Form a corporation in Mississippi

Mississippi is cheap to enter at $50 to file, but the tax side has more moving parts: a graduated corporate income tax and a franchise tax that is being phased out by 2028. CountSure models it before you commit. $50 to file – graduated income tax and a franchise tax phasing out by 2028.

Requirements, costs & steps for an incorporate in Mississippi

Incorporating in Mississippi is inexpensive to start, the Articles of Incorporation cost $50, but the tax picture has more moving parts than an LLC. Mississippi levies a graduated corporate income tax and a separate franchise tax on capital, though the franchise tax is being phased out and is scheduled for full repeal in 2028. This guide covers the cost, the filing steps, both taxes, and ongoing compliance. To compare structures first, read our Mississippi LLC formation guide, or let our Mississippi incorporation service file it all for you.

What you need to know?

Low filing fee:

The Mississippi Articles of Incorporation cost $50, filed online through the Secretary of State’s portal.

Annual report is $25 (not free):

Unlike the LLC, a domestic Mississippi corporation pays $25 for its annual report, filed online and due April 15.

Graduated corporate income tax:

Mississippi taxes corporate income at 0% on the first $5,000, 4% on the next $5,000, and 5% above $10,000; the old 3% bottom bracket has been phased out.

Franchise tax is phasing out:

The capital-based franchise tax is $0.50 per $1,000 of capital over $100,000 for 2026 (with a $25 minimum), and is scheduled for full repeal for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2028.

One director is enough:

A Mississippi corporation needs at least one director, with no state residency requirement, so a single founder can incorporate alone.

Mississippi corporation at a glance

The essentials for incorporating and maintaining a Mississippi corporation.

Requirement	Detail (2026)
Formation document	Articles of Incorporation
Filing agency	Mississippi Secretary of State
Filing method	Online (SOS Business Services portal)
State filing fee	$50
Registered agent	Required; physical Mississippi street address
Directors	Min. 1; no residency requirement
Annual report	$25, filed online, due April 15
Corporate income tax	0% first $5,000 / 4% next $5,000 / 5% over $10,000
Franchise tax	$0.50 per $1,000 over $100,000 (2026); repeal in 2028
Sales tax	7% state (few local add-ons)

How to incorporate in Mississippi, Step by Step

Seven steps from name check through your $25 April 15 annual report.

Choose a compliant corporate name

Mississippi corporate names must include “Corporation,” “Incorporated,” “Company,” “Limited,” or an abbreviation such as “Corp.,” “Inc.,” “Co.,” or “Ltd.,” be distinguishable from existing names, and not mislead the public. Reserve an available name for 180 days for $25 if desired.

Appoint a registered agent

Mississippi requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state to receive legal and state mail. You can be your own agent with a Mississippi address, or use a service. CountSure can act as your registered agent.

Line up your directors

A Mississippi corporation needs at least one director. There is no residency requirement, and one person can be the sole director, officer, and shareholder, so a single founder can incorporate alone.

File the Articles of Incorporation

File online through the Secretary of State’s Business Services portal for $50. The Articles list the corporate name, registered agent and office, authorized shares, and the incorporator. Mississippi corporations are governed by the Mississippi Business Corporation Act.

Adopt bylaws and hold an organizational meeting

Appoint directors and officers, adopt bylaws (internal, not filed), and authorize the issuance of stock. 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 Department of Revenue for the corporate income and franchise tax, sales tax, and withholding as needed.

Calendar your April 15 annual report

File the $25 annual report with the Secretary of State online by April 15 each year. Missing it can lead to administrative dissolution.

Director & formation Requirements

Mississippi keeps director rules light. Here’s what to get right in the Articles.

Ongoing Mississippi 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 helps protect your limited-liability status.

Annual report, $25, due April 15

Mississippi corporations file an annual report with the Secretary of State online by April 15 each year. Unlike the LLC, whose report is free, a domestic corporation pays $25. The deadline is a fixed statewide date, not your formation anniversary. Skipping it can result in administrative dissolution, so calendar April 15 as a hard deadline. Foreign corporations registered in Mississippi also file an annual report, and the fee is also $25.

Corporate income tax, graduated

Mississippi taxes corporate income on a graduated schedule. The first $5,000 of taxable income is taxed at 0%, income from $5,001 to $10,000 is taxed at 4%, and income above $10,000 is taxed at 5%. Mississippi has already phased out its former 3% bottom bracket, so the 0% tier on the first $5,000 is the current floor. Corporations file the combined corporate income and franchise tax return with the Department of Revenue.

Franchise tax, phasing out

Separate from the income tax, Mississippi levies a franchise tax on the capital a corporation employs in the state. For 2026 the rate is $0.50 per $1,000 of capital in excess of $100,000, down from $0.75 in 2025, with a $25 minimum. Mississippi is phasing this tax out: the rate steps down each year and the franchise tax is scheduled for full repeal for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2028. Until then a corporation can owe both the income tax and the franchise tax, reported on the same return.

S corporation election

Mississippi recognizes the federal S-corporation election. Income generally passes through to shareholders and is taxed on their Mississippi personal returns at the flat 4% individual rate for 2026, though the corporation may still owe the franchise tax while it remains in effect. S corporations file the applicable Mississippi pass-through entity return.

EIN and state tax accounts

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

Mississippi incorporation Cost Breakdown

The full picture before optional services.

Item	Cost (2026) · paid to
Articles of Incorporation	$50 · Secretary of State (filed online)
Annual report	$25 · Secretary of State, online, by April 15
Corporate income tax	0% / 4% / 5% graduated · Dept. of Revenue (combined return)
Franchise tax	$0.50 per $1,000 over $100,000 (2026) · Dept. of Revenue; $25 min; repeal in 2028
Name reservation (optional)	$25 · 180-day hold
Registered agent (optional service)	~$49 to $300/yr · third party
EIN	$0 · IRS (free)

Insight From Our Team

“Mississippi is cheap to enter as a corporation, fifty dollars to file, but the tax side is where owners need to look. There are two separate state taxes: a graduated corporate income tax that now starts at zero on the first five thousand dollars and tops out at five percent, and a franchise tax on your capital. The good news on the franchise tax is that it is on its way out, the rate has been dropping each year and it is set to disappear entirely for tax years starting in 2028, so a company forming now is catching the tail end of it. I always model both taxes together for a client, because a profitable, well-capitalized corporation can owe income tax and franchise tax in the same year until the franchise tax is fully repealed.”

Parth Shah
CountSure

Related Guides & Services

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to incorporate in Mississippi?

It is $50 to file the Articles of Incorporation online with the Secretary of State. The annual report that follows is $25 a year.

What is Mississippi’s corporate income tax rate?

It is graduated: 0% on the first $5,000 of taxable income, 4% on income from $5,001 to $10,000, and 5% on income above $10,000. Mississippi has phased out its former 3% bottom bracket.

Does Mississippi have a corporate franchise tax?

Yes, for now. Mississippi levies a franchise tax on capital employed in the state, $0.50 per $1,000 above $100,000 for 2026 with a $25 minimum. It is being phased out and is scheduled for full repeal for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2028.

Is the Mississippi corporation annual report free?

No. Unlike the LLC annual report, a domestic corporation pays $25 for its annual report, filed online and due April 15. Missing it can lead to administrative dissolution.

How many directors does a Mississippi corporation need?

At least one, with no residency requirement. One person can serve as the sole director, officer, and shareholder, so a single founder can incorporate alone.

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 Mississippi with CountSure

From the Articles of Incorporation and your registered agent to bylaws, EIN, the $25 April 15 annual report, and the corporate income and franchise taxes, CountSure handles Mississippi incorporation start to finish.

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