How much does it cost to incorporate in Illinois?

The Articles of Incorporation fee is $150, plus an initial franchise tax on paid-in capital (0.1%, $25 minimum). Ongoing, corporations file a $75 annual report with the annual franchise tax each year.

Does Illinois still have a franchise tax?

Yes. The 2019 law that would have repealed it in 2024 was reversed in 2021, so the franchise tax remains in effect. However, as of 2025 the first $10,000 of annual franchise-tax liability is exempt, so most small corporations owe $0.

What is Illinois's corporate income tax rate?

A combined 9.5% — a 7% corporate income tax plus a 2.5% Personal Property Replacement Tax — which is among the highest corporate rates in the US.

How many directors does an Illinois corporation need?

At least one. Director names aren't required in the Articles of Incorporation, but directors and officers are listed on each annual report.

When is an Illinois corporation's annual report due?

Within the 60 days before the first day of your anniversary month, filed together with the annual franchise tax.

Form a corporation in Kansas

Incorporate in Kansas in a low-cost, business-friendly state – CountSure files your Articles on KBOS, sets a clean share structure, and keeps your biennial report on schedule. $85 online to file, no franchise tax, and a report only every two years.

Requirements, costs & steps for an incorporate in Kansas

Incorporating in Kansas creates a formal entity with directors, officers, and stock in a low-cost, business-friendly state. Kansas keeps filing affordable at $85 online, charges no franchise tax, and runs on a biennial report schedule rather than an annual one. Two details set corporations apart from Kansas LLCs: every director must be a natural person (and is named in the Articles if the incorporators’ role ends at filing), and the corporate income tax carries a surtax above $50,000. This guide covers the cost, the filing steps, and ongoing compliance. To compare structures first, read our Kansas LLC formation guide, or let our Kansas incorporation service file it all for you.

What you need to know?

Filing fee:

$85 online or $90 by mail for Articles of Incorporation, filed through KBOS. After the 2026 fee reduction, LLCs pay the same amount.

Biennial report - even years:

Every two years, due April 15, in even or odd years depending on your formation year.

Directors named in the Articles:

At least one director, each a natural person. Names and addresses go in the Articles only if the incorporators’ powers end when the Articles are filed.

Corporate income tax:

3.5% normal tax on all Kansas taxable income, plus a 3% surtax on income over $50,000

Stock is fee-neutral:

Kansas’s franchise tax does not apply to any tax year beginning after December 31, 2010.

Kansas corporation at a glance

The essentials for incorporating and maintaining an Kansas corporation.

Requirement	Detail (2026)
Formation document	Articles of Incorporation
Filing agency	Kansas Secretary of State (KBOS portal)
State filing fee	$85 online / $90 by mail
Registered agent	Required; physical Kansas address (no PO box)
Directors	Min. 1, natural persons; listed in the Articles only if incorporators’ powers end at filing
Officers	Listed on the biennial report
Bylaws	Required (internal; not filed)
Ongoing report	Biennial information report (every 2 years)
Report fee	$90 online / $110 by mail
Corporate income tax	3.5% + 3% surtax over $50k [VERIFY]; no franchise tax

How to incorporate in Kansas, Step by Step

Seven steps from name check through your even-year biennial report.

Choose a compliant corporate name

Kansas corporate names must include a word of formation such as “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” “Limited,” or an abbreviation (Corp., Inc., Co., Ltd.), be distinguishable from existing names, and not mislead the public. Reserve a name for 120 days for $30 online if desired.

Appoint a registered agent

A Kansas resident or registered service with a physical in-state address (no PO box), available during business hours. CountSure can act as your resident agent.

Identify your directors

A Kansas board needs at least one director, and each must be a natural person. If the incorporators’ powers end when the Articles are filed, the directors’ names and addresses must be listed in the Articles, so settle your board before you file.

File Articles of Incorporation on KBOS

File with the Secretary of State for $85 online or $90 by mail. The Articles list the corporate name, resident agent and registered office, purpose, authorized shares with par value, and incorporators (plus directors, if the incorporators’ powers end at filing). Increasing the number of shares does not change the filing fee.

Adopt bylaws and hold an organizational meeting

Appoint officers, adopt bylaws (internal, not filed), and authorize stock issuance; keep minutes and a stock ledger in your corporate records.

Get an EIN and register for taxes

Obtain a free EIN; to elect S-corp treatment, file IRS Form 2553; register with the Kansas Department of Revenue for corporate income tax, withholding, and sales tax as needed.

Calendar your biennial report

File the information report in your matching even or odd year, due April 15, and every two years after.

Director & formation Requirements

Kansas keeps director rules light and only puts directors on the Articles in one situation. Here’s what to get right.

Minimum number: At least one director, who must be a natural person (K.S.A. 17-6301).
Residency / age: No Kansas residency or shareholder requirement unless the articles or bylaws specify one.
Listed in Articles: Only if the incorporators’ powers end when the Articles are filed. Otherwise the section is left blank and the incorporators act until directors are elected.
Bylaws: Kansas corporations adopt bylaws internally; they are not filed with the state.
Stock: Authorized shares and par value are listed; increasing shares or par value does not affect the initial filing fee.

Ongoing Kansas corporation Compliance & Taxes

Corporate records

Keep the Articles, bylaws, stock ledger, director and officer lists, and minutes of shareholder and board meetings at your principal office. Maintaining these formalities protects your limited-liability status.

Biennial report - even years

Kansas corporations file a biennial information report with the Secretary of State, due by April 15 of the reporting year. Like LLCs, corporations file in even or odd years depending on the year they formed, starting in the next matching year after formation. The report lists your principal office and the names and addresses of officers and directors. The fee is $90 online or $110 by mail. If you miss the deadline, the corporation is delinquent for three months, after which it forfeits.

Corporate income tax

Kansas imposes a 3.5% normal tax on all Kansas taxable income, plus a 3% surtax on income above $50,000, so the marginal rate is 6.5% above the threshold 2026 rate. Kansas has no franchise tax; it does not apply to any tax year beginning after December 31, 2010. Corporations file with the Kansas Department of Revenue.

S corporation election

Kansas recognizes the federal S-corporation election; income generally passes through to shareholders and is taxed under the Kansas individual income tax (5.2% on taxable income up to $23,000, or $46,000 for joint filers, and 5.58% above). Under the Kansas SALT Parity Act, S corporations may also elect to pay Kansas income tax at the entity level.

EIN and state tax accounts

An EIN is required to hire and bank. Register with the Kansas Department of Revenue for corporate income tax, withholding, and sales tax as applicable.

Kansas incorporation Cost Breakdown

The full picture before optional services.

Item	Cost (2026) · paid to
Articles of Incorporation	$85 online / $90 mail · Secretary of State (KBOS)
Biennial report	$90 online / $110 mail · Secretary of State, April 15, every 2 years
Name reservation (optional)	$30 online / $35 mail · 120-day hold, non-renewable
$0 · IRS (free)	$0 · none since tax year 2011
Corporate income tax	3.5% + 3% surtax over $50k · Kansas Dept. of Revenue
Registered agent (optional service)	~$49–$300/yr · third party
EIN	$0 · IRS (free)

Insight From Our Team

“Kansas is a clean state to incorporate in, and the 2026 fee reduction made it cheaper to get started. Two things I always flag for corporations. First, if your incorporators step away once the Articles are filed, your directors go on the public Articles, so have the board settled before you file. Second, watch the surtax: the corporate rate looks like a friendly 3.5%, but everything over fifty thousand dollars of net income picks up an extra 3%, so a profitable C-corp is really looking at 6.5% at the margin. And Kansas has had no franchise tax since 2011, so that is one less thing to track.”

Parth Shah
CountSure

Related Guides & Services

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Kansas?

The Articles of Incorporation fee is $85 online or $90 by mail. Ongoing, corporations file a biennial information report every two years, which costs $90 online or $110 by mail.

What is Kansas’s corporate income tax rate?

A 3.5% normal tax on all Kansas taxable income, plus a 3% surtax on income above $50,000 2026 rate. That puts the marginal rate at 6.5% above the threshold. Kansas has no franchise tax.

Do Kansas corporations file an annual report?

No. Kansas corporations file a biennial information report every two years, due April 15, in even or odd years depending on the formation year.

Does Kansas require directors to be named in the Articles?

Only in one situation. If the incorporators’ powers end when the Articles are filed, the Articles must list the names and addresses of the initial directors; otherwise that section is left blank. Every corporation needs at least one director, each a natural person, with no residency requirement unless the articles or bylaws add one.

Does Kansas have a franchise tax?

No. Kansas’s franchise tax does not apply to any tax year beginning after December 31, 2010, regardless of the entity’s size.

The applicable legal fees may vary over time. For the most up-to-date fee information, please click here to verify the latest figures.

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Start your Incorporate in Kansas with CountSure

From Articles of Incorporation to bylaws, stock, EIN, and your biennial information report, CountSure handles Kansas incorporation start to finish, and keeps your even or odd reporting year on track.