Information on the 50 States and the District of columbia

Click to select any of the states in the list below and scroll down to see state requirements.

 

Incorporating in Pennsylvania

Corporate Name Requirements

* The name may be in any language but must be expressed in English letters or characters or Arabic or Roman numerals; shall contain word “corporation,” “company,” incorporated,” or “limited” or an abbreviation.

Articles of Incorporation Requirements

Director Information

  • Minimum Number – One or more.
  • Residence Requirements. – No provision.
  • Age Requirements – Must be 18 or older.
  • Directors are not required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.

Officer Information

  • The officers are not required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.

Stock Information

  • No extra filing fees based on number of share or amount of par value.

Yearly Requirements

Annual Statements – based on the amount of stock.

  • Basis. Capital stock value is (1) the product of one-half times the sum of a corporation’s average net income capitalized at 9.5% plus 75% of such corporation’s net worth (2) minus $100,000 [72 P.S. S:7601]. Algebraically, capital stock value equals [(.5) * ((average net income/.095) * (.75 * (net worth)) – $100,000)]. Net worth is the sum of the corporation’s issued and outstanding capital stock, surplus, and undivided profits as of the close of the tax year. Minimum tax is $300.

Income Tax Rate

  • 9.9% of taxable income.

For more information on taxes, visit Pennsylvania Department of Revenue

 

C-Corporation

  • Shareholders have limited liability protection
  • May be listed and traded as a publiccorporation on the stock market or “over the counter”
  • Has a separate and independent tax status from its owners

S Corporation

  • Profits are not subject to “double taxation”
  • Corporate losses may be “passed through” to share holders
  • Shareholders are afforded the same protection as C Corp.

LLC formation

  • Contains characteristics of both corporation and partnership
  • Shareholders may take advantage of “Pass-Through” taxation
  • Limited liability for share holders

Not for profit corp

  • Eligible for tax-exempt status
  • Limited Liability protection
  • Qualify for public and private gains