Connecticut Articles of Organization: What to File (2026)
Connecticut does not use a document called "Articles of Organization." To create a Connecticut LLC, you file a Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State for a $120 fee at business.ct.gov, under General Statutes Section 34-247. "Articles of Organization" is simply what many other states call the same charter document.
Quick Answer
- Connecticut's document
- Certificate of Organization (§ 34-247) - not Articles of Organization
- Filing fee
- $120 (2026), to the Connecticut Secretary of the State
- Agency
- Connecticut Secretary of the State - file online at business.ct.gov
- Registered agent
- Required - a Connecticut resident or qualifying entity who consents
- Annual report
- $80, due each year between Jan 1 and Mar 31
- Proof of existence
- Certificate of Legal Existence, ordered from the state
Connecticut Uses a Certificate of Organization, Not Articles of Organization
If you searched for "Connecticut Articles of Organization," you have the right idea but the wrong label for this state. Connecticut's Uniform Limited Liability Company Act - codified at Title 34, Chapter 613a of the General Statutes - creates an LLC through a Certificate of Organization, not "Articles of Organization." Under General Statutes Section 34-247, one or more organizers form the company by delivering the Certificate of Organization to the Connecticut Secretary of the State for filing. Everything the Articles of Organization do in another state, the Certificate of Organization does in Connecticut: it legally brings the LLC into existence.
The confusion is common because "Articles of Organization" is the term California, Florida, and New York use, and national templates and articles often use it generically. For the actual Connecticut filing and the full walkthrough, see how to form an LLC in Connecticut; for the national concept, see Articles of Organization. If you were instead looking for a "Certificate of Formation," see Connecticut Certificate of Formation, which explains that term too.
Why the Terminology Differs State to State
Every US state lets you form an LLC, but the states did not coordinate on what to name the formation document. The three common labels all mean the same thing - the charter document you file with the state to create the LLC:
| Document name | Example states | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Organization | Connecticut, Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire | Creates the LLC |
| Articles of Organization | California, Florida, New York, Illinois | Creates the LLC |
| Certificate of Formation | Delaware, Texas, Washington | Creates the LLC |
So a "Connecticut Articles of Organization" is best understood as the Connecticut Certificate of Organization. The distinction matters only for using the correct form and vocabulary when you file - the legal effect is identical. The practical takeaway is to match your vocabulary to the state you are filing in. If a bank, landlord, lender, or out-of-state form asks a Connecticut LLC for its "Articles of Organization," supply the filed Certificate of Organization - that is the document they mean. Using the wrong term rarely causes a legal problem, but using the wrong form does, so always start from the Connecticut Secretary of the State's own Certificate of Organization on business.ct.gov rather than a generic template labeled for another state.
How to Form a Connecticut LLC, Step by Step
Because the real document is the Certificate of Organization, here is the process to form the LLC, each step tied to a requirement of the Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act or a federal tax rule.
- Choose and check your LLC name. Under Section 34-243k, the name must contain "limited liability company," "L.L.C.," or "LLC" and be distinguishable on the records of the Secretary of the State from existing names. Search the business registry first. If you are not ready to file, you may reserve the name for 120 days for $60 under Section 34-243l. Confirm the name does not infringe a federal trademark.
- Appoint a Connecticut registered agent. Every Connecticut LLC must designate and maintain a registered agent in the state under Section 34-243n. The agent may be a Connecticut resident or a qualifying entity and must have consented to serve. See the national registered agent overview.
- File the Certificate of Organization. Submit the certificate to the Connecticut Secretary of the State and pay the $120 filing fee set by Section 34-243u. File online at business.ct.gov for the quickest turnaround. Once the Secretary of the State accepts it, your LLC legally exists.
- Adopt an operating agreement. Connecticut does not require you to file an operating agreement, but Section 34-243d recognizes it as the internal contract that governs the LLC. Use it to set ownership percentages, management, voting, and profit distribution. See operating agreements.
- Get an EIN and register for Connecticut taxes. Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS, then register with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services. If you sell taxable goods or services, obtain a Sales and Use Tax Permit for $100.
After filing, open a business bank account (banks generally ask for the stamped Certificate of Organization and the EIN) and calendar your first annual report. See the full sequence at how to form an LLC in Connecticut.
Connecticut LLC Filing Fees (2026)
The core cost of a Connecticut LLC is the $120 Certificate of Organization fee. The table lists the state fees most new LLCs encounter, each set by statute - Section 34-243u for Secretary of the State filings and Section 12-409 for the sales tax permit. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are fixed by the state.
| Item | Document | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create the LLC | Certificate of Organization | $120 | Secretary of the State |
| Annual report (each year) | Annual report (online) | $80 | Secretary of the State |
| Reserve a name (120 days) | Name reservation | $60 | Secretary of the State |
| Change registered agent / office | Change of agent certificate | $50 | Secretary of the State |
| Sales and Use Tax Permit | Business tax registration | $100 | Department of Revenue Services |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
For a full breakdown of one-time and recurring costs, see how much a Connecticut LLC costs and the national LLC cost guide.
Connecticut Registered Agent Requirement
Whatever you call the formation document, Connecticut requires a registered agent under General Statutes Section 34-243n. Every LLC and every registered foreign LLC must designate and maintain a registered agent in Connecticut, and the designation is itself an affirmation that the agent has consented to serve. You name the initial agent directly in the Certificate of Organization. The agent must be a natural person who is a Connecticut resident, a corporation formed under Connecticut law, or another qualifying business entity authorized to do business in the state, with a Connecticut street address where process can be served during business hours. To change agents later, file a change of agent certificate for $50. Failing to maintain a registered agent is a ground for the Secretary of the State to dissolve the LLC by forfeiture. See Connecticut registered agent requirements for detail.
Connecticut Annual Report and Ongoing Duties
Connecticut requires every LLC to file an annual report with the Secretary of the State. Section 34-247k requires the report to be delivered electronically and to state the company name, principal office address, at least one member or manager, the registered agent, a valid email address, and the LLC's NAICS code. The fee is $80 under Section 34-243u. The first annual report is due after January 1 and before April 1 of the year following the year the LLC was formed; subsequent reports are due in the same January 1–March 31 window every year - so the practical deadline is March 31. An LLC that is more than one year in default can be dissolved by forfeiture by the Secretary of the State. For a deeper walkthrough, see the Connecticut annual report guide.
EIN, Connecticut Taxes, and Proof of Formation
A federal Employer Identification Number (EIN) is issued free by the IRS and is used to open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. By default, the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment by filing the appropriate IRS form. Connecticut has a state personal income tax, so pass-through profits are reported on members' Connecticut returns, and the state imposes a pass-through entity tax through the Department of Revenue Services. If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, obtain a Sales and Use Tax Permit for $100 under Section 12-409.
Because there is no "Articles of Organization," people ask what proof they receive that the LLC exists. When the Secretary of the State accepts your Certificate of Organization, it records the filing; for official proof of active status - for a bank, a lender, or to register in another state - you order a Certificate of Legal Existence (Connecticut's good-standing certificate) from the state for a fee. Keep your filed Certificate of Organization and, if you order one, the Certificate of Legal Existence with your records. To close the LLC later, see how to dissolve an LLC in Connecticut, and check business licenses in Connecticut for local permits.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Connecticut use Articles of Organization?
No. Connecticut forms an LLC with a Certificate of Organization filed with the Secretary of the State under Section 34-247. Articles of Organization is the term used in states like California, Florida, and New York.
What document forms a Connecticut LLC?
The Certificate of Organization, filed with the Connecticut Secretary of the State for $120 at business.ct.gov. Its acceptance legally creates the LLC.
How much does it cost to file the Connecticut Certificate of Organization?
The filing fee is $120 under Section 34-243u. After formation, each LLC files an $80 annual report every year between January 1 and March 31.
Is a Certificate of Organization the same as Articles of Organization?
Functionally yes - two names for the document that creates an LLC. Connecticut calls it a Certificate of Organization; other states call it Articles of Organization or a Certificate of Formation.
Does a Connecticut LLC need a registered agent?
Yes. Section 34-243n requires every Connecticut LLC to designate and maintain a registered agent in the state who has consented to serve. See Connecticut registered agent.
Related
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- How to form an LLC in Connecticut
- Connecticut Certificate of Formation (term explained)
- Connecticut registered agent requirements
- Connecticut annual report
- How much does a Connecticut LLC cost?
- Connecticut operating agreement
- How to dissolve an LLC in Connecticut
- Articles of Organization (national)
- How to get an EIN
Sources
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-247, Formation of limited liability company; certificate of organization.
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243u, Fees payable to Secretary of the State ($120 certificate of organization; $80 annual report; $60 name reservation; $50 change of agent).
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243k, Permitted name.
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243l, Reservation of name ($60, 120 days).
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243n, Registered agent.
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243d, Operating agreement.
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-247k, Annual report (Jan 1–Apr 1 filing window; $80 fee).
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-267g, Dissolution by forfeiture.
- Connecticut General Statutes - § 12-409, Sales and use tax permit ($100 permit fee).
- Connecticut Secretary of the State - business.ct.gov online business services portal.
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
- Cornell Law School LII - 26 CFR § 301.7701-3, Entity classification election.
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and deadlines change; verify current requirements with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services before acting.