Start an S-Corp in Georgia with Inc Authority’s Free Services
Inc Authority is the leading business formation services provider and has helped 250K+ entrepreneurs realize their dreams. It can help you start your new business completely FREE.
1 Year Registered Agent Service Free
Free LLC, Corporation, and S-Corporation formation services in Georgia.
Free 1Y registered agent service with both free and paid formation plans.
Free review and filing of Form 2553 for getting the federal S-Corp tax status.
Why Should You Form an S-Corp in Georgia?
Starting an S-Corp in Georgia is a smart decision for more than one reason. It is the best business entity for shareholders who want to draw salaries and distributions from the business profits.
Let’s understand why S-Corps are a great choice for your business:
- S-Corps avoid double taxation as the business is not taxed directly, instead, shareholders are taxed on their personal income (pass-through taxation).
- Unlike members of an LLC, the shareholders of an S-Corp in Georgia do not need to pay self-employment taxes, only federal income tax.
- S-Corp shareholders are not personally liable to pay off business debts and their personal assets are protected in case the business faces a lawsuit.
- S-Corps have the option to issue shares, which makes it easy to transfer ownership, raise capital, and keep the business going perpetually.
18,000+
Trustpilot Reviews
Inc. 5000
Company
7-Day
USA Based Support
24-Hour
Processing Time
How to Form an S-Corp in Georgia
To start an S-Corp in Georgia, you must first form a Georgia LLC or Georgia Corporation and then fill out the s-election form to get the federal S-Corp tax status.
Here is the step-by-step process for starting an S-Corp in Georgia:
Choose a Business Name
When starting an S-Corp in Georgia, you must first start by choosing a business name and ensuring that it is not being used by any other business in the state. This requires you to search the state database and find matches, if any.
Using Inc Authority’s free business name check tool you can do this in minutes. Simply type in your chosen business name in the search bar and press enter. The tool will quickly scour the database and inform you of any potential matches.
Appoint a Georgia Registered Agent
Hire the services of a Georgia registered agent with a local address to which all your business correspondence can be delivered. The agent could be an individual or company that has a registered address in Georgia.
You can choose to be your own registered agent or outsource this service to a professional. Inc Authority offers free registered agent services for the first year when you choose one of their business formation packages.
Register a Georgia LLC or Corporation
Once you’ve chosen a name, you can register your business with the Georgia Secretary of State office. Check out the filing requirements and ensure that you provide all necessary documents to ensure your application gets processed.
You can fill out an online application or send a filled-out physical application form via mail or fax. Inc Authority provides the quick online application option and the team reviews and files the application on the behalf of your business.
Apply for a Tax ID or EIN
Even after you’ve registered your business and got a certificate of formation, you can’t start operations before getting an employer identification number. An EIN or Tax ID helps the government and IRS recognize your business for tax purposes.
An EIN is required for a variety of purposes like hiring employees and paying salaries, filing income taxes, opening a business bank account, and more. So, don’t forget to apply for an EIN before you move to the next step—starting an S-Corporation.
Get the Necessary Licenses and Permits
Even after your business is formally registered and you get your EIN, you can’t start operations without getting all the necessary licenses and permits. These will differ from state to state and business to business.
Find out the requirements for your type of business in Georgia and obtain the various federal and state permits that you need to run your business. Once you have all the permits, you can start running your business.
Fill Out and Submit the S-Election Form
The last step in this guide to starting an S-Corp in Georgia is to fill out Form 2553 of the Internal Revenue Service. Once processed, it will give your business the federal S-Corp tax status that gives your business many tax benefits.
You can leverage Inc Authority’s free services to get the S-Corp status. Their team of experts will help you fill out the form accurately and ensure that you have the proper documentation. They’ll also submit the form on your behalf.
Why Choose Inc Authority to Form an S-Corp in Georgia
Starting a new business can be overwhelming for most entrepreneurs and Inc Authority offers an easy way to get it done and that too for free. Here are some reasons why you should choose Inc Authority.
Free Service
Inc Authority helps you start your new business and takes care of all formalities, including reviewing and filing the paperwork, absolutely free of charge.
Expert Guidance
When you choose Inc Authority you get access to a team of experts who’ll not only help you start an S-Corp, but also provide tax consultation.
No Hassles
Starting an S-Corp requires complex paperwork, which can be a hassle. Inc Authority can take care of it for you and provide a stress-free experience.
Inc Authority Georgia S-Corp Formation Service: Key Features
Inc Authority’s free plan covers everything from LLC or C-Corp formation to s-election form filing. Here’s everything you can expect from the free plan.
Business Name Search
Search for your chosen business name using its free business name check tool to determine if it’s unique or if any other businesses are using the same or similar name in Georgia.
Registered Agent Service
Get a reliable Georgia registered agent to receive all legal documents and correspondence on behalf of your business. This service is free for 1 year and is available at a nominal cost after that.
Online Document Storage
Store your important business documents like Georgia articles of formation, LLC operating agreements, corporate bylaws, or other legal documents online to ensure they’re safe and easily accessible.
Tax Consultation
Get expert tax consultants to guide you on how to maximize the tax benefits offered by your S-Corp status. When you pay Georgia income tax, their team will ensure that you get the maximum tax benefits.
Preparation and Filing
Let an expert prepare and file your application with the Georgia Secretary of State and ensure that there are no mistakes in your application and that you can start your Georgia LLC or C-Corp quickly.
S-Corp Election
Get help from Inc Authority for filling out and submitting Form 2553 to the Internal Revenue Service and get your S-Corp tax designation. This will help you get a special tax status for your business.
How Much Does it Cost to Start an S-Corp in Georgia with Inc Authority?
Apart from the free plan, Inc Authority also offers 2 paid plans for customers who need more personalized, high-touch services.
Let’s compare the features offered in the free plan with those in the paid plans.
Free Plan
Here are the features/services you’ll get with this plan:
- Business name search
- Registered agent service (1 year)
- Online document storage
- Tax consultation
- Business formation documents filing
- S-Corp election and filing
- Business funding analysis
Starter
With this, you’ll get everything in the free plan, plus:
- LLC Operating agreement or corporate bylaws preparation
- Ownership or stock certificates
- Initial meeting minutes & resolutions
- EIN/Tax ID filing
- Corporate forms (legal documents) package
- Annual compliance notifications
- Professional expert tax consultation
- Web domain + 5 business email addresses
Fasttrack
You’ll get everything in the Starter plan plus the following additional features:
- INC success advisor package
- Access to a private banking specialist
- Personalized business advice
- Expedited document preparation & filing
This is the highest-tier plan that offers personalized services and consultations. Your application will be treated as a top priority and will be filed on the same day. If you want the quickest and easiest way to start a business, opt for this plan.
FAQ
Yes, Georgia recognizes the federal S-Corp tax status and offers the tax benefits that S-Corps enjoy in most other states. This means that the business will not pay corporate taxes and business profits will pass to the shareholders in the form of salaries and distributions.
As per state laws, an S-Corp election is only recognized for resident shareholders.
So, if a joint return has to be filed for a Corporation with both resident and non-resident shareholders, then the non-residents need to execute an agreement via Form 600 S-CA. The Corporation then needs to file Form 600S as well.
An LLC is a business entity that can choose to be taxed as an S-Corp, which is essentially a tax designation.
For LLCs that choose to be taxed as S-Corps, the business profits are passed to the owners and they are taxed on their personal income. This is known as pass-through taxation.
Unlike LLC members, S-Corp shareholders do not need to pay self-employment taxes. Shareholders pay Federal and Georgia income taxes by filing personal tax returns.
An LLC (Limited Liability Company) or a C-Corp can choose to get the S-Corp status. To do so, the business must:
- Have no more than 100 shareholders
- Have only one class of stock
- Not be a financial institution, insurance company, or other ineligible types of businesses
- Have no non-residents as shareholders
If your Georgial LLC or C-Corp meets these requirements, it can apply for the S-Corp tax status.
Here is the step-by-step process to form an S-Corp in Georgia:
- Choose a unique and relevant business name that complies with Georgia naming requirements.
- Hire a Georgia registered agent with a local address who can receive all your legal correspondence and is present at the registered address during regular business hours.
- Register a Georgia LLC or Georgia C-Corporation by submitting an application to the Georgia Secretary of State office.
- Apply for an EIN.
- Get the necessary licenses and permits for running your business in Georgia.
- Fill out the s-election Form 2553 of the Internal Revenue Service and get your S-Corp tax designation.
You simply need to pay the state filing fees to start an S-Corp in Georgia, if you complete the process yourself. But if you hire a third-party service provider, they may charge you as much as $300 for the service.
Inc Authority offers the best way forward by offering hassle-free business formation services for free. It will help you start an LLC or C-Corp and get the special S-Corp tax status, absolutely free of charge.
Form an S-Corp in Georgia for Free with Inc Authority
Starting an S-Corp is made easy by Inc Authority as it provides free S-Corp formation services that ensure your business is up and running in no time. Choose Inc Authority to start an S-Corp in Georgia quickly and efficiently.
$0 + State Filing Fees