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.

 
Select a state

Incorporating in Wisconsin

Corporate Name Requirements

  • Shall contain the word “corporation”, “incorporated”, “company” or “limited” or the abbreviation “corp.”, “inc.”, “co.” or “ltd.” or words or abbreviations of like import in another language, except as provided in Wisconsin Statutes 180.0401(1)(a) or Statutes 180.1907.
  • May not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that permitted by s. 180.0301 and its articles of incorporation.

Articles of incorporation requirements

Director Information
  • Minimum Number – Three or more. If only one or two shareholders, the number of directors can be less than three but not less than the number of shareholders.
  • Residence Requirements. – No provision.
  • Age Requirements – None.
  • Directors are required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.
Officer Information
  • The officers are required to be listed in the articles of incorporation.

Yearly requirements

Annual Statements
  • Must file annual report and fee of $25 for domestic Wisconsin company or $80 for foreign company registered to do business in Wisconsin. Report is due by end of registration quarter.
Income Tax Rate
  • Wisconsin has both a franchise tax and an income tax. However, only one tax is imposed against a corporation in a taxable year for the privilege of exercising its Wisconsin franchise or for doing business in Wisconsin.Franchise tax applies to:
    • All domestic corporations (those organized under Wisconsin law) and
    • Foreign corporations (those not organized under Wisconsin law) doing business in Wisconsin, except where taxation is exempted by statute or barred by federal law.

    The tax rate is 7.9%. Income from obligations of the United States government and its instrumentalities is included in income under the franchise tax law.

    Income tax applies only to foreign corporations which are not subject to the franchise tax and which own property in Wisconsin or whose business in Wisconsin is exclusively in foreign or interstate commerce. The tax rate is 7.9%. Income from obligations of the United States government and its instrumentalities isn’t included in income under the income tax law.

For more information on taxes, visit Wisconsin’s Department of Revenue Business Services Page

 

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
learn more Buy now
 

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.
learn more Buy now
 

LLC formation

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

Not for profit corp

  • Eligible for tax-exempt status
  • Limited Liability protection
  • Qualify for public and private gains
learn more Buy now