Colorado Corporation Filing Fees and Requirements

Filing fee: $50 (Articles of Incorporation, online filing)

Processing time: Immediate upon online submission

State agency: Colorado Secretary of State

Annual report due: Periodic Report due within the anniversary month window (2 months before through 2 months after the anniversary month); $25 filing fee as of July 1, 2024

State tax rate: C Corporations subject to Colorado corporate income tax; S Corporations pass income through to shareholders

Forming a corporation in Colorado requires filing Articles of Incorporation with the Colorado Secretary of State and paying a $50 state fee. All filings are done online — the Secretary of State does not accept paper formation documents. Beyond the initial filing, you'll need a registered agent, an Employer Identification Number (EIN), and any licenses your business requires to operate.

How much does it cost to form a corporation in Colorado?

The state fee to form a Colorado corporation is $50, paid to the Colorado Secretary of State when you file your Articles of Incorporation online. Because Colorado requires online filing for corporation formation, there's no separate paper-filing option — and online submissions are processed immediately, so you don't need to pay for expedited service.

The $150 expedited service fee listed in the state's fee schedule applies only to the rare paper filings that qualify — it doesn't apply to standard corporation formation, which is filed and processed online.

What goes into the Articles of Incorporation?

Colorado's Articles of Incorporation must include 5 pieces of information before the Secretary of State will accept the filing. Missing any of them means the filing won't go through.

• Corporation name — must be distinguishable from other registered Colorado businesses

• Principal business address — the main office address for the corporation

• Registered agent name and Colorado street address — a P.O. box is not accepted

• Incorporator name and mailing address — the person filing the formation documents

• Authorized shares — the classes and number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue

Corporate bylaws are not filed with the Secretary of State, but Colorado corporations are expected to adopt internal bylaws to govern operations and decision-making. These are typically approved by the initial shareholders or directors after formation.

Registered agent requirement

Every Colorado corporation must appoint and continuously maintain a registered agent in the state. The registered agent receives service of process and official state communications on behalf of the corporation — you can't form a Colorado corporation without listing one in your Articles of Incorporation.

The registered agent must have a physical street address in Colorado — a P.O. box or commercial mail-receiving service doesn't qualify. If you name an individual, they must be at least 18 years old. You can serve as your own registered agent, but many business owners use a registered agent service to keep their personal address off public records.

Ongoing fees and annual report

Colorado calls its annual report a Periodic Report, and every corporation must file one each year to stay in good standing. The filing fee is $25 — a fee that increased from $10 on July 1, 2024, the first increase since online filing began in 2006.

The filing window is tied to your corporation's anniversary month. You can file starting 2 months before that month and up to 2 months after it. Filing is done online through the Secretary of State's website. If you miss the window, your corporation can lose its good standing — which affects your ability to do business and enter contracts in Colorado.

Amendment and other fees

If you need to change information in your Articles of Incorporation after formation, Colorado charges $25 to file an amendment online. The same $25 fee applies to Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation. To file, locate your corporation's record in the Secretary of State's business database and select the appropriate amendment form from the entity's record page.

• Articles of Amendment: $25

• Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation: $25

• Both are filed online through the Secretary of State's entity record portal

Employer Identification Number

Every Colorado corporation needs an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. An EIN is your corporation's federal tax ID — you'll need it to open a business bank account, hire employees, file federal taxes, and handle most financial transactions for the business.

You can apply for an EIN for free at irs.gov. The online application is available for businesses with a U.S. address and takes about 15 minutes. Your EIN is issued immediately upon completion.

Business licenses and permits

Colorado doesn't issue a single statewide general business license, but your corporation may need specific licenses or permits depending on what you sell, where you operate, and your industry. The requirements vary by business type, location, and the governing agencies involved.

• Sales tax license: required if your corporation sells taxable goods or services in Colorado — apply through the Colorado Department of Revenue

• Professional and occupational licenses: required for industries like healthcare, construction, financial services, and others regulated at the state level

• Local business licenses: some Colorado cities and counties require their own registration or license — check with your local government

• Employer requirements: if you hire employees, register with the Colorado Department of Labor and Employment

License requirements can get complicated when multiple agencies are involved. A tax professional or legal professional can help you figure out exactly what your corporation needs before you start doing business.