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How to form an LLC in Pennsylvania
$125 Certificate of Organization and a $7 annual report. No newspaper publication required.
Pennsylvania LLC at a glance
| Formation document | Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821) + Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A) |
|---|---|
| State filing fee | $125 |
| Processing time | The Department posts a live weekly average processing time in the Business Filing Services portal. Same-day and faster expedited options are available for a fee. |
| Registered office (or Commercial Registered Office Provider) | Pennsylvania asks for a registered office: a Pennsylvania street address (no P.O. boxes) or the name of a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP). You can use your own PA address. |
| Annual report | $7. Due January 1–September 30 each year, starting the year after you form. File online at file.dos.pa.gov. |
| Official filing site | Pennsylvania Department of State — Business Filing Services |
Filing online vs. by mail
File online through Business Filing Services (file.dos.pa.gov), or file on paper with the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. Paper filings must include the docketing statement.
Registered office (or Commercial Registered Office Provider)
Pennsylvania asks for a registered office: a Pennsylvania street address (no P.O. boxes) or the name of a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP). You can use your own PA address.
Should you be your own registered agent? →
After you form: ongoing requirements
- Annual report: $7. Due January 1–September 30 each year, starting the year after you form. File online at file.dos.pa.gov.
Common Pennsylvania gotchas
- The annual report is new (it started in 2025). Starting with reports due in 2027, LLCs that skip it face administrative dissolution.
- The state warns that some third parties charge $100–$200 for this $7, 10-minute filing. File it directly.
- Professional LLCs (law, medicine, accounting, etc.) must also file a separate Certificate of Annual Registration by April 15.
Do it yourself in Pennsylvania
- Check your name in the state’s business search and make sure it includes “LLC” or “L.L.C.”
- Choose your registered office using the rules above.
- File the Certificate of Organization (DSCB:15-8821) + Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A) at Pennsylvania Department of State — Business Filing Services and pay $125.
- Get a free EIN from the IRS. See our EIN guide.
- Calendar your ongoing filings so you don’t pay late fees.
Need the general walkthrough? Read how to form an LLC, step by step.
Sources
Fees and rules below come from official Pennsylvania government sources, checked October 2026. Fees change, so always confirm on the state’s site before you pay.
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Last updated October 2026. General information only, not legal or tax advice.