Excellent

7,984 reviews

Form a C Corporation in Pennsylvania for Free

To start a C Corporation in Pennsylvania, you file Articles of Incorporation with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The state filing fee is $125. You form a for-profit business corporation under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law, and the corporation is then taxed federally as a C corporation. Choose Swyft Filings' Basic Pennsylvania C Corp Formation Package if you want to avoid filing errors or are unfamiliar with Pennsylvania's corporation requirements.
For a $0 service fee + state fee, our basic package to start a free Pennsylvania C Corp includes corporate name availability verification, preparation of your Articles of Incorporation, review by a formation specialist, and ongoing customer support. You can also upgrade your package to receive help with bylaws, stock setup, shareholder records, multiple share classes, EIN, registered office, and more.

Pennsylvania C Corp Formation Packages

Start your C Corp at $0 + state filing fee

How to Start a C Corp in Pennsylvania in 7 Steps

Forming a C Corp in Pennsylvania involves choosing a compliant corporate name, establishing your registered office, preparing and filing your Articles of Incorporation, completing your internal corporate organization, and obtaining an EIN.

Here's a step-by-step guide to forming your Pennsylvania C Corp from start to finish.

1. Choose a Name for Your Pennsylvania C Corporation

Pennsylvania law requires you to choose a name for your Pennsylvania C Corporation that meets the state's corporate naming rules. Your proposed name must be distinguishable from every existing entity already on record with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

1. Use a Corporate Designator

Your Pennsylvania corporation's name must include one of the following words or an accepted abbreviation: Corporation, Company, Incorporated, or Limited, or comparable terms such as Association, Fund, or Syndicate. A business corporation cannot use "LLC" or "limited liability company" as its corporate designator.

2. Match the Corporation's Purpose

Your Pennsylvania C Corporation name cannot state or imply that the corporation is organized for a purpose that is not permitted under Pennsylvania law or its Articles of Incorporation.

3. Avoid Government Implications

The name cannot suggest that your Pennsylvania C Corporation is affiliated with or connected to a state or federal government agency or a corporation chartered under U.S. law.

4. Choose a Distinguishable Name

Your Pennsylvania corporation's name must be distinguishable from other entities and filings already on record with the Pennsylvania Business Filing Services name search. Pennsylvania's Business Hub states that if a search produces no business entities, the name is available for use in Pennsylvania.

If you have selected a name for your Pennsylvania C Corporation, it's a good idea to keep 2-3 backup names in case your first choice is unavailable. If you need more ideas, you can use Swyft Filings' free business name generator to create several options.

Possibly, but inactive status does not automatically make a name available under Pennsylvania's distinguishability rules. Check the Pennsylvania Business Filing Services and the USPTO Trademark Database for potential conflicts before proceeding.

To reserve a C Corp name in Pennsylvania, file a name reservation application with the Pennsylvania Department of State for a $70 fee. Name reservation is optional, not a required step before filing your Articles of Incorporation, but it protects your preferred name while you prepare your formation documents.

Pennsylvania uses the term fictitious name rather than DBA. If your corporation will operate under a name other than its legal corporate name, you must register the fictitious name with the Pennsylvania Department of State before conducting business under it. Visit Swyft Filings' Pennsylvania DBA page for help with the fictitious name registration process.

2. Choose a Pennsylvania Registered Office

Every Pennsylvania corporation must maintain a registered office in the state. The registered office must be an actual street address or rural route box number in Pennsylvania; a P.O. Box alone is not acceptable.

Make sure your registered office meets the following Pennsylvania corporation requirements:

Physical Pennsylvania Address: The registered office must be a physical street address or rural route box number in Pennsylvania.
Availability: The registered office must be a location where official legal documents, notices, and government correspondence directed to the corporation can be received.
Currency: The registered office address must be kept current with the Pennsylvania Department of State. If the address changes, you must update it through the Department of State.
CROP Option: If your corporation does not have a Pennsylvania physical address, it can use a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP). Pennsylvania specifically states that a CROP is not the same thing as a registered agent.

Whether you maintain your own registered office or use a CROP, the office address must be included in your Articles of Incorporation when filing with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

1. Choose Your Registered Office Option: Decide whether your corporation will use a Pennsylvania street address it controls or engage a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) if your corporation lacks a Pennsylvania physical address.

2. Confirm the Address Is Valid: Make sure the address is a physical street address in Pennsylvania, not a P.O. Box or mail forwarding address alone.

3. Include the Address in Your Articles of Incorporation: Provide the registered office address in your Articles of Incorporation when filing with the Pennsylvania Department of State.

Yes, if your home address is a physical street address in Pennsylvania, it can serve as your corporation's registered office. Keep in mind that your registered office address appears on public record with the Pennsylvania Department of State, so some business owners prefer to use a CROP or professional service address to keep their personal address off public filings.

A corporation cannot serve as its own registered office in the way a physical address does, but a Pennsylvania officer, director, or employee of the corporation can maintain a physical address in Pennsylvania for use as the registered office. A P.O. Box alone is not acceptable.

3. Prepare Your Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation

Your corporation's share structure determines how ownership is divided among shareholders and how much stock your company can issue. Setting it up properly from the beginning makes it easier to allocate founder ownership, bring in investors, and provide equity to employees as your business grows.

When preparing your Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and share structure, consider the following:

Determine authorized shares: Decide the total number of shares your C Corporation is authorized to issue. Pennsylvania requires this number to be stated in the Articles of Incorporation. You can authorize more shares than you initially plan to issue.
Choose your stock type: Most corporations start with common stock for founders and employees. You may also establish preferred stock if you expect to raise outside investment or need to provide investors with different rights or preferences.
Consider multiple classes: If needed, your corporation can have different classes of stock with different voting, dividend, or other rights. The appropriate structure depends on your ownership and financing plans.
Consider voting rights: Decide whether different classes of shares will have different voting rights. For example, one class may have full voting rights while another may have limited or no voting rights.
Plan for future financing: If you expect to seek venture capital or other outside investment, consider how future financing rounds could affect your authorized shares and ownership percentages.
Specify the structure in your Articles: Include the required authorized-share information in your Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation. Keep the formation documents consistent with the share structure you intend to establish.

4. File Your Articles and Docketing Statement

After preparing your Articles of Incorporation, the next step is to officially form your corporation with the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. You can file online through Pennsylvania Business Filing Services, by mail, or in person. Choose Swyft Filings' basic package to start your Pennsylvania C Corp for free.

Let's discuss each in brief:

Option 1: File online

Online filing through Pennsylvania Business Filing Services (BFS) is the fastest and most convenient option. Pennsylvania describes online filing as the easiest and fastest way to process documents, and filings are generally processed faster than paper submissions. You will enter your corporation's information electronically, provide the registered office address, identify the incorporator, specify the authorized shares, and attach the New Entity Docketing Statement before paying the $125 state fee.

Option 2: File by mail

If you prefer not to file online, you can do it by filing your Articles of Incorporation together with a New Entity Docketing Statement (Form DSCB:15-134A) with the Pennsylvania Department of State. The address is:

Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations P.O. Box 8722 Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722

Option 3: File in person

In-person filings are accepted at the Pennsylvania Department of State's offices in Harrisburg. Bring your completed Articles of Incorporation, the Docketing Statement, and payment. The address for in-person submissions is:

Pennsylvania Department of State

Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations

401 North Street, Room 206

Harrisburg, PA 17120

To file Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation for a for-profit corporation, you will need:

Corporation name: Must include an approved corporate designator such as Corp., Inc., Corporation, Company, or Limited.
Registered office address: A physical Pennsylvania street address for the corporation's registered office.
Business purpose: A statement of the general nature of the business.
Authorized shares: Number and class of shares the corporation is authorized to issue.
Incorporator(s): Name and address of one or more incorporators.
Docketing Statement: The New Entity Docketing Statement (DSCB:15-134A) must accompany the Articles.

After you submit your Pennsylvania Articles of Incorporation and the required fees, the Department of State processes your filing. If the filing meets Pennsylvania's requirements, the state records the Articles and creates an official record for your C Corporation. Online filings are generally processed faster than paper submissions.

Not by itself. When you file Articles of Incorporation in Pennsylvania, you are creating a Pennsylvania for-profit business corporation. The corporation's federal tax classification is a separate matter. A corporation is generally taxed as a C Corporation by default for federal income tax purposes unless it makes a valid election to be treated differently, such as an S Corporation election if it qualifies. The state formation step creates the Pennsylvania business corporation; federal tax treatment and other compliance requirements are handled separately.

Pennsylvania law allows a corporation to have one or more directors. The exact number is typically set in the corporation's Articles of Incorporation or bylaws. A Pennsylvania C Corp can start with a single director and expand its board as the company grows. Directors do not need to be Pennsylvania residents unless the Articles or bylaws require it.

Pennsylvania charges a $125 state filing fee for the Articles of Incorporation for a domestic for-profit corporation. The New Entity Docketing Statement is included in the formation filing at no additional charge. Expedited processing fees are separate: $100 for same-day service, $300 for 3-hour service, and $1,000 for 1-hour service. These are Pennsylvania state filing fees, separate from any fees charged by a formation service.

5. Publish the Required Notice

Pennsylvania law requires newly incorporated corporations to officially publish a notice of the intention to file, or the filing of, the Articles of Incorporation.

When completing the publication requirement, keep the following in mind:

When to publish: The publication should occur after your Articles of Incorporation are filed or around the time of your intent to file.
What to include: The notice must include the corporation's name and a statement that it is being or has been incorporated under the Pennsylvania Business Corporation Law of 1988.
Where to publish: Arrange publication in an appropriate newspaper or legal publication. The statute uses the term "officially publish."
Proof of publication: Keep proof of publication with your corporation's internal records and minutes. The Department of State does not require you to file the proof with the state.

Keep formal records of the publication along with your other corporate formation documents. While proof of publication is not submitted to the state, retaining it in your corporate records is important evidence that your corporation followed Pennsylvania's formation requirements.

Yes. Once adopted by the board, bylaws function as a binding internal contract among the corporation, its directors, and its shareholders. Pennsylvania courts enforce bylaw provisions in corporate disputes, even though the bylaws themselves are never filed with the Department of State.

Yes. Bylaws are typically adopted by the initial directors or incorporator at the organizational meeting, and the board can later amend them by the vote required in the bylaws themselves or under Pennsylvania law.

Consistently ignoring your own bylaws can undermine the corporate formalities that protect your liability shield, which is one of the factors courts consider when a creditor asks to pierce the corporate veil and hold shareholders personally liable.

Yes. Bylaws are an important part of governing a Pennsylvania C Corporation. They set the internal rules for how the corporation operates, including the roles of directors and officers, shareholder and board meetings, voting procedures, and major corporate decisions. Bylaws are not filed with the Pennsylvania Department of State but should be adopted and maintained in the corporation's records.

6. Complete Your Corporate Organization

After filing your Articles of Incorporation and completing the publication requirement, you should hold an initial organizational meeting where your incorporator or initial directors formally start the business. At this meeting, you will typically:

Adopt the corporate bylaws.
Elect officers, such as a president, treasurer, and secretary.
Authorize the issuance of shares and issue initial stock to founders and investors.
Set the corporation's fiscal year.
Authorize opening a corporate bank account.

Need help drafting your Corporate Bylaws? Swyft Filings can simplify the process by preparing and drafting customized Corporate Bylaws. Start by completing a short questionnaire about your corporation's structure, shareholders, and management. Our specialists then draft your Corporate Bylaws and, if needed, a Shareholders' Agreement. You'll receive your completed documents ready for review and adoption as part of your corporation's organizational process.

7. Get an EIN and Register for Pennsylvania Taxes

After forming your Pennsylvania C Corp, apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. An EIN is a federal tax identification number used to identify your corporation for tax and other business purposes.

Here are the top reasons your Pennsylvania C Corp needs an EIN:

Opening a business bank account.
Hiring employees in Pennsylvania or any other state.
Filing federal and Pennsylvania corporate income tax returns.
Registering for Pennsylvania taxes through myPATH.
Applying for a business credit card or loan.
Keeping your personal Social Security number off business contracts.

How Much Does It Cost to Form a C Corporation in Pennsylvania?

The cost of forming a C Corp in Pennsylvania depends on the required state filing fees and any additional services you choose. Here's a quick breakdown of the main costs you may encounter:

Cost	Fee
Articles of Incorporation	$125
Required formation cost	$125
Name Reservation (optional)	$70
Name Availability Certificate (optional, up to 3 names)	$15
Pennsylvania Corporation Annual Report Fee	$7/year

What Are the Ongoing Requirements for a Pennsylvania C Corporation?

Filing your Articles of Incorporation creates your Pennsylvania C Corporation, but you must meet several ongoing requirements to keep it in good standing and maintain its liability protection.

File a Pennsylvania Annual Report

Pennsylvania introduced a new annual reporting requirement beginning in 2025, replacing the old decennial report system. Every domestic business corporation must now file an annual report each year.

Filing window: January 1 through June 30 each year
Fee: $7 per year
Where: Online through Pennsylvania Business Filing Services. Online annual reports are automatically approved and generally available within minutes
First report: Not due in the same calendar year the corporation is formed. A corporation formed in 2026 files its first annual report during the January 1 to June 30, 2027 filing window
Consequence of non-filing: Failure to file annual reports can eventually result in administrative dissolution or cancellation by the Department of State. Pennsylvania's enforcement of administrative dissolution for non-filers is scheduled to begin with reports due in 2027

You can consider a professional service like Swyft Filings to file the annual report on your behalf. Our specialists prepare and file the required annual report, and you receive confirmation once the filing is complete.

Obtain Necessary Business Licenses and Permits for Your C Corporation

Depending on what your corporation does and where it operates, you may need state-level licenses, permits, or special registrations from the relevant Pennsylvania agency. Pennsylvania does not have a general business license that every corporation must obtain. However, certain industries, such as construction, healthcare, financial services, food service, and real estate, may require specific licenses or registrations from the appropriate state authority.

Local municipalities may also require separate business registrations, permits, or zoning approvals. The requirements for your Pennsylvania C Corp depend on your industry and where your business operates. Check with your local municipality and the Pennsylvania Business One-Stop Shop to identify the licenses and permits that apply to your business. You can also use Swyft Filings' business license research service to help identify applicable requirements, application links, and renewal information.

Maintain Corporate Records

Keep your Articles of Incorporation, any amendments, current bylaws, shareholder records, stock issuance ledger, and minutes from all board and shareholder meetings. The Pennsylvania Department of State does not require corporations to file bylaws, but Pennsylvania law requires corporations to keep certain records available for shareholder inspection.

Pennsylvania C Corporation Taxes

Understanding Pennsylvania's tax obligations is an important part of planning your C Corporation's finances. Pennsylvania C Corporations are subject to taxes at both the federal and state levels.

Federal C Corporation Taxes

The corporation pays federal corporate income tax at a flat 21% rate on its taxable income and files Form 1120 annually with the IRS. Shareholders are then taxed separately on any dividends they receive from the corporation, which is the "double taxation" that distinguishes a C Corporation from an S Corporation or LLC.

Pennsylvania Corporate Net Income Tax

Pennsylvania imposes a Corporate Net Income Tax (CNIT) on the net income of C Corporations doing business in Pennsylvania. For tax year 2026 (tax years beginning January 1, 2026 through December 31, 2026), the CNIT rate is 7.49%. Corporations file a CNIT return annually with the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue and may be required to make estimated quarterly tax payments depending on their expected liability.

Other Pennsylvania Taxes

Depending on your corporation's activities and whether it has employees, additional Pennsylvania taxes may apply:

Sales and Use Tax: Pennsylvania's sales tax rate is 6% (plus local rates in some jurisdictions). If your corporation sells taxable goods or certain taxable services, register for sales and use tax through myPATH before making taxable sales.
Employer Withholding Tax: If your corporation hires employees, it must register for and remit Pennsylvania income tax withholding on employee wages through myPATH.
Unemployment Compensation Tax: Corporations with employees must also register with the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry for unemployment compensation contributions.
Pennsylvania Capital Stock Tax: Pennsylvania phased out its capital stock and franchise tax. C Corporations operating in Pennsylvania are not subject to this tax for current tax years.

Ready to Start a Free C Corp in Pennsylvania?

Starting a Pennsylvania C Corp involves paperwork and ongoing requirements, from setting up your corporation and share structure to keeping up with state filings. Swyft Filings can help you form your Pennsylvania corporation for free, so you can focus on getting your business up and running.

Start Your Free Pennsylvania C Corp Now!

$0 + State Filing Fees

Pennsylvania C Corporation Resources

*Disclaimer: This guide provides general information about forming a C Corporation in Pennsylvania and is not a substitute for legal, tax, or financial advice.*

Check C Corp Formation Guides for Other States

C Corp rules, filing costs, and corporate tax structures vary by jurisdiction. Select any state below to view its specific C Corp laws.

Need Help With Your C Corp Paperwork?

Starting a Pennsylvania C Corp means filing the Articles of Incorporation with a Docketing Statement, publishing in two newspapers, and tracking the new June 30 annual report deadline. Swyft Filings has been helping businesses form and stay compliant since 2015. Our team knows the Pennsylvania requirements and can file your C Corp quickly, accurately, and in full compliance.

Get Started with C Corp Filing

FAQ's

Starting a business can feel complex. We're here to provide clear answers to some of the most common questions entrepreneurs ask.

Get Started

Whether a sole proprietor needs a license depends on the industry and the municipality where the business operates. Regulated industries such as construction, healthcare, food service, and real estate require state-level licenses from the relevant Pennsylvania agency.

Both offer limited liability protection, but the right choice depends on how you want the business to be taxed and structured. An LLC offers pass-through taxation by default, simpler management, and more flexibility in how profits are distributed among members. A C Corporation is taxed as a separate entity, which creates double taxation on dividends but also enables venture capital investment, multiple share classes, and stock-based employee compensation plans.

Yes, if you are forming a corporation or LLC in Pennsylvania or doing business in the state under an entity that is legally formed elsewhere. A Pennsylvania for-profit business corporation is created by filing Articles of Incorporation with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Businesses formed outside Pennsylvania that want to do business in the state must file for foreign registration with the Department of State.

Yes. Pennsylvania does not require you to hire an attorney to incorporate. You can prepare and file your own formation documents. However, legal and tax advice may be useful when deciding on your share structure, preparing bylaws, or planning your corporation's tax treatment.

If your corporation conducts business under a name other than its legal corporate name, it generally must register that assumed name with the Pennsylvania Department of State. Pennsylvania calls this a fictitious name rather than a DBA. Registration does not create a separate legal entity or provide trademark protection.