Tax Guru – Ker$tetter Letter

Q:

Subject: CA Corporation filing fees

 

Hi Kerry,

 

Could you please elaborate a little on your statement below since I am reading on the CA. Secretary of State website that the CA filing fee is $100.

 

What I have found is that it is much easier to just set up a brand new virgin corporation, especially in states like Arkansas and Missouri where it only costs $50 in filing fees.  In states like California, where the filing fees are in the thousands, this strategy is a bit more expensive and needs to be evaluated a little more closely.

 

Thanks

A:

It’s been a few years since I’ve been involved in setting up a new Calif corp; but it used to be required that new corps submit non-refundable payments for their first and last minimum taxes along with the paperwork filing fee.  That was an additional $1,600 up front cost, which other states that don’t have minimum taxes don’t require.

A tax pro who is more current on the costs of setting up a new Calif corp can give you more specifics for the actual cost nowadays.

I hope this helps.

Kerry Kerstetter