Utah Certificate of Formation: Cost & How to File (2026)
Utah does not issue a “Certificate of Formation.” The document that forms a Utah LLC is the Certificate of Organization, filed with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code for a $59 fee under Utah Code § 48-3a-201. If a guide tells you to file a Utah certificate of formation, the Certificate of Organization is what you actually file.
Quick Answer
- Utah's document
- Certificate of Organization (not "Certificate of Formation")
- Agency
- Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code (Dept. of Commerce)
- Filing fee
- $59 (2026)
- Statute
- Utah Code § 48-3a-201
- File online
- OneStop Business Registration (businessregistration.utah.gov)
- Ongoing
- $18 annual renewal by your registration anniversary
Utah Uses a Certificate of Organization, Not a Certificate of Formation
The name of the LLC formation document varies by state. States such as Texas, Delaware, Washington, Mississippi, and New Hampshire call it a Certificate of Formation. Most states call it articles of organization. Utah, which adopted the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, calls it the Certificate of Organization. All three names describe the same thing: the public document that legally creates the LLC.
So there is no separate “Certificate of Formation” form to file in Utah - the Certificate of Organization is the operative document, filed with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code. For the complete step-by-step process, see how to form an LLC in Utah; for the “articles” phrasing used elsewhere, see Utah articles of organization; and for the plain-English definition see what an LLC is and how to form an LLC.
Agency: Division of Corporations & Commercial Code
The Certificate of Organization is filed with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code, a division of the Utah Department of Commerce. The Division keeps the registry of Utah business entities and its acceptance of the certificate is the legal act that brings the LLC into existence under the Utah Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (Utah Code Title 48, Chapter 3a).
The standard, fastest way to file is online through the state's OneStop Business Registration portal, which sends a single application to the Division of Corporations and the Utah State Tax Commission at the same time. The Division reports that most online filings are processed instantly, with other filings generally handled within about 2 to 4 business days.
What the Certificate Must Include
Under Utah Code § 48-3a-201, the Certificate of Organization must state:
- The LLC name, which must include an LLC designator and be distinguishable from existing entity names on file with the Division.
- The principal office address (street and mailing).
- The registered agent's name and Utah street address. See Utah registered agent requirements.
- Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, which should match your operating agreement.
- Each organizer's name and address.
To hold a name before filing, you can reserve it for 120 days for a $22 fee under § 48-3a-108. Check that the name does not conflict with a federal trademark first.
How to File and the $59 Fee
Deliver the completed Certificate of Organization to the Division of Corporations and pay the $59 filing fee. Through the OneStop Business Registration you enter the LLC details, designate a registered agent, select member or manager management, and pay by card. When the Division accepts the certificate, the LLC exists and you can obtain an EIN and open a bank account.
If you need faster handling, expedited processing is available for $75 per filing. State fees change from time to time, so confirm the current figure on the Division's fee schedule before filing.
Utah LLC Filing Fees (2026)
These are the state fees most new Utah LLCs meet around the Certificate of Organization, verified against the Utah Division of Corporations fee schedule. Amounts are set by the state, not by any filing service. For the full cost picture, see Utah LLC cost and the national LLC cost guide.
| Item | Filing | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create the LLC | Certificate of Organization | $59 | Division of Corporations |
| Annual renewal (annual report) | Renewal filing | $18 | Division of Corporations |
| Late renewal | Late renewal fee | $10 | Division of Corporations |
| Name reservation (120 days) | Name reservation | $22 | Division of Corporations |
| Expedited processing | Optional add-on | $75 per filing | Division of Corporations |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
Registered Agent Requirement
Every Utah LLC must name a registered agent on the Certificate of Organization and keep one at all times. Utah's Model Registered Agents Act (Utah Code Title 16, Chapter 17) requires the agent to have a physical Utah street address and to consent to serve; the agent receives lawsuits and official state mail, including the annual renewal notice.
You can be your own agent, appoint a manager, or hire a commercial registered agent. Because renewal reminders go to the agent on file, an agent who moves or stops forwarding mail is a leading cause of missed renewals and expired LLCs. See Utah registered agent requirements for detail.
After Filing: EIN, Taxes, and Renewal
Once the certificate is accepted, get a free federal EIN from the IRS. By default the IRS taxes a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect corporate or S-corporation treatment. Utah applies a flat individual income tax of 4.5% for the 2025 tax year on pass-through profits through the Utah State Tax Commission, and you register for a sales tax license if you sell taxable goods or services.
Utah then requires an annual renewal by your registration anniversary, with an $18 fee and a $10 late fee. To close the company, see how to dissolve an LLC in Utah. To operate under a different name, see Utah DBA filing; for local permits, see business licenses in Utah.
Correcting or Amending the Certificate
The Certificate of Organization is a living public record. If information changes after the LLC is formed - a new principal office address, a switch from member-managed to manager-managed, or a name change - you update the record by filing an amendment to the Certificate of Organization with the Division of Corporations. If the original filing contained a typo or error, Utah also allows a statement of correction. Each of these filings carries its own fee; check the current amount on the Division's fee schedule before you submit, because these figures are set by the state and change from time to time.
Keeping the certificate accurate matters for more than tidiness. Banks, lenders, insurers, and other states rely on the public record when they verify your LLC, and a mismatch between your operating agreement, your certificate, and your annual renewal can slow down financing or licensing. A change of registered agent is filed separately from an amendment, and it is one of the most common updates because agents move or change over the life of a business. When you make any of these changes, update your internal records and notify your bank so every document tells the same story about who owns and runs the company.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Utah have a Certificate of Formation?
No. Utah's LLC formation document is the Certificate of Organization, filed under Utah Code § 48-3a-201. “Certificate of Formation” is used in states such as Texas, Delaware, and Washington. See how to form an LLC.
What is the Utah equivalent of a Certificate of Formation?
The Certificate of Organization. You file it with the Division of Corporations & Commercial Code for a $59 fee, most easily online through the OneStop Business Registration.
How much does it cost to form a Utah LLC?
$59 for the Certificate of Organization. Optional expedited processing is $75 per filing, and a federal EIN is free.
What must the certificate include?
Under § 48-3a-201: the LLC name, principal office address, the registered agent's name and Utah street address, member- vs manager-managed status, and each organizer's name and address.
How do I file it?
Through the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code, most easily online via the OneStop Business Registration, which also registers you with the Utah State Tax Commission.
Do I need to renew a Utah LLC each year?
Yes. Utah requires an annual renewal by your registration anniversary, with an $18 fee and a $10 late fee if missed. See Utah annual renewal.
Related
- How to form an LLC in Utah
- Utah articles of organization
- Utah registered agent requirements
- Utah operating agreement
- How much does a Utah LLC cost?
- Utah annual renewal
- Utah DBA filing
- How to dissolve an LLC in Utah
Sources
- Utah Code - § 48-3a-201, Certificate of organization (required contents).
- Utah Code - § 48-3a-108, Reservation of name (120 days, $22).
- Utah Code - Title 48, Chapter 3a, Utah Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act.
- Utah Code - Title 16, Chapter 17, Model Registered Agents Act.
- Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code - Division home and processing times.
- Utah Division of Corporations - Fee Schedule (PDF) ($59 Certificate of Organization; $18 renewal; $10 late; $22 name reservation; $75 expedite).
- Utah State Tax Commission - Create & Manage a Tax Account (sales tax license).
- Utah State Tax Commission - Individual income tax rates (4.5% for 2025).
- Justia - Utah Code § 48-3a-201 (annotated).
- Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited liability company (LLC).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
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. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change; verify current requirements with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code and the Utah State Tax Commission before acting.