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PCF makes it fast, easy and cost-efficient to Form a LLC in Alaska
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AND keep up with recurring Alaska LLC requirements
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PCF has helped thousands of businesses successfully form a LLC Online
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Choose PCF to help you form your Alaska LLC and we will notify you each year well in advance of the due date for
any required Alaska LLC reporting requirements
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If you're ready to form an Alaska LLC online now
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Check our Alaska LLC options and prices
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If you need more information about forming an Alaska LLC online, the information below may help you understand the requirements and implications of
forming a LLC in Alaska.
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Do I need a lawyer to form an Alaska Limited Liability Company (LLC)
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The short answer is no.
The state of Alaska does not legally require a lawyer to form an
Alaska LLC.
Our detailed LLC Information page may help you understand some
of the implications of forming an Alaska LLC.
However, if there is anything about forming an LLC in Alaska
that you're not sure about you should seek the advice of a competent Alaska lawyer, an Alaska accountant,
or both before you form a LLC in Alaska.
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Once you have made the decision to form a LLC in Alaska, an Alaska lawyer
can file your documents and act as a middle man for a few hundred dollars an hour; or you can use an online service provider like PCF
to perform these services and save money that you can use in your new Alaska LLC.
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Put the money you save with PCF right where it belongs
into your new Alaska LLC
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If you're not 100% satisfied with our service we'll give you your fees back
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What do I have to do to form an Alaska Limited Liability Company (LLC)
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1. Choose a name for your Alaska LLC
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- PCF will check to make sure that your Alaska LLC name is available, conforms to state of Alaska LLC naming
regulations, and will reserve the LLC name with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development.
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Your Alaska LLC name can identify the type of products and services your business will provide;
or it may be the name of the founder; or it can be a combination of the two or something else.
In any case, the Alaska LLC name that you choose must be distinguishable from the name of any other registered Alaska LLC or other
business entity and the name must also be different from any reserved names on record with the state of Alaska.
Your Alaska LLC name must not imply that it was formed for a purpose other than that stated in your
Articles of Organization and your Alaska LLC name must not be a name that is likely to mislead the public.
Your Alaska LLC name must contain, as the last words of the name, "Limited Liability Company" or the abbreviation
"L.L.C." or "LLC".
The word "Limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd." and the word "Company" may be abbreviated as "Co."
It's important to choose a good name for your Alaska LLC because if you want to change it after you form your Alaska LLC you
will have to file amended Articles of Organization with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development (and pay a fee).
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2. Select an official address and a Registered Agent for your Alaska LLC
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- PCF can act as the official Registered Agent for your Alaska LLC.
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Every Alaska LLC must have an address that is physically located in the state of Alaska.
This address is "registered" with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development.
The Registered Address is where official and legal correspondence can be delivered.
The individual or company that is registered with the state of Alaska to receive all correspondence on behalf of the Alaska
LLC is called a "Registered Agent".
You may act as your own Registered Agent, however, many Alaska LLCs hire a Registered Agent because they don't have a physical
address within the state of Alaska.
Some Alaska LLCs hire an outside Registered Agent to provide a distinct level of privacy.
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3. Determine who will be Members and who will Manage your Alaska LLC
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- PCF will include Guidelines for Managers in your Alaska LLC documents.
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The owners of an Alaska LLC are called Members - not partners or shareholders.
(Alaska LLCs do not issue stock).
Members make all business decisions and realize the financial benefits generated by the Alaska LLC.
Division of ownership and distribution of profits are decided by private agreement among the members.
Each Alaska LLC must have at least one member.
Members need not live in the state of Alaska or be citizens of the United States.
Managers are responsible for the day to day operation of the Alaska LLC.
Members elect or appoint Managers and have the power to remove them.
Managers may or may not be Members of the Alaska LLC.
Management for your Alaska LLC may be defined in your Articles of Organization or, more commonly, in an Operating Agreement.
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4. Determine how you want to be taxed
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The IRS does not recognize an LLC as a classification for federal tax purposes.
Alaska LLC members can elect for the IRS to tax the LLC as a sole proprietorship, partnership, C Corporation, or S Corporation.
This decision may be made after the Alaska LLC is created.
If a single member Alaska LLC does not declare a tax classification it is taxed the same as a sole
proprietorship.
A multiple member Alaska LLC that does not declare a tax classification is taxed as a general partnership.
More specific federal LLC tax information can be found at the
IRS web site.
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| The Alaska Corporate Income Tax Rate is variable depending on the annual net income of the Alaska Corporation.
Alaska Corporate Income Tax Rates vary from 1 to 9.4%. For Alaska Corporate Tax Information click here. |
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5. File Articles of Organization with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development
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- PCF can draft Articles of Organization that are specific to your Alaska business and file them with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development.
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An Alaska Limited Liability Company is a type of business that is authorized by the state of Alaska - not by the federal government.
In order to form a LLC in Alaska you must file Articles of Organization with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development.
The Articles of Organization must include certain specific information about your Alaska LLC.
If the Articles do not conform exactly to state of Alaska requirements they will be rejected.
You may subsequently amend the Articles of Organization for your Alaska LLC but you will have to pay a fee to the state of
Alaska in order to make the changes official.
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6. Get a Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN)
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- PCF can prepare and file the forms to obtain an FEIN for your Alaska LLC.
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A Federal Employer Identification Number, also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, is used by the IRS to identify a
business entity.
An FEIN is like a Social Security Number for your Alaska LLC.
All Alaska LLCs electing to be taxed as a C-Corporation or S-Corporation are required to have an FEIN.
If you do not elect to have your Alaska LLC taxed as a Corporation you may still need to get a FEIN if it is composed of multiple members or
if you plan to have employees.
If you plan to form a single-member Alaska LLC you may not need a separate FEIN for the LLC if you have no employees.
The sole member of a single member Alaska LLC may be able to use his or her Social Security Number instead of applying for an FEIN.
You may request an EIN for your Alaska LLC for banking or state tax purposes, but an FEIN may not be required for federal tax purposes depending
on your business circumstances.
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What do I have to do after I form my Alaska LLC
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1. Conduct an Organizational Meeting and adopt an Operating Agreement
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- PCF can draft an initial Operating Agreement for your Alaska LLC that is based on your specific Alaska
business requirements.
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An Operating Agreement defines the rules by which your Alaska LLC will operate.
It is the core document that is referred to when issues concerning your LLC need to be resolved.
Operating Agreements may include requirements for almost anything that involves the management and operation of your Alaska LLC.
By having an Operating Agreement all Members will be provided with a clear set of rules they have agreed upon thus reducing the likelihood of
disagreement in the future.
Items commonly included in an Operating Agreement for an Alaska LLC:
- Rights and duties of Members
- Member contributions
- Record keeping and reporting requirements
- Distribution of profits
- Allocation of losses
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- Management duties
- Meeting requirements
- Voting requirements
- Admission and termination of Members
- Dissolution procedures
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Although an Operating Agreement is not required in the state of Alaska, if you plan to form a multiple member Alaska LLC
it is highly advisable to have one.
Having an Operating Agreement will save you a lot of time and money should conflict arise down the line.
As your Alaska LLC grows over time, you may amend your Operating Agreement as necessary.
When your Alaska LLC has an Operating Agreement your business will be governed by your own rules and not some canned business rules created by
the state of Alaska.
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2. Open a Business Bank Account in Alaska
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It's very important that you have a separate business bank account for your Alaska LLC.
Mixing personal and business funds may get you in a lot of trouble with the tax man down the line.
It's a good idea to contact the bank before you open a business bank account.
Specific requirements vary from bank to bank.
In most cases you will need a FEIN, a copy of your Alaska LLC Articles of Organization, and a resolution identifying authorized signers
if those names are not listed in the Articles.
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3. Obtain Business Licenses from the cities and counties in which you plan to do business
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Note that forming an Alaska LLC doesn't take the place of obtaining a business license, tax
registration certificate, or other required business permits.
An Alaska LLC merely creates an ownership structure that limits the owners' personal liability.
You may still need to take care of getting set up to do business with your local government.
Depending on the nature of the business and the location of your Alaska LLC you may need to get one or more city
business licenses or permits.
The business licenses or permits that are required for your Alaska LLC vary depending on your business activities
and the specific locations within the state of Alaska in which you want to conduct business.
If your Alaska LLC will be selling products in Alaska you may be required to obtain a Reseller's Permit from the appropriate
Alaska state agency.
If your Alaska LLC will be selling products in Alaska you will also be responsible for all applicable local and state of Alaska
sales taxes if there are any.
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4. File the required Alaska LLC reports
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Each Alaska LLC must file a Biennial Report with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development.
The Alaska Biennial Report includes basic information about your Alaska LLC.
Failure to submit a properly completed Alaska Biennial Report to the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development on or before the
due date may subject the Alaska LLC to being administratively dissolved in the state of Alaska or having its authority to
transact business in the state of Alaska revoked by the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development.
Penalties may accrue if you fail to file any Alaska LLC Biennial Report to the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development
by the due date.
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5. Keep proper records of your Alaska LLC on file
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Keep the following records on file and available at the principal business office of your Alaska LLC:
- Names and addresses of all Members and Officers of the Alaska LLC
- Articles of Organization for the Alaska LLC and any Amendments to them
- Copies of all tax returns and reports for the Alaska LLC for the last 3 years
- If the Alaska LLC has an Operating Agreement, a copy of the Operating Agreement and any Amendments
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Alaska Foreign LLC Qualification
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You want to do business in the state of Alaska but are registered as a Domestic Corporation or LLC in another state.
In order to legally conduct business in the state of Alaska you must register with the Alaska Department of Community and Economic Development as
an Alaska Foreign Corporation or LLC.
The process of registering as a Foreign Corporation or LLC in the state of Alaska is called Alaska Foreign Qualification.
The process of Alaska Corporation or LLC Foreign Qualification is similar to the process of forming a Domestic Corporation or LLC in the state of Alaska.
Your original formation documents and Corporate Bylaws, or Operating Agreement for LLCs, apply to your Alaska Foreign Corporation or LLC.
The Board of Directors and Officers of your Domestic Corporation, or Members and Managers in the case of LLC, have the same roles in the Alaska Foreign Corporation or LLC.
For specific requirements to qualify as a Foreign LLC in the state of Alaska click here.
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