Form Your Wisconsin S Corporation
Incorporate in the Badger State for $100, then elect S corp status with the IRS for pass-through taxation, payroll-tax savings, and no franchise tax
Filed in Wisconsin
The Badger State · WI
- State filing fee$100
- Processing time~5 business days online; expedite next business day (+$25)
- Our formation feeFree (you pay $100 if you choose a paid plan)
- Annual report$25/year online ($40 by mail) — due End of anniversary quarter, yearly
- State tax rate7.9% corporate income tax
- Expedited option24 hours (+$100)
Form your Wisconsin S-Corp — pay only the state filing fee, nothing more.
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Everything to launch your Wisconsin S-Corp
Free formation means you pay only the $100 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 Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
Registered agent
Required in Wisconsin — 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 Wisconsin
Wisconsin pairs a diversified economy in manufacturing, agriculture, healthcare, and a growing Madison/Milwaukee tech sector with no franchise tax and a low $25 annual report, making it an affordable home for an S corporation. Owners gain pass-through taxation and payroll-tax savings on distributions, though Wisconsin's 7.9% corporate income tax and individual income tax still apply to S corp earnings.
Pass-through taxation avoids the corporation's federal double tax on profits
Self-employment tax savings on distributions beyond a reasonable W-2 salary
No Wisconsin franchise tax on the entity
Low $25 annual report fee keeps ongoing compliance affordable
Strong manufacturing and agricultural base with a growing Madison/Milwaukee tech scene
Top universities like UW-Madison supply a skilled, affordable workforce
Liability protection of a Wisconsin corporation with the tax profile of a partnership
One class of stock keeps ownership and distributions simple
Key features of a Wisconsin S-Corp
- Pass-through taxation with no federal entity-level double tax
- Payroll-tax savings on distributions above a reasonable salary
- No Wisconsin franchise tax and a low $25 annual report
- Strong manufacturing sector and growing Madison/Milwaukee tech scene
- 7.9% Wisconsin corporate income tax still applies to taxable corporate income
Major industries in Wisconsin
Form your Wisconsin S-Corp in 6 steps
We handle every step while you stay in the loop. Processing takes ~5 business days online; expedite next business day (+$25).
- 01
Form a Wisconsin Corporation
An S corp is a tax election, not a state entity. First incorporate by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The state filing fee is $100, with online processing in about 5 business days.
- 02
Appoint a Registered Agent
Wisconsin requires a registered agent with a physical address in the state to accept legal documents on behalf of your corporation.
- 03
Obtain an EIN
Apply for a free EIN from the IRS. It is required to file Form 2553, open a bank account, run payroll, and hire employees.
- 04
Elect S Corporation Status (Form 2553)
File IRS Form 2553 to elect S corp tax treatment. To apply for the current tax year, file within 75 days of formation (generally by March 15). All shareholders must sign.
- 05
Set a Reasonable Salary and Run Payroll
S corp owner-employees must take a reasonable W-2 salary before distributions. Register for Wisconsin payroll/withholding and run payroll so the IRS recognizes the salary-plus-distribution split.
- 06
File Your Annual Report
File the corporation's annual report with the Wisconsin DFI by the end of its anniversary quarter each year. The fee is $25 online ($40 by mail).
Wisconsin S-Corp costs at a glance
Kicker formation is free — you pay only the required state fees. No hidden charges.
Wisconsin S-Corp requirements checklist
Everything you need to form and maintain a Wisconsin S-Corp in 2026.
- Incorporate by filing Articles of Incorporation with WI DFI ($100)
- Appoint a registered agent with a physical Wisconsin address
- Obtain an EIN from the IRS
- File IRS Form 2553 within 75 days of formation (by March 15) to elect S corp status
- Have no more than 100 shareholders, all US citizens or residents (no foreign owners)
- Maintain a single class of stock
- Pay owner-employees a reasonable W-2 salary and file the $25 annual report
Filing information
- Formation document
- Articles of Incorporation
- Filing agency
- Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
- Registered agent
- Required
- Corporate bylaws
- Recommended
- EIN
- Required
- Name reservation fee
- $15 (120 days)
Free formation — pay only the state fee
Kicker formation is free. You pay the $100 Wisconsin 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 Wisconsin)
- 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.
Wisconsin S-Corp questions, answered
Common questions about forming an S-Corp in Wisconsin. Can't find an answer? Talk to our team.
How do I form an S corporation in Wisconsin?
You first incorporate by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions ($100 state fee), then file IRS Form 2553 to elect S corp tax status. The S corp is a federal tax election, not a separate Wisconsin filing.
How much does it cost to form an S corp in Wisconsin?
The state filing fee to incorporate is $100. The IRS S corp election (Form 2553) is free. The corporation's annual report is $25 online ($40 by mail).
How long does Wisconsin take to process the formation?
Online filings with the Wisconsin DFI process in about 5 business days. Expedited next-business-day processing is available for an extra $25.
What is the S corp deadline for filing Form 2553?
To take effect for the current tax year, file Form 2553 within 75 days of forming your corporation, generally by March 15. All shareholders must sign the election.
Who can own a Wisconsin S corporation?
S corps are limited to 100 shareholders who must be US citizens or residents, and only one class of stock is allowed. Foreign (non-resident) owners are not eligible — those businesses should stay a corporation or LLC.
How does an S corp save on taxes in Wisconsin?
Profits pass through to owners, avoiding the corporation's federal double tax, and only your reasonable W-2 salary is subject to Social Security and Medicare taxes — distributions above it are not. Wisconsin's 7.9% corporate income tax and individual income tax still apply to the income.
Does a Wisconsin S corp 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 reporting. Only foreign-formed entities registered to do business in a US state still file.
When is the Wisconsin annual report due?
The corporation's annual report is due by the end of the calendar quarter containing its incorporation anniversary, every year. The fee is $25 online or $40 by mail.
Wisconsin government filing resources
Filing fees for common S-Corp services
Official Wisconsin 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: $15.00 for LLC, business corporation, LLP, or cooperative.
$10.00 per certificate - same fee for ALL entity types (does NOT vary by entity).
Learn more$10.00 per CERTIFIED document/record (same fee for all entity types - no per-page charge, priced per document).
$10.00 per document standard (Secretary of State est.
Identical to a C corporation — an S-Corp is a federal IRS tax election (Form 2553), not a separate Wisconsin entity.
Learn moreIdentical to a C corporation — S-Corp is a federal IRS election (Form 2553), not a separate Wisconsin entity.
Learn more$20 to file Business Corporation Articles of Dissolution online with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.
Learn moreEverything you need to run your Wisconsin S-Corp
Formation is the first step — stay compliant and operational with these services.
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Ready to form your Wisconsin S-Corp?
Formation is free — you pay only the $100 Wisconsin state filing fee. Personal-asset protection, pass-through taxation, and a complete document package, filed in ~5 business days online; expedite next business day (+$25).
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