New York Corporation Filing Fees and Requirements
Forming a corporation in New York costs $125 to file your Certificate of Incorporation with the NY Department of State. See all fees, biennial statement requirements, and ongoing compliance costs.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
New York corporation fees at a glance
Filing fee: $125 — Certificate of Incorporation filed with the New York Department of State
Processing time: [PROCESSING_TIME] — contact the NY Department of State for current standard and expedited timelines
State agency: New York Department of State, Division of Corporations — dos.ny.gov
Annual report due: Biennial statement due every 2 years; $9 filing fee
State tax rate: New York imposes a corporate franchise tax on C Corporations; S Corporations recognized at the state level pay a fixed-dollar minimum tax. Talk to a tax professional to figure out your specific rate.
New York corporation filing fees and requirements
Forming a corporation in New York requires filing a Certificate of Incorporation with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations. The state filing fee is $125, paid directly to the Department of State. That fee covers formation only — staying in good standing after formation means meeting New York's biennial statement requirement and securing any required business licenses.
How much does it cost to form a New York corporation?
The state filing fee to form a New York corporation is $125. You file a Certificate of Incorporation with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, under the New York Business Corporation Law. That $125 goes to the state — it's separate from any professional or platform fees you pay to get help with the filing.
You can file online through the Department of State's e-Corp system or by mail to: New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231. Payment by mail is accepted via check drawn on a U.S. bank or money order. Online and in-person filings accept MasterCard, Visa, or American Express.
The $125 fee applies to all domestic business corporations filing under the New York Business Corporation Law, regardless of how many shares the corporation is authorized to issue. New York doesn't tier its incorporation fee by share structure the way some states do — that's one less variable to worry about.
New York biennial statement requirements
New York doesn't use a traditional annual report. Instead, corporations file a biennial statement every 2 years with the Department of State. The filing fee is $9, and it's filed through the Department of State's e-Biennial Statement system at filing.dos.ny.gov.
The biennial statement updates the corporation's service-of-process information on file with the state — essentially confirming or correcting the address where legal documents can be delivered on behalf of the business. Missing this filing can put your corporation's good standing at risk, so it's worth tracking the due date from the moment you form.
Amending your certificate of incorporation
If you need to change information in your Certificate of Incorporation — the corporate name, purpose clause, or stock provisions — you file a Certificate of Amendment with the New York Department of State. The filing fee is $60.
If you're only changing the corporate name, the Department of State offers a name-change-only Certificate of Amendment form. The $60 fee still applies. For mergers and consolidations, a Certificate of Merger carries the same $60 filing fee.
Certificate of Amendment (any change): $60
Certificate of Amendment (name change only): $60
Certificate of Merger: $60
Assumed name (DBA) registration: $25
Business licenses and permits
Forming your corporation with the state is only part of the picture. Before you start doing business, you may also need federal, state, or local licenses and permits depending on your industry and where you operate. New York doesn't issue a single general business license — requirements vary by business type, location, and governing agency.
Some licenses are required at formation and others renew on a schedule. Industries like food service, healthcare, construction, and financial services typically have their own licensing requirements at both the state and local level. The New York State Business Express portal is a good starting point for figuring out what applies to your business.
Corporate bylaws
New York corporations are required to adopt bylaws. Bylaws aren't filed with the state — they're an internal document that sets the rules for how your corporation operates: how directors are elected, how meetings are held, how decisions get made, and how officers are appointed.
There's no state fee for bylaws, but getting them right matters. They're the governing document your board and officers will rely on when questions come up about authority and process. If you're forming a corporation with multiple shareholders or directors, having clear bylaws from the start prevents disputes later.
FAQ
The state filing fee to form a New York corporation is $125, paid to the New York Department of State when you file your Certificate of Incorporation. That's the required state fee — separate from any professional or platform fees. After formation, you'll also pay $9 every 2 years for the biennial statement.
$125. That's the state fee to file a Certificate of Incorporation for a domestic business corporation with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations. The $125 fee applies to all domestic business corporations under the New York Business Corporation Law, regardless of authorized share structure.
No. The $125 Certificate of Incorporation filing fee is the same whether you plan to operate as a C Corporation or elect S Corporation status. S Corp status is a federal tax election made with the IRS using Form 2553 — it doesn't change what you pay the state at formation. New York does recognize the S Corp election for state tax purposes, but the formation fee stays the same.
No, not an annual report. New York requires a biennial statement every 2 years instead. The filing fee is $9, and it's filed through the Department of State's e-Biennial Statement system. The statement updates your corporation's service-of-process information on file with the state.
It depends on your industry, location, and the type of business you're running. New York doesn't issue a single general business license. Requirements vary by governing agency — some are state-level, some are local, and some are federal. The New York State Business Express portal is a good starting point. A business attorney or licensing specialist can help you figure out exactly what applies to your situation.
We collect the $125 state fee at cost and pay it to the New York Department of State on your behalf when we file your Certificate of Incorporation. You're not paying a markup on the state fee — it goes directly to the state. Our platform fee, if any, is separate and covers the filing work we handle for you.
Most incorporation processes involve 4 categories of fees: the state formation fee (New York's is $125), ongoing compliance fees like the biennial statement ($9 every 2 years), amendment or change fees if you update your certificate ($60 in New York), and any business license or permit fees required by your industry or location. Platform or professional fees for filing assistance are separate from all of these.
