Connecticut 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.

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?

Connecticut bylaws can make other provisions as well, assuming additions are in accordance with state law. For example, CT Gen Stat § 33-642 says that Connecticut bylaws may indicate specific Connecticut courts that internal corporate claims must be brought to.

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 Connecticut 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.

The Connecticut Annual Report updates the state with current information about directors, officers and shares. You must also confirm your registered agent and office (but you can’t actually update this information here—that requires a $50 fee and a Change of Agent form).

The Connecticut Annual Report costs $150 for corporations.

The filing is due by your anniversary date each year. So, if your corporation was incorporated on October 23, your annual report will always be due by October 23.

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 annual report for you for $100 plus the state fee.

Connecticut has a “Corporation Business Tax,” which only applies to C corporations. This tax is the greater of either your corporation’s net income base (taxed at 7.5%) or capital base (taxed at 0.31%). There is a minimum tax of $250. Also, if you’re really rolling in dough, note that corporations with $100 million or more in annual gross income also pay a 10% “surtax.”

S corporations are subject to Connecticut’s Pass Through Entity Tax of 6.99%. S corps used to be responsible for paying the state’s Business Entity Tax as well. However, the BET has been in sunset since 2019 and is no longer required.

Connecticut corporations must also pay an initial franchise tax. Unless your corporation has more than 20,000 shares, this tax is $150. The franchise tax is due at the same time that you file your Certificate of Incorporation.

The Connecticut general sales tax rate is 6.35%. Cities and counties don’t add on their own sales tax rates, so you’ll find 6.35% across the state.

Yes. You need to register if you pay corporate tax or collect sales tax, among other reasons. Register online with myconneCT.

The Connecticut Certificate of Incorporation costs $100 to file. However, the state’s initial franchise tax must be paid at the time of incorporation. This tax is a minimum of $150, and rises via a sliding scale if your corporation has more than 20,000 authorized shares. The state also has an Organization and First Report due within 90 days of filing—this costs $150. So, your initial minimum fees total $400.

Hire us for a one-time fee of $625, including the state filing fees and minimum franchise tax fee.

It generally takes about 3 days for your Connecticut corporation formation documents to process if filed online. Mailed documents typically take longer. Or, you can pay an extra $50 to have the documents processed within 24 hours.

There is no statewide general business licensing requirement in Connecticut. However, licenses for your corporation may be required at the state level depending on your industry. For example, bakeries and personal training businesses need state-level licensing. Many cities have their own licensing requirements, too. In Hartford, for example, a license is required before you can open a secondhand shop.

For some license applications you may need an EIN or a certified copy of your Certificate 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 Connecticut—but which conducts business in the state—is considered a foreign Connecticut corporation. For example, if you incorporated in Rhode Island but decide to open a storefront in Connecticut, you would be a foreign Connecticut corporation. This also means you would need to register with the state by filing Foreign Registration Statement with the Connecticut Secretary of State. Foreign corporations are also required to file the Connecticut Annual Report each year, though the fee is significantly higher than it is for domestic corporations—a whopping $435.

Absolutely! We’re happy to start a nonprofit corporation for you. Note that incorporating a Connecticut nonprofit requires a different form. The filing fee is lower as well. Connecticut nonprofits do not file the state’s franchise tax but must file a $50 annual report each 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.