South Carolina LLC Value (2026): $125 As soon as, No Annual Report for Most LLCs
South Carolina is a pay-once state for many LLCs. You pay $125 to file on-line after which owe the Secretary of State nothing every year. The exception is value understanding earlier than you kind: should you plan to have your LLC taxed as an S company or C company, a yearly submitting with the Division of Income comes with that selection.
The $110 Articles and the $15 On-line Price
South Carolina LLCs are shaped by submitting Articles of Group with the South Carolina Secretary of State. The statutory submitting charge is $110. Submitting on-line via the state’s enterprise filings system provides a $15 digital data charge, so the sensible on-line whole is $125.
The articles record the LLC title, the registered agent and its South Carolina deal with, the organizer, and whether or not the LLC is managed by its members or by managers. On-line filings are processed a lot sooner than paper ones.
Northwest Registered Agent
South Carolina’s enterprise search shows your registered agent deal with to anybody. $39 formation + $125 state charge, free registered agent for 12 months one, then $125/yr.
$39 formation charge · Free registered agent for 12 months · Your deal with stays off public data · No knowledge promoting · No hidden charges
Form Your LLC with Northwest ($39) →Lowest 3-year value we discovered: Northwest $289 vs Bizee $298 vs ZenBusiness $497 (service charges; state charges additional). Northwest additionally places its deal with in your public filings as a substitute of yours the place the state permits.
No Annual Report, Until You Elect Company Tax
A South Carolina LLC taxed the default approach, as a partnership if it has a number of members or as a disregarded entity if it has one, doesn’t file an annual report with the Secretary of State. There is no such thing as a annual charge and no franchise tax for these LLCs. That’s the reason the DIY column exhibits $0 after 12 months one.
You do nonetheless have to hold a registered agent with a South Carolina deal with on file. If the agent modifications, you replace the Secretary of State’s file by submitting a change kind.
The CL-1 and the S Corp Query
Many small enterprise homeowners elect S company tax remedy as soon as revenue is excessive sufficient to make payroll tax financial savings worthwhile. In South Carolina, an LLC that’s taxed as an organization (S or C) should file an Preliminary Annual Report of Firms, Type CL-1, with the Division of Income. The charge is $25.
After that, a corporation-taxed LLC recordsdata a yearly annual report with its state earnings tax return, which carries its personal charge and will contain license charges primarily based on capital. In case you are planning an S corp election, issue that into your value as a substitute of assuming South Carolina is free after 12 months one.
Title Reservation and Native Licenses
- Title reservation: $25 holds an LLC title earlier than you file.
- Native enterprise licenses: most South Carolina cities and counties require a enterprise license, with charges set domestically and infrequently tied to gross receipts. Verify together with your municipality.
- Earnings tax: by default, LLC revenue passes via to the homeowners, who report it on their South Carolina earnings tax returns.
South Carolina 3-Yr Value
The desk assumes default LLC taxation, with no annual report.
| Situation | Yr 1 | Yr 2 | Yr 3 | 3-Yr Whole |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Northwest Registered Agent | $164 ($125 on-line + $39, RA free) | $125 (no annual report + $125 RA) | $125 (identical) | $414 |
| ZenBusiness (Starter) | $224 ($125 + $0 + $99 RA) | $199 ($199 RA) | $199 (identical) | $622 |
| DIY, self as registered agent | $125 ($110 articles + $15 on-line charge) | $0 (no annual report) | $0 (no annual report) | $125 |
A DIY South Carolina LLC prices $125 in state charges over three years, all paid at formation. The $289 additional with Northwest Registered Agent is registered agent service after the free first 12 months, which retains your private deal with out of the Secretary of State’s database.
Type your South Carolina LLC for $39 + $125 state charge.
Northwest Registered Agent: $39 formation, free Yr 1 registered agent, compliance reminders, and your house deal with saved off public data.
Form My South Carolina LLC for $39
Desire a $0 upfront starter plan? Compare ZenBusiness (registered agent $199/yr).
When a South Carolina LLC might not be value it but: with no annual state charge, the price of forming early is simply the one-time $125. If there’s nothing to guard but, ready is ok. The native enterprise license, not the LLC, is usually the larger recurring value, so worth that first.
Why I Select Northwest Registered Agent
After forming 3 LLCs myself and serving to shoppers via the method, I hold coming again to Northwest Registered Agent. Right here is why:
- Outstanding Buyer Help: Fast, human responses each time.
- Caring & Privateness-Targeted: Real service with full respect in your privateness.
- Lightning-Quick Formation: Typically sooner than promised.
- Unbelievable Worth: $39 features a free enterprise deal with, mail scanning, and extra.
- Clear & Clear: No hidden charges or surprises.
Able to kind what you are promoting? Select Northwest right this moment!
Ceaselessly Requested Questions
How a lot does it value to kind an LLC in South Carolina?
$110 for the Articles of Group plus a $15 digital data charge on-line, for $125 whole. With Northwest Registered Agent the first-year whole is $164, together with a free first 12 months of registered agent service.
Does South Carolina require an annual report for LLCs?
Not for traditional LLCs taxed as partnerships or disregarded entities. LLCs taxed as companies file with the Division of Income.
What’s the South Carolina CL-1?
The Preliminary Annual Report of Firms, a $25 submitting with the Division of Income required for LLCs that elect to be taxed as an organization.
Does South Carolina have a franchise tax on LLCs?
Not for LLCs taxed the default approach. Revenue passes via to the homeowners’ South Carolina earnings tax returns.
