Corporation formation
Form a Corporation in Utah: Articles of Incorporation
To form a business corporation in Utah, file Articles of Incorporation with the Division of Corporations under the Utah Revised Business Corporation Act. The fee is a flat $59. The articles state the corporation's purpose, its name, the number and classes of shares it may issue, the registered agent and each incorporator's name and address (Utah Code § 16-10a-202). We prepare and file them from $149 plus the state fee.
Utah fees re-checked against the Utah General Laws and the Division of Corporations Filing Fees page: November 12, 2026
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Utah filings for owners. We are not the Utah Department of Commerce or its Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.
- Filed with the Utah Division of Corporations
- We track your Utah annual renewal
- Cited to Utah Code Title 16
- Talk to a filer: (386) 465-3937
Form a Corporation in Utah: Articles of Incorporation: the Utah specifics
Shares do not change the fee
Some states price incorporation by authorized shares. Utah charges $59 whether you authorize 1,000 shares or 10 million, so founders can authorize room for future investors without a bigger filing fee.
Source: Utah Division of Corporations fee schedule, fiscal year 2026Name endings (§ 16-1a-303)
A corporation's name must contain corporation, incorporated or company, or an abbreviation such as Corp., Inc. or Co., and it may not suggest a purpose the articles do not allow. A name can be held for 120 days with a $22 reservation (§ 16-1a-304).
Source: Utah Code § 16-1a-303Corporate tax minimum
Utah corporations pay corporate franchise or income tax at 4.45 percent of Utah taxable income, with a $100 minimum each year (Utah Code § 59-7-104). That is filed with the Utah State Tax Commission, separate from the $18 renewal.
Source: Utah Code § 59-7-104Records the corporation keeps
Permanent minutes of shareholder and board meetings, records of actions taken without a meeting and a record of shareholders (§ 16-10a-1601). Our Pro and Complete packages include bylaws and organizational resolutions to start that record.
Source: Utah Code § 16-10a-1601Optional corporate kit ($79)
Stock certificates, a share ledger, bylaws and minutes in one binder with an embosser seal. Optional and only charged if you add it.
Source: Utah Code § 16-10a-1601What goes into Utah Articles of Incorporation
The articles must state the purpose, a compliant name, the number of shares the corporation may issue, the class information required by § 16-10a-601, the registered agent information and each incorporator's name and address (§ 16-10a-202). Initial directors, liability limits and other provisions are optional. Because the $59 fee does not grow with shares, there is little reason to authorize a tiny number.
Source: Utah Code § 16-10a-202
Corporate tax is a separate registration
Filing articles does not register you for tax. Utah corporations file with the State Tax Commission and pay 4.45 percent of Utah taxable income, never less than $100 a year (Utah Code § 59-7-104). An S corporation election with the IRS changes how federal income is taxed but does not remove Utah filing duties.
Source: Utah Code § 59-7-104
Minutes are a legal requirement
A Utah corporation keeps permanent minutes of shareholder and board meetings, records of actions taken without a meeting, and a record of its shareholders (§ 16-10a-1601). Holding an organizational meeting right after filing, adopting bylaws, electing officers and issuing shares on paper is the cleanest start.
Source: Utah Code § 16-10a-1601
Form a Corporation in Utah: Articles of Incorporation: questions
The fee is the same either way, so founders often authorize more shares than they issue, for example 1,000,000 authorized with 100,000 issued, to leave room for later investors without amending the articles.
Source: Utah Code § 16-10a-202Yes. The corporate franchise and income tax has a $100 minimum each year (Utah Code § 59-7-104), filed with the State Tax Commission.
Source: Utah Code § 59-7-104No. Initial directors may be listed but are optional; the incorporators' names and addresses are required (§ 16-10a-202).
Source: Utah Code § 16-10a-202Yes. Corp USA prepares and submits your Utah filing with the Division of Corporations for you. The official state fee is passed through at cost, with our service fee shown separately at checkout, so you never have to work through the state's registration system yourself.
Source: Utah Division of Corporations fee schedule, fiscal year 2026Ready when you are, Utah.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits Utah filings for owners. We are not the Utah Department of Commerce or its Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, and we do not give legal advice. Every state charge passes through at the exact amount billed, shown separately from our service fee.