How much does it cost to file the Certificate of Organization in Pennsylvania?

The filing fee is $125, paid to the Pennsylvania Department of State. The required New Entity Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A) carries no separate fee. Expedited service is available for an added $100 (same day), $300 (three hours), or $1,000 (one hour).

Pennsylvania Articles of Organization: Filing & Cost (2026)

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

In Pennsylvania, what most people call the "Articles of Organization" is officially the Certificate of Organization, form DSCB:15-8821. You file it - together with a New Entity Docketing Statement - with the Pennsylvania Department of State for a $125 fee, online through Business Filing Services or by mail, and you must list a Pennsylvania registered office.

Quick Answer

Document name: Certificate of Organization (Pennsylvania's "Articles of Organization")
Form: DSCB:15-8821, plus New Entity Docketing Statement DSCB:15-134A
Filing fee: $125 (2026), to the Pennsylvania Department of State
Agency: Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations - file via Business Filing Services
Registered office: Required - a physical Pennsylvania street address or a CROP (no registered agent)
Ongoing: Annual report, $7, due September 30 each year

"Articles of Organization" in Pennsylvania Is the Certificate of Organization

Across most states, the document that creates an LLC is called the Articles of Organization. Pennsylvania is one of the states that uses a different title: its formation document is the Certificate of Organization, form DSCB:15-8821. The two names describe the same thing - the filing that legally brings a limited liability company into existence - so if you searched for "Pennsylvania Articles of Organization," the form you actually file is the Certificate of Organization. Using the exact title matters when you download the form, because the Department of State indexes documents by their DSCB numbers.

This terminology gap is a frequent source of confusion for people forming a first LLC or moving a business from another state. The substance is identical to Articles of Organization elsewhere: the certificate states the company name, its registered office, the organizers, and the effective date, and its acceptance is the moment the LLC exists. For the full formation walkthrough, see how to form an LLC in Pennsylvania; for a Certificate-of-Formation-titled comparison, see Pennsylvania Certificate of Formation.

Agency and Form: Department of State, DSCB:15-8821

You file the Certificate of Organization with the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. The certificate must be accompanied by a New Entity Docketing Statement, form DSCB:15-134A, which carries no separate fee but is required for the filing to be accepted. Filing the certificate - and the Bureau's acceptance of it - is the legal act that forms the LLC under the Pennsylvania Uniform Limited Liability Company Act of 2016, codified at 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 88.

You can file online through Business Filing Services at file.dos.pa.gov, the Department's business portal, which is the fastest route, or submit the forms by mail. The base filing fee is $125. Whether you are a single owner or several members, the same $125 fee and the same DSCB:15-8821 form apply; the fee does not scale with the number of members. For the national overview of the formation document, see Articles of Organization explained.

How to File Pennsylvania's Certificate of Organization, Step by Step

Forming the LLC is a six-step process centered on DSCB:15-8821. Each step corresponds to a requirement of the Pennsylvania LLC act or a federal tax rule.

Choose and check your LLC name. Select a name that includes an LLC designator and is distinguishable from names already on file with the Department of State. Verify availability through Business Filing Services, and confirm the name does not infringe a federal trademark. You may reserve the name for 120 days by filing a Name Reservation (DSCB:15-208) for $70.
Designate a Pennsylvania registered office. List a registered office with a physical Pennsylvania street address - a post office box alone is not acceptable. If you have no Pennsylvania address, contract with a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) and list the provider.
File the Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821). Submit the certificate and the New Entity Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A) to the Department of State and pay the $125 fee, online through Business Filing Services or by mail.
Adopt an operating agreement. Pennsylvania does not file or require an operating agreement, but one is strongly recommended to set ownership, management, voting, and profit distribution.
Get an EIN and register for taxes. Apply for a free federal EIN from the IRS, then register for Pennsylvania taxes through myPATH, including a sales tax license if you sell taxable goods or services. Consider whether an S-corporation election fits your situation.
File the annual report. Beginning the year after formation, file the $7 annual report with the Department of State by September 30 each year.

Pennsylvania LLC Formation Fees (2026)

The core cost is the $125 Certificate of Organization fee. The table lists the state fees most new LLCs encounter, each verified against the Department of State fee schedule. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are set by the state, not by any filing service.

Item	Form	Fee (2026)	Agency
Certificate of Organization (form the LLC)	DSCB:15-8821	$125	Department of State
New Entity Docketing Statement (required)	DSCB:15-134A	No separate fee	Department of State
Name reservation (120 days)	DSCB:15-208	$70	Department of State
Same-day / 3-hour / 1-hour expedite	Add-on	$100 / $300 / $1,000	Department of State
Annual report	Online via file.dos.pa.gov	$7	Department of State
Federal EIN	IRS Form SS-4	$0 (free)	IRS

For a full cost breakdown, see Pennsylvania LLC cost and the national how much an LLC costs guide.

What the Certificate of Organization Requires

The Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821) is short but exacting. Under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821, it must state the LLC's name (including a required designator such as "company," "limited," "limited liability company," or an abbreviation), the address of the registered office in Pennsylvania (or the name of a Commercial Registered Office Provider), the name of each organizer, and the effective date if you want a date other than the filing date. Certain professional or benefit companies add extra statements, and a restricted professional LLC must indicate that status.

Getting these fields exactly right avoids rejection and re-filing. The name must be distinguishable in the Department of State's records from existing entities - use Business Filing Services to check availability before you submit. Because the Certificate does not include your operating agreement, keep that internal document separate; Pennsylvania does not file it. For how the operating agreement governs the company, see what an LLC is and LLC operating agreements.

Registered Office, Not Registered Agent

Unlike most states, Pennsylvania does not require a registered agent; the statute requires a registered office. You list a physical Pennsylvania street address on the Certificate of Organization where the LLC can receive service of process and official mail. A post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement. If your LLC has no Pennsylvania address - common for out-of-state owners - you may instead contract with a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) and list the provider's name in place of a street address. You must have a written contract with the CROP before listing it. To change the registered office later, file the appropriate change form for a small fee. See Pennsylvania registered office requirements and the national registered agent overview.

After You File: EIN, Annual Report, and Taxes

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. For state tax, an LLC's income passes through to members, who pay Pennsylvania personal income tax at the flat 3.07% rate. Pennsylvania has no annual LLC franchise tax.

The main recurring state obligation is the annual report. Under Act 122 of 2022, most LLCs must file a $7 annual report with the Department of State by September 30 each year, beginning the year after formation. If you sell taxable goods or services, you must obtain a Pennsylvania sales tax license through myPATH before making sales; see business licenses in Pennsylvania and the Pennsylvania LLC tax filing guide.

Processing Time and Expedited Service

Processing time depends on your filing method and whether you pay for expedited service. Standard online filings through Business Filing Services are generally processed within several business days, and mailed filings take longer because of transit and queue time. If you need proof of formation quickly, the Department of State offers same-day service for an added $100, three-hour service for $300, and one-hour service for $1,000, each charged on top of the $125 filing fee and available online. Once accepted, you receive a stamped, filed copy of the Certificate of Organization that serves as proof the LLC exists - banks typically ask for it, along with your EIN, to open a business account. When you eventually close the company, you file a Certificate of Dissolution; see how to dissolve an LLC in Pennsylvania.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Pennsylvania use Articles of Organization?

Pennsylvania's formation document is officially the Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821). People often call it the Articles of Organization because that is the generic term, but the state titles it Certificate of Organization. See Articles of Organization.

How much does it cost to file the Certificate of Organization?

$125, paid to the Department of State. The required docketing statement carries no separate fee. Expedited service adds $100 (same day), $300 (three hours), or $1,000 (one hour). See Pennsylvania LLC cost.

Where do I file Pennsylvania Articles of Organization?

With the Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, online through Business Filing Services at file.dos.pa.gov or by mail, together with a New Entity Docketing Statement.

Do I need a registered agent for a Pennsylvania LLC?

No. Pennsylvania requires a registered office with a physical Pennsylvania street address, not a registered agent. You may use a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) instead.

What happens after I file the Certificate of Organization?

Once accepted, your LLC legally exists. You then get a free EIN, register for state taxes, adopt an operating agreement, and file a $7 annual report each year by September 30.

How long does Pennsylvania take to process the filing?

Standard online filings are typically processed within several business days. Expedited service costs an added $100 (same day), $300 (three hours), or $1,000 (one hour) on top of the $125 fee.

Sources

Pennsylvania Department of State - Pennsylvania Limited Liability Company (Certificate of Organization DSCB:15-8821; docketing statement DSCB:15-134A; Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations).
Pennsylvania Department of State - Certificate of Organization, Domestic LLC (DSCB:15-8821) (form and $125 fee, PDF).
Pennsylvania Department of State - Fees and Payments ($125 Certificate of Organization; $70 name reservation; expedited $100/$300/$1,000).
Pennsylvania Department of State - Annual Reports ($7 LLC fee; September 30 deadline; Act 122 of 2022).
Pennsylvania Department of State - Commercial Registered Office Providers (registered office vs. agent; physical address required).
Pennsylvania Department of State - Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations.
Pennsylvania Department of State - Business Filing Services portal (online filing; name search).
Pennsylvania Department of Revenue - Personal Income Tax (flat 3.07% rate; pass-through treatment of LLCs).
Justia - 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821, Formation and Certificate of Organization.
Justia - 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 88, Limited Liability Companies.
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Cornell Law School, Legal Information Institute - Limited Liability Company (LLC).

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 forms change; verify current requirements with the Pennsylvania Department of State and Pennsylvania Department of Revenue before acting.