VT Corporation Filing Fees and Requirements

How Much Does It Cost to Form a VT Corporation?

Legal business registration — and keeping your business in good standing — involves necessary expenses and investment. Some of these costs are payable to the VT Secretary of State, while others are due to additional state entities or the federal government. Here are some common requirements and fees.

Please note that fees for a State of Vermont business license or permit may be due when you first form your business, on an ongoing schedule or on an ad hoc basis. Find more details below.

Initial Vermont Corporation Filing Fees

When starting a business in Vermont State, you’ll need to file a form and pay a filing fee. Here are the current Vermont corporation filing fees and times:

When you use Incfile to register a business in Vermont, we charge you the state filing fee and forward it to the Secretary of State when we file your incorporation paperwork.

Employer Identification Number

Every corporation in the country should have a unique EIN (Employer Identification Number) from the Internal Revenue Service. You'll use it when you open a business bank account, file taxes and pay employees. You can get one directly from the IRS, or Incfile can get one for you.

Foreign Corporations

If you want to do business in a state other than the one where your business is based, you must create a Foreign Corporation.

Vermont Foreign Corporation Registration

Before you can bring an arm of your business from another state into Vermont, you must request Vermont Foreign Qualification. This means the state gives you permission to conduct business there.

To request registration of a Vermont Foreign Corporation, you must complete an Application for Certificate Authority via the Secretary of State's Business Filing System and pay a fee of $125. The state may have additional registration requirements, so contact the Vermont Secretary of State directly for more information and to ensure you're in compliance with VT corporation law.

Foreign Qualification to Operate in Another State

If you plan to expand your Vermont corporation into another state, you’ll first need Foreign Qualification or a Certificate of Authority from that state. This is necessary before you can create a physical presence, hire employees or bank in that state.

You'll likely have to complete at least one application and pay a filing fee, but each state has its own requirements. Before you start the process, compare state filing times and state filing fees so you can plan accordingly.

Above all, contact the state government entity that administers business (usually the Secretary of State) to confirm their requirements and for specific instructions.

If you need assistance, Incfile provides a complete Foreign Qualification service for all states.

Vermont Annual Report Requirements

Most states require business entities to file an annual (or other periodic) report. Vermont requires annual registration renewal or annual report to be filed once a year with the VT Secretary of State.

You'll need to complete your annual report by logging into the online Business Filing System. The fee that accompanies your annual report is $45.

State of Vermont Business License and Permit Requirements

Before you start doing business, you must secure the necessary state, federal or local business licenses and permits to operate your corporation. Some of the fees will only need to be paid once, while others may be ongoing charges.

Permits and licenses vary based on:

Corporate Bylaws

You are required to have Vermont corporation bylaws if you form a corporation in the state. You don't need to file them with the Vermont Secretary of State, but make sure you have them with your documents and by all means, continue to follow them.

The bylaws must then be adopted (and amended, if necessary) by the board of directors and shareholders.

Drafting a set of bylaws can be extremely helpful in making sure you’re organized and can help protect your business from any future changes and events that may affect your business.

Other VT Corporation Filing Requirements and Fees

The State of Vermont requires you to complete a few more tasks before you can begin conducting business.

Appoint a Director

Some states require corporations to appoint a full board of directors. VT corporation law requires all corporations to have at least one director.

Appoint Officers

In Vermont, the board of directors may elect officers such as as the president, vice president, treasurer, etc. however, one officer must be selected to hold the responsibility of preparing the minutes of the directors' and shareholders' meetings and of authenticating and maintaining the records of the corporation required to be kept. This responsibility is usually applied to the position of a secretary.

Issue Stock to Shareholders

To raise business capital and keep it separate from company owners' money, every Vermont corporation must sell stock to its shareholders. The Articles of Incorporation must authorize the sale of at least one class of share, and the corporation cannot sell more shares than are authorized.

Hold Annual General Meetings

In Vermont, corporations are required to hold annual meetings, however if you fail to do so, the Vermont Statutes Title 11A, Chapter 7, § 7.01 states, "The failure to hold an annual meeting at the time stated or fixed in accordance with a corporation's bylaws does not affect the validity of any corporate action."

Get an Assumed Name or DBA

If you want to register a Vermont DBA (assumed name), you must complete a request online via the Business Filing System and pay a filing fee of $50.

Change the Registered Agent

If your corporation is based in Vermont, then you must have a Registered Agent in the state. You'll need to appoint one when you file your Articles of Incorporation. You can also change to a new Registered Agent later by filing the change online via the Business Filing System and paying a fee of $25.

Reserving a Name for Your Corporation

If you're not quite ready to start your business, you can reserve a name for 120 days with the Secretary of State by filing a request online via the Secretary of State's Business Filing System and paying a fee of $20. First, conduct a VT corporation search and learn the state's business naming rules to ensure you choose a name that meets legal requirements.

Amending Facts About Your Corporation

When you incorporate, the Vermont business forms you fill out include certain facts about your business at that time. Through the years, some or all of this information may change. If it does, you'll need to file an amendment online via the Secretary of State's Business Filing System along with a filing fee of $25. You can do this yourself or Incfile can do it for you.

Get a Certificate of Good Standing

Some organizations may request that you prove your corporation's compliance with laws and tax requirements. In most states, including Vermont, this proof is provided with a Certificate of Good Standing.

If you need to prove you have met your commitments, you’ll need to request a VT Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of State. You can do this by logging into the Business Filing System and completing the process. The fee for a Certificate of Good Standing from the VT Secretary of State is $25.

The information listed above details many of the fees a standard corporation will be required to pay in Vermont. In some circumstances, there may be other one-off, periodic or ad hoc fees not listed above.

Of course, your corporation will also probably need to pay federal, state, self-employment (if it's an S Corp) and other taxes. You'll find more information on the Vermont taxes page.