Louisiana Corporation

It depends on your registration process. When filing online with geauxBIZ, you will be told you need an EIN before applying. This is because geauxBIZ handles formation and tax registration simultaneously for new corporations. If you reserve your corporation name ahead of filing Articles of Incorporation, you can get your EIN in advance of filing on geauxBIZ. However, if you decline to register for taxes during the formation process, you won’t need your EIN. Also, if you are located in a parish that allows paper filing, you can wait on getting your EIN until after formation.

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?

Louisiana bylaws can make other provisions as well, assuming additions are in accordance with state law. For example, LA Rev Stat § 12:1-1602 (2019) states that bylaws cannot limit the right of shareholders to inspect and copy corporate records as granted by the statute.

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 Louisiana 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.

No. Unlike LLCs, corporations do not file initial reports—although they used to. The statute with this requirement was repealed in 2015, and the state-provided paper articles have been updated so that they no longer include an initial report section.

The annual report has a flat fee of $30, but you’ll also need to add a $5 convenience fee when filing online.

The annual report is due on your Louisiana corporation’s anniversary.

These filings can be easy to forget—which is why we send our clients automatic reminders for your Louisiana Annual Report filings. 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.

Louisiana corporations have two more major taxes to contend with: a corporate net income tax and a corporation franchise tax.

The corporate income tax rate varies based on the amount of net income:

4%: $0 to $25,000
5%: $25,001 to $50,000
6%: $50,001 to $100,000
7%: $100,001 to $200,000
8%: over $200,000

The corporation franchise tax is required for any corporation organized under the laws of Louisiana, qualified to do business in the state, exercising a corporate charter in the state, or owning corporate property the state. The franchise tax is $1.50 for every $1,000 of capital employed in Louisiana (up to $300,000); and $3 for every $1,000 in capital exceeding $300,000.

Note that an initial return is required for the corporate franchise tax. This return is due by the 15th day of the third month after your corporation becomes liable for the tax. The initial corporation franchise tax is $110.

The Louisiana sales tax is 4.45%. City, parish and specialty sales taxes can be added on as well, making the average total sales tax 8.936%.

Yes, if you conduct business in Louisiana, you’re required to register with the Louisiana Department of Revenue. You can register via geauxBIZ or by filing a Louisiana Business Registration Application. You’ll need your EIN before you can register.

The base filing fee is $75 to file your Articles of Incorporation (plus $5 if paying by credit card). Add $30 for 24-hour expediting, or $50 for processing that takes 2-4 hours.

Hire us for a one-time fee of $305, including the state filing fees, a year of registered agent service, a business address and more.

Filings average 2-4 business days for processing, but can take up to 7 business days. Pay extra for expediting and your documents can be processed in 24 hours or less.

There’s no general, statewide business license required in Louisiana, but some cities and parishes have local requirements. For example, businesses operating in East Baton Rouge Parish file a Business Registration Application to obtain an “Occupational License;” and Orleans Parish requires all businesses to get an “Occupational/General Business License” from the Bureau of Revenue.

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 Louisiana—but which conducts business in the state—is considered a foreign Louisiana corporation. For example, if you incorporated in Mississippi but decide to open a storefront in Louisiana, you would be a foreign Louisiana corporation. This also means you would need to register with the state by filing an Application for Authority to Transact Business in Louisiana with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Foreign corporations are required to file the Louisiana Annual Report each year as well.

Absolutely! We’re happy to start a nonprofit corporation for you. Note that incorporating a Louisiana nonprofit requires a different form when filing by mail. Louisiana nonprofits must file an annual report each year ($10).

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.