Alaska Corporation

You can get an 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. Or choose our Corporate Guide Service—an EIN is included.

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:

• 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?

• Stock: How are stock certificates issued and transferred? How is voting affected by issues such as corporate stock owners or fractional shares?

• 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?

• 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?

• 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?

• 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—where do you start? 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.

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.

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’s behalf.

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:

$0 to $24,999: zero tax
$25,000 to $48,999: 2% of income in excess of $25K
$49,000 to $73,999: $480 + 3% of income in excess of $49K
$74,000 to $98,999: $1,230 + 4% of income in excess of $74K
$99,000 to $123,999: $2,230 +5% of income in excess of $99K
$124,000 to $147,999: $3,480 + 6% of income in excess of $124K
$148,000 to $172,999: $4,920 + 7% of income in excess of $148K
$173,000 to $197,999: $6,670 + 8% of income in excess of $173K
$198,000 to $221,999: $8,670 +9% of income in excess of $198K
$222,000 +: $10,830 + 9.4% of income in excess of $222K

The state filing fee for Alaska Articles of Incorporation is $250.

File your Articles of Incorporation online and receive your approval right away. You can print out your certificate on the spot. Have 2-3 weeks to kill? Print and mail your Articles of Incorporation. When they have a chance, the Corporations Sections will enter all your data into the system by hand and process your filing (and when they’re especially busy from October to February, you’ll typically wait more than 3 weeks).

Yes, all businesses in Alaska need some kind of state-level license before they can engage in business. For most corporations, a standard business license from Alaska’s Division of Corporations, Business and Professional Licensing is sufficient. A few industries (like mining and fishing) require alternative specialty licenses instead.

Some counties and municipalities have their own licensing requirements as well. For example, the City of Fairbanks requires businesses to get an annual city business license.

For some license applications you may need an EIN or a certified copy of your Articles of Incorporation. At Northwest, we can streamline the process and get these for you—simply add on these items during checkout.

A corporation formed outside of Alaska—but which conducts business in the state—is considered a foreign Alaska corporation. For example, if you incorporated in Washington but decide to open a storefront in Alaska, you would be a foreign Alaska corporation. This also means you would need to register with the state by filing an Alaska Foreign Business Corporation Certificate of Authority. Foreign corporations are required to file a $200 biennial report as well.

Absolutely! We’re happy to start a nonprofit corporation for you. Note that incorporating an Alaska nonprofit requires a different form. The filing fee is lower as well ($50). Alaska nonprofits have to file the state’s biennial report, but that fee is lower too ($25, due July 2 every other year).

It’s a conundrum: you need a local number to display on your website and give to customers, but you don’t want to make your personal number quite so…public. We get it. And we’ve got you covered with Northwest Phone Service. We can provide you with a virtual phone number in any state—plus unlimited call forwarding and tons of easy-to-use features. You can try Phone Service free for 60 days when you hire us to form your corporation, and maintaining service is just $9 monthly after that. No contract required.