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How to start an LLC in Alaska

By Brent Chudoba, editor Updated

Forming an LLC in Alaska costs $250 to file the Articles of Organization with the Alaska Secretary of State. After that you file a biennial report of $100. Alaska charges no franchise tax on a standard LLC. Biennial report ($100) must be filed every two years by January 2nd or a $37.50 late fee applies. Registered agent must have a physical Alaska address. IMPORTANT (real-cost gotcha): in addition to the $250 Articles of Organization fee and the $100 biennial report, every LLC operating in Alaska must also hold a separate State of Alaska Business License, issued by the same Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing under 12 AAC 12.010(a) and AS 43.70, $50 for a 1-year license or $100 for a 2-year license (confirmed on the official Business License New Application, Form 08-4181, Rev. 10/01/2025, which lists these exact fees and states any LLC/corporation/LLP/LP must hold this license). This roughly doubles the ongoing cost of keeping an Alaska LLC in good standing beyond the biennial report alone.

How much does it cost to start an LLC in Alaska?

Alaska LLC costs (reviewed August 29, 2026)
ItemCost
Filing fee (Articles of Organization)$250
Biennial report$100 every 2 years
Franchise or business taxNone
Registered agentRequired

Source: Alaska Secretary of State, fee schedule reviewed August 29, 2026.

What are the steps to form an LLC in Alaska?

  1. Name your LLC. Pick a name that is available and meets Alaska naming rules, then check it against the Secretary of State's business database.
  2. Appoint a registered agent. Alaska requires a registered agent with a physical in-state address to receive legal mail. You can be your own agent, or hire a service.
  3. File the Articles of Organization. Submit it to the Alaska Secretary of State and pay the $250 fee. This is the step that legally creates the LLC.
  4. Get an EIN from the IRS. It is free and takes minutes. Do not pay a service for it. See how to get an EIN free from the IRS.
  5. Calendar your biennial report. Alaska charges $100 to keep the LLC in good standing. Missing it risks penalties or administrative dissolution.
  6. Open a business bank account. Keep business money separate from personal money so your liability protection holds up.

Does Alaska have a franchise tax on an LLC?

No. Alaska does not impose a franchise tax on limited liability companies.

How is an LLC taxed in Alaska?

By default, an LLC is a pass-through entity: it pays no income tax itself, and the profits flow to the owners' personal returns. Alaska has no state individual income tax, so those pass-through profits face no state income tax, only federal tax. That is one reason Alaska is a popular state to form in.

An LLC can also elect to be taxed as an S-corp, which changes how owners pay self-employment tax. See LLC vs S-corp vs sole proprietorship and how self-employment tax works.

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