How to Incorporate a Business in Arizona
Learn how to incorporate a business in Arizona step by step. Covers Articles of Incorporation, state filing fees, registered agent requirements, and Arizona Corporation Commission filing.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
How to incorporate in Arizona
To incorporate a business in Arizona, you file Articles of Incorporation with the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC). Before you file, you need a distinguishable business name, a statutory agent with a physical Arizona address, and a decision on how many shares your corporation will be authorized to issue. The ACC accepts filings online through its eCorp portal.
Arizona keeps the process relatively straightforward compared to many states — there's no publication requirement for corporations, and the ACC's eCorp system lets you complete the filing without mailing paper forms.
Step 1: Check name availability
Your corporation's name must be distinguishable from every other entity already on record with the ACC. Search the ACC's business entity database before you file — if a name is too similar to an existing one, the ACC will reject your Articles of Incorporation.
The name must also include a corporate identifier — words like "Corporation," "Incorporated," "Company," or "Limited," or an accepted abbreviation such as "Corp.," "Inc.," or "Co." Check both the ACC database and the Arizona Secretary of State entity search to catch any conflicts across both systems.
Step 2: Choose your corporation type
Most founders forming a corporation in Arizona are choosing between a C Corporation and an S Corporation. The formation process with the ACC is the same for both — the difference is a tax election you make with the IRS after the corporation is formed.
A C Corporation is taxed as a separate entity and can issue multiple classes of stock, which makes it the standard choice for businesses planning to raise outside investment. An S Corporation passes income through to shareholders' personal returns and avoids the double-taxation issue, but it comes with restrictions — no more than 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents. If you're not sure which fits your situation, a tax professional can help you figure out the right structure before you file.
Step 3: Appoint a statutory agent
Arizona requires every corporation to appoint and continuously maintain a statutory agent — the state's term for a registered agent. The agent receives service of process, lawsuits, and official notices from the ACC on behalf of your corporation.
The statutory agent must have a physical street address in Arizona — a P.O. box alone doesn't meet the requirement. An individual agent must be at least 18 years old and live in Arizona. A business entity serving as agent must be authorized to do business in Arizona and in good standing with the state. You list the agent's name and address directly on your Articles of Incorporation when you file.
Step 4: File Articles of Incorporation with the ACC
File your Articles of Incorporation with the ACC Corporations Division — online through the eCorp portal or by mail. The standard filing fee is $60. If you need faster processing, next-day service adds $100 and same-day service adds $200.
Your Articles of Incorporation must include the corporation's name and corporate identifier, its stated purpose (a general business purpose is fine for most corporations), the number of authorized shares and any classes or series, and your statutory agent's name and Arizona street address.
The ACC accepts payment by cash, money order, check, or credit card. Once the ACC approves your filing, your corporation legally exists in Arizona.
Step 5: Register for state taxes and licenses
Forming your corporation with the ACC is separate from registering for state taxes. The Arizona Department of Revenue (ADOR) handles business tax accounts, and you'll need to register there after your corporation is formed.
If your corporation sells taxable goods or services in Arizona, you need a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from ADOR before you start doing business. Apply online through AZTaxes.gov. If you'll have employees, you'll also need to register for withholding tax. Arizona doesn't offer a single combined registration — you apply for each tax account separately based on what your business does.
New Arizona businesses can also use Arizona Business One Stop to complete multiple start-up registrations in one place, including certain state-level steps that would otherwise require visiting separate agency sites.
FAQ
The standard filing fee for Articles of Incorporation with the Arizona Corporation Commission is $60. If you need faster turnaround, next-day expedited processing adds $100 and same-day processing adds $200 to that base fee. These fees are paid to the ACC and are separate from any registered agent or professional filing fees.
You incorporate in Arizona by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Arizona Corporation Commission. Before you file, check that your business name is available in the ACC's entity search, appoint a statutory agent with a physical Arizona address, and decide how many shares your corporation will be authorized to issue. File online through the ACC's eCorp portal and pay the $60 state filing fee.
Arizona Articles of Incorporation must include the corporation's name with a required corporate identifier (such as "Inc.," "Corp.," or "Company"), the corporation's stated purpose, the number of authorized shares and any classes or series, and the name and physical Arizona street address of your statutory agent. A general business purpose statement is acceptable for most corporations.
Starting a C Corp in Arizona follows the same formation process as any Arizona corporation — check name availability, appoint a statutory agent, and file Articles of Incorporation with the ACC. A C Corporation is the default tax classification when you form a corporation; you don't need to make a separate election for C Corp status. After formation, apply for a federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) with the IRS and register for any required Arizona state tax accounts through the Arizona Department of Revenue.
You form an S Corp in Arizona the same way you form any corporation — by filing Articles of Incorporation with the ACC. S Corp status is a federal tax election, not a separate state filing. After your corporation is formed and you have an EIN, file IRS Form 2553 to elect S Corporation treatment. The election must be filed within 75 days of formation to apply to the current tax year, or by March 15 of the following year. S Corps are limited to 100 shareholders, all of whom must be U.S. citizens or residents.
Yes. You can file Articles of Incorporation directly with the Arizona Corporation Commission through the ACC's eCorp online portal without using a formation service. You'll need to prepare the filing yourself, appoint your own statutory agent, and pay the $60 state filing fee. A formation platform handles the paperwork and keeps you from missing required fields — but the state portal is available to anyone who wants to file on their own.
Search the Arizona Corporation Commission's business entity database at arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov. Enter your proposed name, complete the verification step, and review the results for existing entities with the same or similar names. It's worth checking both the ACC database and the Arizona Secretary of State entity search — a name that clears one system can still conflict with a record in the other.
Yes, every Arizona corporation is required to appoint a statutory agent — Arizona's term for a registered agent. The statutory agent receives legal documents, lawsuits, and official notices from the ACC on behalf of your corporation. The agent must have a physical street address in Arizona (not a P.O. box) and must be available during business hours. You list the agent's name and address on your Articles of Incorporation when you file.
