- State tax rate9.8% corporate income tax
- Expedited optionSame day (in-person) (+$20)
Form your Minnesota S-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Minnesota S-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $155 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 Minnesota Secretary of State.
Registered agent
Required in Minnesota — 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 Minnesota
Minnesota pairs a deep, educated talent pool with 16 Fortune 500 headquarters and a world-class healthcare and medical device sector, giving S corporations a stable base to grow. The 9.8% corporate income tax is among the higher rates, but an S-corp election keeps profits out of entity-level double taxation and flows them through to owners' personal returns.
Pass-through taxation avoids the C-corp double tax on profits
Save on self-employment tax by splitting income into salary plus distributions
No annual renewal fee in Minnesota ($0 each year)
Liability protection from the underlying corporation structure
S-corp election adds credibility with banks, investors, and partners
Home to 16 Fortune 500 companies, the most per capita in the U.S.
World-class healthcare and medical device ecosystem
Highly educated workforce and strong Midwest economy
Key features of a Minnesota S-Corp
- S-corp is an IRS election (Form 2553) on a Minnesota corporation
- Pass-through taxation with payroll-tax savings on distributions
- Free annual renewal in Minnesota ($0)
- Up to 100 shareholders, U.S. citizens or residents only
- One class of stock with reasonable-salary requirement
Major industries in Minnesota
Form your Minnesota S-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes Immediate online/in-person; ~11-12 business days by mail ($135).
- 01
Form a Minnesota Corporation
An S corporation is a tax election, not a state entity. First file Articles of Incorporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State. The filing fee is $155, with immediate processing online or in person.
- 02
Appoint Directors and Issue Stock
Name at least one director and issue a single class of stock. S-corp rules cap you at 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents.
- 03
Obtain an EIN
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS. You need it to file Form 2553, open a bank account, run payroll, and hire employees.
- 04
File IRS Form 2553 to Elect S-Corp Status
Submit Form 2553 to the IRS within 75 days of forming your corporation (or by March 15 to apply for the current tax year) to elect S corporation taxation.
- 05
Set a Reasonable Salary and Run Payroll
The IRS requires S-corp owner-employees to pay themselves a reasonable W-2 salary before taking distributions. Register for Minnesota payroll and withholding taxes.
- 06
File the Free Minnesota Annual Renewal
Minnesota corporations file an annual renewal with the Secretary of State by December 31st each year. There is no fee for the renewal.
Minnesota S-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Minnesota S-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Minnesota S-Corp in 2026.
- File Articles of Incorporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State ($155)
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation (or by March 15)
- Have no more than 100 shareholders, all U.S. citizens or residents
- Issue only one class of stock
- Pay owner-employees a reasonable W-2 salary before distributions
- File the free Minnesota annual renewal by December 31st
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Minnesota Secretary of State
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $55 (12 months)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $155 Minnesota 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 Minnesota)
- 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.
Minnesota S-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an S-Corp in Minnesota. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
Is an S corporation a separate filing in Minnesota?
No. An S corporation is a federal tax election, not a Minnesota entity type. You first form a corporation by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State ($155), then file IRS Form 2553 to elect S-corp tax treatment.
How much does it cost to start an S corporation in Minnesota?
The state filing fee for the underlying corporation is $155. Filing IRS Form 2553 to elect S-corp status is free. Minnesota's annual renewal is also free ($0).
How long does Minnesota take to process the filing?
Filing online or in person with the Minnesota Secretary of State is processed immediately. Mailed filings take about 11-12 business days and cost $135.
When must I file Form 2553 to elect S-corp status?
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. Missing the window pushes S-corp treatment to the following year.
How does an S corp save on taxes?
Profits pass through to owners without entity-level double taxation. Owner-employees take a reasonable W-2 salary and the remaining profit as distributions, which are not subject to Social Security and Medicare payroll taxes.
Who is eligible to own a Minnesota S corporation?
S corporations are limited to 100 shareholders who must be U.S. citizens or residents, and the company may issue only one class of stock. Foreign owners are not eligible for the S-corp election.
What taxes does an S corp face in Minnesota?
Minnesota has a 9.8% corporate income tax, a tiered minimum fee ($0-$10,210 based on activity), and a 6.875% state sales tax. S-corp income generally passes through to shareholders' personal Minnesota returns.
Does my Minnesota S 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 reporting. Only foreign-formed entities registered in a U.S. state still file.
Minnesota government filing resources
Filing fees for common S-Corp services
Official Minnesota state charges for the filings you may need after formation — our service fee is separate, and we confirm the current amount before filing.
Name Reservation - Original Filing: $35.00 by mail / $55.00 in-person or online.
Fee is flat and does NOT vary by entity type: $5.00 mail/in-person, $15.00 online.
Learn moreMinnesota charges per filing (not per page).
$5.00 per apostille certificate and $5.00 per authentication certificate.
$200 to file the Foreign Business Corporation Certificate of Authority by mail with the Minnesota Secretary of State.
Learn moreNo fee to register for a Minnesota Tax ID Number and Sales and Use Tax account with the Dept.
Learn more$35 to file an Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation with the Minnesota Secretary of State by mail.
Learn moreIdentical to C-Corp — S-Corp is a federal IRS election (Form 2553), not a separate Minnesota entity.
Learn moreIdentical to C-Corp: S-Corp is a federal IRS election (Form 2553), not a separate Minnesota entity or filing.
Learn more$35 to file Business Corporation Articles of Dissolution by mail with the Minnesota Secretary of State ($55 for expedited in-person or online filing).
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Minnesota S-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Minnesota S-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $155 Minnesota state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in Immediate online/in-person; ~11-12 business days by mail ($135).
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