Pennsylvania 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?

Pennsylvania bylaws can make other provisions as well, assuming additions are in accordance with state law. For example, PA Consolidated Statute § 1766 states that Pennsylvania bylaws can require your corporation’s shareholder meetings be held in-person and that the shareholders must be present to pass any action, but your bylaws can also allow shareholders to pass action without a meeting, just as long as the minimum number of votes required to pass the action are put into writing and signed. Whatever option you choose, the votes or written consents must be filed in record form with the minutes of their respective proceedings.

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 Pennsylvania 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.

$70. This is the fee for filing a Decennial Report with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The filing, if required, is due every 10 years in years ending with “1” (2021, 2031, etc.).

Ten years is a long time between filings, so this report can be easy to forget—which is why we send our clients automatic reminders for your Pennsylvania Decennial Report filings. Or better yet, let us file for you. With our business renewal service, we can complete and submit your decennial report for you for $100 plus the state fee.

The Pennsylvania corporate net income tax rate is a steep 9.99% one—one of the highest in the nation. The personal net income tax rate is a much more reasonable 3.07%.

Local taxes are pretty common as well. For example, Philadelphia has a Business Income and Receipts Tax (a tax on both gross receipts and income) that applies to all entities doing business in the city.

Pennsylvania’s sales tax rate is 6% across the board, except in Allegheny County (where it’s 7%) and Philly (where it’s 8%).

No. Corporations, LLCs, and business trusts that have registered with the Pennsylvania Department of State are not required to register with the Department of Revenue for corporation taxes.

$125 is the fee the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations charges for filing Articles of Incorporation.

Hire us for a one-time fee of $350, including the state filing fees, a year of registered agent service and more.

Anywhere from 10-20 days unexpedited. On average, it takes 10 days if you file online and about 15 days by mail. Expediting is available, but really expensive—same-day service (received before 10 a.m.) is $100. 3-hour service (received before 2 p.m.) is $300. And 1-hour service? If it’s received before 4 p.m., it’ll cost $1,000. Expediting is also only available if you drop off your filing in person in Harrisburg during business hours.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania doesn’t have a general license for all businesses, but some local areas do. If you operate in Harrisburg, for example, you’re required to obtain a Business Privilege and Mercantile License ($50/year).

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 Pennsylvania—but which conducts business in the state—is considered a foreign Pennsylvania corporation. For example, if you incorporated in New York but decide to open a storefront in Pennsylvania, you would be a foreign Pennsylvania corporation. This also means you would need to register with the state by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Foreign corporations are required to file the Pennsylvania Decennial Report every ten years as well.

Absolutely! We’re happy to start a nonprofit corporation for you. Note that incorporating an Pennsylvania nonprofit requires a different form. Pennsylvania nonprofits still pay the state’s corporate income, but they can qualify for an exemption from the commonwealth’s sales tax. They must file the Pennsylvania Decennial Report as well.

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.