Indiana LLC Cost in 2026: Filing Fee, Business Entity Report and Other Costs
Indiana LLC Cost in 2026: Filing Fee, Business Entity Report and Other Costs
Forming an LLC in Indiana costs $95 if you file the Articles of Organization online through INBiz, or $100 if you file on paper. That is the only state fee you must pay to create the company. Once it exists, the Business Entity Report costs $32 online or $50 on paper, and it is due every two years, not every year. Optional extras such as a name reservation, an assumed business name and a retail merchant certificate can raise the first-year state total. The sample budget later in this guide reaches $150 before you pay a registered agent.
This guide breaks down each official fee, explains how to file, and flags the figures you should confirm before you pay. It is informational content, not legal or tax advice.
Indiana LLC Fees at a Glance
The figures below come from the Indiana Secretary of State and the Department of Revenue. The Articles of Organization are the only filing fee due at formation. The other items are required later or are optional.
| Cost | Amount | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization, online through INBiz | $95 | Required, one time at formation |
| Articles of Organization, paper on State Form 49459 | $100 | Required if you file on paper |
| Business Entity Report, online | $32 | Every two years, first due two years after formation |
| Business Entity Report, paper | $50 | Same schedule, paper filing |
| Name reservation | $10 | Optional, holds a name for 120 days |
| Assumed business name (DBA), online | $20 per name | Optional, when operating under a different name |
| Assumed business name (DBA), paper on State Form 30353 | $30 per name | Optional, same use |
| Certificate of Existence (good standing) | $27 | Optional, when a bank, lender or buyer asks for proof |
| Retail Merchant Certificate | $25 | Only if the LLC sells taxable goods |
| Registered agent | Set by the agent | Required; not a state fee |
Articles of Organization: The Filing Fee
The Articles of Organization create your LLC. Indiana uses State Form 49459 for this filing, and it goes to the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. You can file online through INBiz for $95, or file a paper copy of the same form for $100.
Online filing happens in one session: you complete the form, pay and finish. INBiz adds a card processing fee at checkout of at least $1 and up to 2.15%. On the $95 filing alone, the 2.15% ceiling is about $2.04, so a card payment for the filing falls between $96 and $97.04.
The Secretary of State does not publish a processing-time standard for LLC formations, and neither INBiz nor the state offers an expedited option for a domestic LLC. If a bank, landlord or contract needs proof of formation by a set date, file early rather than counting on a rush.
Name rules that affect your filing
- The name must include the words Limited Liability Company or an abbreviation of them, as State Form 49459 requires.
- The name must be distinguishable from every name already in Secretary of State records. A different letter, numeral, word, or sequence of them makes a name distinguishable.
- Adding Inc., LLC or LLP, changing punctuation or capitalization, using a plural or possessive, dropping a leading article such as the, or swapping and for an ampersand does not make a name distinguishable.
Search existing names in the Secretary of State business search before you file.
Registered agent and registered office
Every Indiana LLC must continuously maintain a registered agent and a registered office in Indiana. The agent receives service of process and other legal and tax documents for the company. The agent can be an Indiana resident whose business office is the registered office, or a business entity authorized to do business in Indiana. The registered office must be a street address. A P.O. Box is not enough unless it comes with a rural route reference. The LLC cannot serve as its own agent, and it can have only one.
The state does not set the agent's price. Commercial registered agent services charge their own fees, which vary by provider, so compare them and budget for them as an ongoing cost.
How to Form an LLC in Indiana
Follow these steps in order. Several of them affect the filing or the fees above.
- Choose and check a name. Confirm it meets the rules above in the business search. If you need time, reserve it through INBiz for $10, which holds the name for 120 days.
- Appoint a registered agent. Confirm the registered office is a street address in Indiana.
- File the Articles of Organization. File State Form 49459 online at INBiz for $95, or on paper for $100.
- Get a federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS. You will need one for a business bank account and for most business tax filings.
- Write an operating agreement. This internal document sets ownership and management rules. It is not one of the state filings in this guide, so keep it with your company records.
- Register for a sales tax permit if you sell taxable goods. The Retail Merchant Certificate costs $25 through INBiz. The Department of Revenue's business registration page explains the process.
- Check licenses and local rules. Indiana has no single comprehensive business license. Some professions need a license from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, and your city or county may require a permit or zoning approval.
- Calendar your first Business Entity Report. It is due two years after formation.
Ongoing Costs: The Business Entity Report
The Business Entity Report is Indiana's recurring filing for LLCs. It is filed every other year, not annually. It is due on the anniversary of the date the LLC was formed or registered (confirm the exact date on the entity's Business Details page), and the first report is due two years after formation. An LLC formed on March 15, 2027 would file its first report on March 15, 2029.
| Filing | Fee | Where |
|---|---|---|
| Business Entity Report | $32 | Online through INBiz |
| Business Entity Report | $50 | Paper |
Put the due date on your calendar as soon as you file the Articles. Confirm the consequences of a late report with the Secretary of State, since this guide does not cover late-filing penalties.
Taxes: No Franchise Tax, but Owners Pay Income Tax
Indiana does not impose a franchise tax on LLCs, and the Department of Revenue's list of Indiana tax types includes none. Instead, an LLC's income passes through to its owners by default. Each owner pays the individual adjusted gross income tax, a flat 2.95% for 2026 that is scheduled to fall to 2.90% in 2027, plus a county local income tax based on the owner's county of residence. An LLC that elects corporate treatment pays the corporate adjusted gross income tax of 4.9% instead.
If you sell taxable goods, the state sales tax rate is 7%. Register before your first taxable sale.
How your LLC is taxed depends on your elections and your personal situation, so confirm the approach with a CPA. This is general information, not tax advice.
Optional Costs to Budget
Name reservation: $10 for 120 days
A reservation holds a name while you prepare the filing. You pay for it through INBiz on the start-business step one page. The hold lasts 120 days, so plan to file within that window.
Assumed business name (DBA): $20 online, $30 on paper
If the LLC operates under a name other than its registered name, it needs a Certificate of Assumed Business Name. For an LLC already registered with the Secretary of State, the fee is $20 per name online through INBiz, or $30 per name on paper using State Form 30353. Each name costs separately.
Certificate of Existence: $27
This certificate confirms that the LLC is in good standing with the state. Banks, lenders and buyers sometimes ask for one. The $27 fee is listed on the INBiz roadmap page.
Retail Merchant Certificate: $25
This is required only if the LLC sells taxable goods. You obtain it through INBiz.
County Filings and Local Fees
An LLC files nothing with the county for its own formation. The Articles go to the Secretary of State, and so does an LLC's assumed business name. Only sole proprietors and general partnerships record an assumed name with the county recorder in the county where the business is located. Those recorder fees are set county by county. Confirm the current fee with your county recorder before you file.
Local permits, zoning approval and city or county licensing sit outside the state fee schedule. Check with the local government where the business will operate.
Sample First-Year State Budget
This example adds the most common optional state fees to the required filing. It assumes an online filing paid by card, and it excludes the registered agent and any local costs.
| Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Articles of Organization, online | $95.00 |
| Name reservation | $10.00 |
| Assumed business name, one name, online | $20.00 |
| Retail Merchant Certificate | $25.00 |
| State fees subtotal | $150.00 |
| Card processing fee at INBiz checkout | At least $1, up to 2.15% of the charge |
| Registered agent | Set by the provider |
The Business Entity Report is not due until two years after formation, so it does not appear in year one.
Common Cost Mistakes
- Paying $100 for the Articles when the online fee is $95.
- Budgeting the Business Entity Report as an annual cost. It is filed every two years, and the first one falls two years after formation.
- Listing a P.O. Box as the registered office without a rural route reference.
- Naming the LLC itself as its own registered agent. That is not allowed.
- Filing an assumed business name when the LLC already uses its registered name. An assumed name is needed only for a name different from the registered name.
- Leaving the registered agent out of the budget. The agent is not a state fee, but it is required.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an LLC cost in Indiana?
The required filing fee is $95 online or $100 on paper. Optional state fees such as the name reservation, assumed business name and retail merchant certificate can add to that. A registered agent is also required, and its price varies by provider.
Is the Indiana LLC fee annual?
No. The Business Entity Report costs $32 online or $50 on paper and is due every two years. The first report is due two years after formation.
Does Indiana have an LLC franchise tax?
No. Indiana has no franchise tax. An LLC's income passes through to its owners, who pay individual income tax.
Can I file the Articles of Organization on paper?
Yes. Use State Form 49459 and pay $100. Online filing through INBiz costs $95.
Official Resources
- Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division
- INBiz online filing portal
- Secretary of State business name search
- Indiana Department of Revenue
- Indiana Small Business Development Center, for planning help
- SBA Indiana district office
Before You File
Fees change, so check the current amount on INBiz before you pay. This page is informational only. It is not legal, tax or accounting advice. Ownership structure, tax elections and licensing can make a formation more complex, so talk with an Indiana business attorney and a CPA before you file.