How Much Does a Connecticut LLC Cost? Fees for 2026

Q: How much does it cost to start an LLC in Connecticut?

It costs $120 to form a Connecticut LLC by filing the Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the State. The federal EIN is free. Optional first-year costs include a $60 name reservation and a $100 Sales and Use Tax Permit if you sell taxable goods or services.

Q: What is the annual cost of a Connecticut LLC?

The main recurring cost is the $80 annual report filed with the Secretary of the State every year between January 1 and March 31. A Sales and Use Tax Permit renews on a biennial cycle. Members also owe Connecticut income tax on pass-through profits.

Q: Is there an annual fee for a Connecticut LLC?

Yes. Connecticut charges an $80 annual report fee for every LLC each year, set by General Statutes section 34-243u. Missing it for more than one year can lead to dissolution by forfeiture by the Secretary of the State.

Q: Do I have to pay for a registered agent in Connecticut?

Not necessarily. You can act as your own registered agent at no cost if you are a Connecticut resident with a street address in the state. Commercial registered agent services typically charge an annual fee, but that is a private cost, not a state fee.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

A Connecticut LLC costs $120 to form, the fee for filing a Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State, plus an $80 annual report every year. The federal EIN is free. Common optional costs include a $60 name reservation, a $50 registered-agent change, and a $100 Sales and Use Tax Permit.

Quick Answer

Formation fee: $120 - Certificate of Organization (§ 34-243u)
Annual report: $80 every year, due Jan 1–Mar 31 (§ 34-247k)
Name reservation: $60, optional, 120 days (§ 34-243l)
Sales & Use Tax Permit: $100, biennial, if selling taxable goods (§ 12-409)
EIN: $0 - free from the IRS
Business entity tax: $0 - the former $250 tax sunset after 2019 (§ 12-284b)

The One-Time Formation Cost: $120

The unavoidable cost of starting a Connecticut LLC is the $120 fee to file the Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State. This fee is fixed by Connecticut General Statutes section 34-243u(a)(3), which sets the charge for "filing a certificate of organization, including appointment of registered agent" at one hundred twenty dollars. It is a one-time fee that creates the LLC; there is no separate charge to appoint your first registered agent, because the appointment is included. You pay it when you file online at business.ct.gov. For the step-by-step filing process, see how to form an LLC in Connecticut.

The Recurring Cost: $80 Annual Report

Connecticut, unlike a handful of states, charges a recurring annual report fee. Every LLC must file an annual report with the Secretary of the State each year, and the fee is $80 for report years on or after July 1, 2020 under section 34-243u(a)(15)(B). The report is filed electronically and must be delivered after January 1 and before April 1 - so the practical deadline is March 31 - under section 34-247k. This is the single largest ongoing state cost for most Connecticut LLCs, and it is easy to overlook because it recurs annually. Full detail is in the Connecticut annual report guide.

If an LLC falls more than one year behind on the annual report, the Secretary of the State may dissolve it by forfeiture under section 34-267g. Reinstating a forfeited LLC then requires a $120 certificate of reinstatement fee under section 34-243u - more than the cost of simply filing the report on time, which is why calendaring the March 31 deadline matters.

Connecticut LLC Fee Table (2026)

The table below lists every common state fee for a Connecticut LLC. Each amount is set by statute - section 34-243u for Secretary of the State filings and section 12-409 for the sales tax permit - and none of these fees are charged by a filing service; they are state charges.

Cost	Amount (2026)	When	Agency / statute
Certificate of Organization (form the LLC)	$120	One time	Secretary of the State (§ 34-243u)
Annual report	$80	Every year (Jan 1–Mar 31)	Secretary of the State (§ 34-247k)
Name reservation (120 days)	$60	Optional, before filing	Secretary of the State (§ 34-243l)
Change of registered agent / office	$50	As needed	Secretary of the State (§ 34-243u)
Amendment / restated certificate	$120	As needed	Secretary of the State (§ 34-243u)
Reinstatement after forfeiture	$120	If dissolved by forfeiture	Secretary of the State (§ 34-243u)
Sales and Use Tax Permit	$100	Biennial, if selling taxable goods	Dept. of Revenue Services (§ 12-409)
Federal EIN	$0 (free)	One time	IRS

The EIN Is Free

A common cost-inflating myth is that you must pay for an Employer Identification Number. You do not. The IRS issues an EIN for $0, directly, through its online application, by fax, or by mail using Form SS-4. Third-party services that charge a fee for "obtaining" an EIN are charging for something the IRS provides free. Most Connecticut LLCs need an EIN to open a bank account, and one is required if the LLC has more than one member or any employees. See what an LLC is for how the entity is taxed.

Registered Agent: Free or Paid

Connecticut requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent under section 34-243n, but the state does not charge a standalone fee for having one - the appointment is bundled into the $120 formation fee. You can serve as your own registered agent at no cost if you are a Connecticut resident with a street address in the state available during business hours. If you prefer privacy or do not have a Connecticut address, a commercial registered agent service charges a private annual fee (commonly a low-hundreds figure), but that is a market price, not a state fee. Changing your agent later costs $50 under section 34-243u. See the national registered agent overview for background.

Taxes Are a Separate, Ongoing Cost

Filing fees are not the same as taxes. Connecticut has a state personal income tax, so profits that pass through a single-member or multi-member LLC are taxed on the members' Connecticut returns, and Connecticut imposes a pass-through entity tax administered by the Department of Revenue Services. The former $250 business entity tax no longer applies - under section 12-284b it sunset and was imposed only for taxable years before January 1, 2020. If your LLC elects S-corporation treatment, additional federal and state filing obligations apply. Because tax rates and thresholds change, confirm current figures with the Department of Revenue Services rather than assuming a fixed amount.

Optional and "Hidden" Costs to Budget For

Beyond the core state fees, budget for the costs that fit your situation. A $60 name reservation (section 34-243l) holds your chosen name for 120 days if you are not ready to file. If you register a federal trademark for your brand, that is a separate USPTO cost. A $100 Sales and Use Tax Permit is required before you make taxable sales. Depending on your activity and town, you may also need local or professional licenses - see business licenses in Connecticut. Certified copies and expedited handling carry additional Secretary of the State charges. None of these are mandatory for every LLC; they depend on what your business does.

How Connecticut Compares

Connecticut's $120 formation fee sits in the middle of the national range, but its $80 annual report makes its ongoing cost higher than states with no recurring fee. For contrast, see how the numbers differ in the sibling guide how to form an LLC in Texas, where there is no annual report fee, and the national LLC cost overview. When comparing states, weigh both the one-time formation fee and the recurring annual cost, because the recurring number compounds over the life of the business. If you ever close the company, see how to dissolve an LLC in Connecticut, since an abandoned LLC keeps accruing annual report obligations.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Connecticut?

$120 to file the Certificate of Organization with the Secretary of the State. The EIN is free. Optional early costs include a $60 name reservation and a $100 Sales and Use Tax Permit if you sell taxable goods or services.

What is the annual cost of a Connecticut LLC?

The main recurring state cost is the $80 annual report, due every year between January 1 and March 31. Members also owe Connecticut income tax on pass-through profits, and a sales tax permit renews biennially.

Is there an annual fee for a Connecticut LLC?

Yes. Connecticut charges an $80 annual report fee every year under section 34-243u. Falling more than one year behind can lead to dissolution by forfeiture and a $120 reinstatement fee.

Does Connecticut still charge the $250 business entity tax?

No. Under section 12-284b, the $250 business entity tax sunset and applied only to taxable years before January 1, 2020. LLC members still report pass-through income on their Connecticut returns.

Do I have to pay for a registered agent in Connecticut?

No state fee is required if you serve as your own agent and are a Connecticut resident with a street address in the state. Commercial agent services charge a private annual fee, which is optional.

Is the EIN really free?

Yes. The IRS issues an EIN at no cost through its online application or Form SS-4. Any charge for "getting an EIN" is a third-party service fee, not a government cost.

Sources

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; $120 amendment / restated / reinstatement).
Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-247, Certificate of organization.
Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-247k, Annual report (Jan 1–Apr 1 window).
Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243l, Reservation of name ($60, 120 days).
Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-243n, Registered agent.
Connecticut General Statutes - § 34-267g, Dissolution by forfeiture.
Connecticut General Statutes - § 12-409, Sales and use tax permit ($100 permit fee; biennial expiration).
Connecticut General Statutes - § 12-284b, Affected business entity tax (sunset) ($250; years before Jan 1, 2020).
Connecticut Secretary of the State - business.ct.gov online business services portal.
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services - DRS business tax registration and sales tax.
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
IRS - About Form SS-4, Application for EIN.
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal classification).
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 amounts with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services before acting.