Start a Corporation in Alaska
Use our free business tools below to complete your Alaska Articles of Incorporation. This is the document you file directly with the State of Alaska Corporations Division to form your corporation.
If you want more, hire us to form your corporation in Alaska for just $39 + state fees. We’ll get your business stood up in minutes with a free domain, website, email, business phone, and more.
How to Start a Corporation in Alaska
An Alaska corporation is a business with a legal existence separate from its owners. If properly maintained, a corporation can conduct business in its own name and has many of the rights and obligations of a natural person, including the ability to enter into contracts, sue and be sued, hold assets, and pay taxes in its own name.
To start a corporation in Alaska, you’ll need to do three things: appoint a registered agent, choose a name for your business, and file Articles of Incorporation with the State of Alaska Corporations Section. You can file the document online or by mail. The Articles of Incorporation cost $250 to file. Once filed with the state, this document formally creates your Alaska corporation.
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1. Name Your Corporation
If you’re starting a new business, you probably already know what you want to name your corporation. But you’ll need to check if your preferred name is available and make sure it follows the guidelines in AK Stat § 10.45.120. To find out, visit the Alaska Division of Corporations’ database and search until you find the perfect name.
Your corporation’s legal name is the exact name stated on your Articles of Incorporation. An assumed business name, also called a doing business as name (DBA), is any name you conduct business with other than your corporation’s legal name or your personal name.
Assumed business names must be registered with the Division of Corporations.
Thinking about using an assumed business name? Learn how to get an Alaska DBA.
Yes. A domestic business’ DBA is good for five years. Foreign business entities need to renew their DBA every year. You can renew by filing a Renew Business Name Registration form online, by mail, or in person. The cost for renewal is $25.
2. Designate a Registered Agent
Per AK Stat § 10.06.150 (2019), every Alaska corporation must appoint a registered agent. You don’t need to hire a registered agent, but if you do, make sure your registered agent will list their address on your articles wherever possible to ensure maximum privacy.
An Alaska registered agent must be able to accept legal documents during normal business hours, and get those documents to you and have a physical, registered office address located within the state of Alaska. No P.O. Boxes. An AK registered agent must be a state resident or a company that provides registered agent services.
You can find an outline of Alaska registered agent duties and requirements in Alaska State Code § Sec. 10.06.150
Yes, you can be your own registered agent in Alaska. With that said, however, after considering the registered agent requirements most business owners elect to hire a registered agent service instead.
Why? Well although being your own registered agent will cost you $0, an Alaska registered agent’s name and address becomes part of the public record.
Additionally, the registered agent is required to be available to accept service of process during normal business hours five days a week.
Yes! There are two ways to change your registered agent in Alaska.
- Hire us and we’ll complete the change of agent form for you for free.
- Do it yourself and file a Change Registered Agent or Registered Agent Address with the Alaska Division of Corporations. The form costs $25 to file.
Many businesses choose to change their registered agent to a professional service when their business grows.
3. Submit Articles of Incorporation
Learn more about each Articles of Incorporation requirement below.
Note that the information you provide becomes part of the public record—permanently.
You’ll need to include the following information on your Articles of Incorporation:
- Name of corporation. Your name must include Corporation, Incorporated, Company, Limited, or an abbreviation for one of these words like Corp or Inc.
- Purpose. Purpose here means the specific business activities your corporation will engage in. You also have to select an NAICS code—these are 6-digit codes for nearly every sort of business activity you could think of. Pick the best match for your business (it’s okay if it’s not a perfect match). You can search for your business activity in the list of recognized Alaska NAICS codes.
- Registered agent and address. For your Alaska registered agent, you can list an individual resident of Alaska or you can list a business that provides registered agent service (like Northwest). Agents also need to list the street address where they will be available during business hours. This address will become part of the permanent public record of your corporation. Don’t want to publicly list your personal address? Hire Northwest and our address will go here.
- Alien affiliates. It may sound like something out of a bad sci-fi movie, but an alien affiliate is just a person or business from outside the US that’s affiliated with your business. You’re required to list the name and address of each affiliate. Don’t have any alien affiliates? Just write none.
- Authorized shares. List the number of shares you want to create (you must have at least one share). Some or all of these shares will be distributed later on at your organizational meeting. If you have multiple classes or series of shares, you can include this as well. You’ll also need to list the par value (initial price) of each share type.
- Optional provisions and additional articles. You don’t have to add anything to your articles that isn’t specifically requested. AK Stat § 10.06.210 (2019) lists permissible optional provisions, such as limiting the duration of the corporation or adding special qualifications for who can be a shareholder.
- Alaska incorporator. Your incorporator is the person who signs and submits your Alaska Articles of Incorporation. Incorporators don’t have to be directors, officers or anyone in the corporation. We’ll be your incorporator when you hire Northwest.
It’s a fact that all the information provided in the Articles of Incorporation will become part of the public record. When your personal information is accessible by anyone, it opens your business up to hassles like junk mail.
To keep your information off the public record, you can hire a registered agent company like us. We’ll list our address on this form so you don’t have to. Your personal addresses will stay off the public record and away from prying eyes.
You can file Alaska articles online or by mail. Mailed filings must be sent to the following address:
State of Alaska Corporations Section
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806
Start Your Alaska Corporation Today!
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4. Get an EIN
You can get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) directly from the IRS. The application is free, and most businesses can apply online. However, if you don’t have a Social Security number, you’ll need to submit a paper application form.
Can’t bear to fill out yet another application? Hire Northwest to get your EIN for you. Just add on EIN service during checkout when you sign up for our incorporation service.
The IRS requires corporations to get an EIN for their federal tax filings. You’ll also need your EIN for state tax filings and may be asked for your EIN when opening a bank account, securing a loan, or applying for local business permits and licenses.
5. Write Corporate Bylaws
Bylaws are the internal rules you set for your business. They put into writing how decisions will be made and who gets to make those decisions. All the major organizational processes and procedures for your corporation will go in your bylaws.
For more on Alaska corporate bylaws (including a free Alaska corporate bylaws template), see our Alaska Corporate Bylaws resource.
Yes. AK Stat § 10.06.233 (2019) requires corporations to keep bylaws at the principal executive office or principal place of business and ensure they are open to inspection by shareholders.
You don’t have to submit bylaws to the state though. Corporate bylaws are internal documents you keep with your other corporate records, such as meeting minutes and resolutions.
Corporate bylaws cover basic policies and procedures for issues such as company finances and management. Bylaws should cover a range of topics, answering key questions like those below:
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Meetings: When and where will meetings for shareholders and directors be held? How many attendees are required to transact business? What are the procedures for voting or proxy voting? How do you call a special meeting? What actions can be taken without a meeting?
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Stock: How are stock certificates issued and transferred? How is voting affected by issues such as corporate stock owners or fractional shares?
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Directors and officers: How many directors must there be? Which officer positions are required? What powers do they have? How do you fill a vacancy or remove a director or officer?
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Finances: What are the procedures for retaining profits, issuing dividends, and paying bills? Who can withdraw money from the corporate bank account or sign checks?
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Records: Where is the corporate book to be kept? What information will be maintained? How are requests for review or access honored? Can records or copies be kept or distributed digitally?
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Amendments and emergencies: Who can amend bylaws and how? Can emergency bylaws be adopted in the case of disaster?
Alaska bylaws can make other provisions as well, assuming additions are in accordance with state law. AK Stat § 10.06.230 (2019) gives examples of provisions bylaws can make, such as requirements regarding annual reports and financial statements to shareholders.
According to the same statute, bylaws must also state the number of directors if the number is not listed in the articles.
Creating bylaws can be overwhelming. Northwest can help. We give you free corporate bylaws when you hire us to form your Alaska corporation. We know what kinds of topics and questions corporations need to address, and we’ve spent years refining and improving our forms.
We offer many other free corporate forms as well, including templates for resolutions and meeting minutes.
6. Hold an Organizational Meeting
An organizational meeting is the first official meeting of the corporation after the business is legally formed with the state. At this meeting, bylaws are adopted, officers are appointed, and any other initial business is conducted. The first meeting minutes should also be recorded and added to your corporate record book.
Per AK Stat § 10.06.223 (2019), you’re required to give a minimum of 20 days notice by mail before holding the meeting. The meeting doesn’t have to be held in Alaska, and the notice should state the meeting’s date and location.
7. Open a Corporate Bank Account
Businesses that mix personal and business finances together risk losing their liability protections, so your corporation will need its own bank account. In addition, a corporate bank account is essential for easily accepting payments, paying bills, and holding funds.
To open a corporate bank account in Alaska, you’ll need to bring the following with you to the bank:
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a copy of the Alaska corporation’s Articles of Incorporation
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the corporation’s bylaws
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the corporation’s EIN
If your bylaws don’t specifically assign the power to open a bank account, you may also want to bring a corporate resolution to open a bank account. The resolution would state that the person going to the bank is authorized by the business to open the account in the name of the corporation.
At Northwest, we provide free corporate bank resolutions, along with many other free corporate forms, to help you get started fast.
8. File Alaska Reports & Taxes
In Alaska, corporations file an initial and biennial report. The reports update the state on key organizational and contact information. Alaska corporations are also subject to state tax requirements, including corporate net income tax.
Yes, corporations must file an initial report within six months of formation. Your initial report is a form that informs the State of Alaska of your corporation’s contact and ownership information. There’s no filing fee for this report, and you can submit online.
Or simply hire Northwest Registered Agent to form your Alaska corporation, and we’ll take care of filing your initial report on your business’ behalf.
Your Alaska Biennial Report is due January 2nd every other year. If you incorporate in an even-numbered year, your report will always be due in even-numbered years. Likewise, if you incorporate in an odd-numbered year, your report will be due in odd-numbered years going forward.
If you miss your filing deadline (and the one month grace period), there’s a weirdly-priced late fee of $37.50. And if you brush off paying this as well, the state will eventually revoke or dissolve your corporation.
These filings can be easy to forget—which is why we send our clients automatic reminders. Or better yet, let us file for you. With our business renewal service, we can complete and submit your biennial report for you for $100 plus the state fee.
A major perk for Alaska businesses: Alaska has no personal net income tax AND no state-level sales tax. A few local areas, however, have their own sales taxes. Juneau, for example, has a 5% sales tax.
There is, however, a corporate net income tax. The rates are defined by AK Stat § 43.20.011 (2019) as follows:
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Taxable Income |
Alaska Corporate Tax Rate |
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Less than $25,000 |
0% |
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$25,000 – $48,999 |
2% of the amount over $25,000 |
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$49,000 – $73,999 |
$480 + 3% of the amount over $49,000 |
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$74,000 – $98,999 |
$1,230 + 4% of the amount over $74,000 |
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$99,000 – $123,999 |
$2,230 + 5% of the amount over $99,000 |
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$124,000 – $147,999 |
$3,480 + 6% of the amount over $124,000 |
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$148,000 – $172,999 |
$4,920 + 7% of the amount over $148,000 |
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$173,000 – $197,999 |
$6,670 + 8% of the amount over $173,000 |
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$198,000 – $221,999 |
$8,670 + 9% of the amount over 198,000 |
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$222,000 or more |
$10,830 + 9.4% of the amount over $222,000 |
Ready to Start a Corporation in Alaska?
