How to Start an LLC in Alaska (2024 Guide)

How to Form an LLC in Alaska in 7 Steps

In order to form your LLC in Alaska, there are certain steps you’ll need to complete:

1. Name Your LLC
2. Choose an Alaska Registered Agent
3. File the Articles of Organization
4. Create an Operating Agreement
5. Get an EIN
6. File a Beneficial Ownership Information Report
7. Submit an Alaska Initial Report

Step 1: Name Your Alaska LLC

Before you get started, you will need to pick a suitable name for your Alaska LLC. 

This will need to comply with all applicable naming requirements under Alaska law and be both succinct and memorable, as this will make it easily searchable by your potential clients.

1. Important Naming Guidelines for Alaska LLCs:

• The name of the limited liability company must contain the words “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.”
• Your name cannot include words that could confuse your LLC with a government agency (e.g., FBI, Treasury, State Department, etc.).
• Your LLC’s name cannot contain words with professional licensing restrictions (e.g., “Engineer,” “Architect,” or “Doctor”) without the corresponding license.
• Your LLC’s name cannot be misleading regarding its corporate purpose (e.g., a tailoring company could not use a name containing the word “construction”).
• Unlike many other states, there are no restrictions on deceptively distinguishable names (e.g., Cups Express vs Cupz Express).

We recommend checking out the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing website for a more complete list of naming rules in this state.

2. Is the name available in Alaska?

To check whether your desired name has already been taken by another business entity in Alaska, you can perform a name search on the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development website.

If you’re not going to start your LLC right away, it might be a good idea to consider reserving your name. You can protect a name for 120 days by filing a Business Name Reservation ($25 processing fee), or obtain exclusive rights to a name for up to five years by filing a Business Name Registration.

For more information, you can have a look at our Alaska LLC Name Search guide.

3. Is the URL available?

You should check online to see if your business name is available as a web domain. Even if you don’t plan to make a business website right away, this is an extremely important step as it will prevent others from acquiring it, potentially saving you both time and money in the long term. 

Once you have verified your name is available, you may now select a professional service to complete the LLC formation process for you.

FAQ: Naming an Alaska LLC

Step 2: Choose a Registered Agent in Alaska

After you find the right name for your LLC, you will need to nominate an Alaska registered agent. This is a necessary step in your Articles of Organization (i.e., the document used to file and register your LLC with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development website).

What is a registered agent? A registered agent is an individual or business entity responsible for receiving important legal documents on behalf of your business. You can think of your registered agent as your business’s primary point of contact with the state.

Who can be a registered agent? A registered agent must be a resident of Alaska or a corporation that is authorized to operate in the state. Popular choices for LLC owners include LLC members, business attorneys, and registered agent services. 

FAQ: Nominating a Registered Agent

Step 3: File the Alaska LLC Articles of Organization

To register your Alaska LLC, you will need to file Form 08-484 – Articles of Organization with the Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development. You can do this online, by mail, or by fax.

Before filing, make sure you have completed your Articles of Organization correctly. You will need to have filled in the following sections:

• Your LLC’s Legal Name
• The Purpose For Which Your LLC Is Organized
• The Name and Address of Your LLC
• Your LLC’s NAICS Code
• Your LLC’s Management Structure (i.e., Member-Managed or Manager-Managed)
• The Signatures and Printed Name of the Organizers

File the Articles of Organization

OPTION 1: File Online with the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

File Online

– OR –

OPTION 2: File Form 08-484 by Mail, by Fax, or in Person

Download PDF

State Filing Cost: $250, payable to the State of Alaska (Nonrefundable)

Mailing Address:
State of Alaska Corporations Section
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811

Office Address:
333 Willoughby Ave., 9th Floor
State Office Building
Juneau, AK 99801-1770

Fax: (907) 465-2974

For help with completing the form, visit our Alaska Articles of Organization

Note: If you’re expanding your existing business to the state of Alaska, you’ll need to register as a foreign limited liability company (LLC).

Alaska NAICS Requirement

When filing the Alaska LLC formation documents, you will see that you are required to include your NAICS code. The North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) consists of six-digit codes given to a business depending on the type of trade it engages in. You can look up the NAICS code for your type of business by using our NAICS Code Lookup Tool.

FAQ: Filing Alaska LLC Documents

Step 4: Create an Alaska LLC Operating Agreement

An operating agreement is not required in Alaska, but it’s a good practice to have one.

What is an operating agreement? An operating agreement is a legal document outlining the ownership and operating procedures of an LLC.

Why are operating agreements important? A comprehensive operating agreement ensures that all LLC members are on the same page and reduces the risk of future conflict.

For more information on operating agreements, read our Alaska LLC operating agreement guide.

FAQ: Creating an Alaska LLC Operating Agreement

Step 5: Get an EIN for Your Alaska LLC

You can get an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS for free. It is used to identify a business entity and keep track of a business’s tax reporting. It is essentially a Social Security number (SSN) for the company.

Why do I need an EIN? An EIN number is required for the following:

• To open a business bank account for the company
• For federal and state tax purposes
• To hire employees for the company

Where do I get an EIN? An EIN is obtained from the IRS (free of charge) by the business owner after forming the company. This can be done online or by mail.

FOR INTERNATIONAL APPLICANTS: You do not need an SSN to get an EIN. Learn more here.

Get an EIN

Option 1: Request an EIN from the IRS

Apply Online

– OR –

Option 2: Apply for an EIN by Mail or Fax

Download Form

Mail to:
Internal Revenue Service
Attn: EIN Operation
Cincinnati, OH 45999

Fax: (855) 641-6935

Fee: Free

FAQ: Getting an EIN

Step 6: File a Beneficial Ownership Information Report

Beginning January 2024, LLC owners will need to file a Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) Report with the US Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN). Existing LLCs can file their report any time between January 1, 2024, and January 1, 2025, while new LLCs will need to file their report within 90 days of formation. 

This contains similar information to that of your Articles of Organization, such as your LLC name and member information, and can be filed online for free. Failure to file an accurate report on time can result in a $500 per day fine.

Note: There are certain filing exemptions, such as for large companies (i.e., more than 20 full-time employees), tax-exempt entities, and publicly traded companies. 

Step 7: Submit an Alaska Initial Report

After filing their Articles of Organization, all Alaska LLCs are required to file an initial report with the state within six months. This can be done online or by printing a pre-populated form to submit by mail or by fax. There is no filing fee.

In order to complete the initial report, you will need to know the following information:

• LLC name and Alaska Entity Number
• Registered agent address
• LLC member names and ownership percentage
• NAICS code

File Your Alaska LLC Initial Report

File Online, by Mail, or by Fax With the Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development

File Report

Fee: None

Mailing Address:
Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806

Fax:
907-465-2974

Due Date: Due within six months of LLC formation.

Maintain Your Alaska LLC

After you’ve successfully formed your LLC, there are a couple of steps you’ll need to periodically take in order to maintain it, including:

• Applying for an Alaska Business License
• Submitting a biennial report
• Sorting out your taxes

We’ve broken down how to complete each of these steps in greater detail below.

Apply for a Business License

Alaska businesses must obtain an Alaska Business License in order to conduct activity within the state.

Apply for an Alaska Business License

OPTION 1: Apply Online With the Alaska Department of Commerce

File Online

– OR –

OPTION 2: File by Mail, by Fax, or In Person

Download Form

Fee: $50

Mailing Address:
State of Alaska Corporations Section
P.O. Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811

Office Address:
333 Willoughby Ave., 9th Floor
State Office Building
Juneau, AK 99801-1770

Fax: 907-465-2974

You can choose whether to renew this license annually (every year) or biennially (every two years). This can also be done online or by submitting a hard copy renewal form by mail, by fax, or in person. The filing fee is $50 annually and $100 biennially. 

If your business license has expired for more than two years, you must reapply for a new license.

Submit an Alaska LLC Biennial Report

After filing an initial report, your Alaska LLC will need to file a biennial report every second year after formation by January 2 in order to maintain its good standing with the state. This typically means that LLCs formed in odd-numbered years will need to file a biennial report in odd-numbered years and vice versa.

The purpose of this biennial report is to keep the state’s records updated with current information regarding your business, including its:

• Registered agent and office address;
• Officers and directors;
• Principal place of business; and
• Current members or shareholders

You can file this report online or by printing and submitting a pre-populated form by mail or fax and paying the required $100 filing fee.

Sort Out Your Taxes

Regardless of where your LLC is registered, you will be required to pay certain federal taxes. This includes corporation and employer taxes (for LLCs filing as a C corporation), and federal income tax and self-employment taxes (for LLCs taxed as pass-through entities).

In addition, there are a number of different taxes you’ll be required to pay at a local and state level, which can vary depending on the nature of your business.

Below are some of the most common taxes in Alaska:

Income Taxes

LLCs with a default tax structure won’t need to submit state personal tax returns as Alaska is one of the few states that doesn’t charge an individual income tax. However, LLC’s organized as corporations will be subject to a state corporate income tax, which ranges between 2% and 9.4% depending on your business’s total revenue.

LLCs characterized as corporations for federal income tax purposes must file Form 6900 Alaska Partnership Information Return along with a signed federal Form 1065, pages 1–5 within 30 days of filing their federal income tax return.

You can do this by mail, although it is generally recommended to file and pay your income taxes online using the Alaska Department of Revenue’s Revenue Online (ROL) system.

Sales and Use Taxes

Alaska is one of five states that doesn’t impose a statewide sales tax. That being said, many cities and municipalities impose their own local sales tax rates (up to a maximum of 7.50%) that your LLC may be liable to pay.

Businesses operating within these municipalities are responsible for collecting the local sales tax at the point of sale and remitting it to the relevant municipal government. Since these details vary greatly by municipality, you’ll need to get in contact with the appropriate local government in your area for specific information.

Note: To find the local sales and use tax rate in effect in your municipality, you can use the Alaska Taxable Report.

Related Articles

• LLC Cost Alaska
• Alaska LLC Taxes
• Alaska LLC Operating Agreement
• Alaska LLC Registered Agent
• Alaska LLC Biennial Report
• How to File Articles of Organization in Alaska
• Alaska LLC Name Search

Alaska Business Resources

• Alaska Department of Commerce, Community, and Economic Development
• Alaska LLC Statutes
• Alaska Small Business Resources