State hub · Idaho
Idaho LLC true cost (2026)
Idaho state side: $100 formation filing, $0 for Annual Report in the 3-year model, ~$100 state fees over three years (methodology below) — #8 of 51 on the cheapest-states ranking. Provider markup is separate — use the table for formation/RA path + state fees.
Idaho state filing fees
These are state fees — not Northwest / ZenBusiness / Bizee / LegalZoom service fees. The collecting agency is Idaho Secretary of State. Filings go through sosbiz.idaho.gov.
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | Certificate of Organization base $100 online via SOSBiz; paper adds $20 manual processing ($120). |
| Annual Report | $0 typical | No SOS filing fee for online annual report; paper may incur $20 manual processing. Filing is still mandatory. |
| 3-year state subtotal (model) | $100 | Formation $100 (online) + 3× online annual report $0 = $100. |
When Idaho actually bills you
Idaho's recurring filing is due By the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year — put it in a calendar the day you form, because the state will not chase you before it penalises you.
| Point in time | What Idaho charges | Amount | Running total |
|---|---|---|---|
| At formation | Articles / Certificate of Formation | $100 | $100 |
| Year 1 cycle | Annual Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $100 |
| Year 2 cycle | Annual Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $100 |
| Year 3 cycle | Annual Report (no charge in this model) | $0 | $100 |
Provider + Idaho state (3-year)
Provider totals from the national comparison (formation + RA Y1–Y3, state fees excluded there) plus the Idaho state subtotal of $100.
| Provider | Plan | Provider 3-yr | + state |
|---|---|---|---|
| northwest | Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) | $289 | $389 |
| zenbusiness | Starter $0 + RA add-on | $497 | $597 |
| bizee | Basic $0 (RA Y1 free) | $298 | $398 |
| legalzoom | Basic $0 + RA $249/yr | $747 | $847 |
Partner link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. Prices above are researched from public pages, not supplied by the provider. How this site makes money.
How Idaho ranks against the other 50 charters
Across the 51 jurisdictions covered on this site, Idaho sits at #8 — the 8th cheapest three-year state charter — at $100 in Secretary of State and revenue-department dollars. That is $65 more than Montana, the cheapest charter in the ranking ($35), $180 below the $280 median, and $2,410 less than California at $2,510. In plain terms, Idaho lands in the cheaper half of the table.
Ranking caveat for Idaho: Whether SOSBiz card convenience fee applies to $100 formation (some guides cite ~$1–$3).
- Just cheaper: Ohio ($99), Hawaii ($96).
- Just pricier: Iowa ($110), South Carolina ($110).
- Full table: all 51 states ranked by 3-year state fees — including where the ranking flips once you add a professional registered agent.
Registered agent (Idaho)
- Registered agent with Idaho street address required.
Put the agent next to the state's own bill: three years of Idaho state fees is $100, while the cheapest provider path in our national 3-year comparison runs $289 (Formation $39 (RA Y1 included)) and the most expensive runs $747 (Basic $0 + RA $249/yr) — a $458 spread for the same statutory job. On the cheapest path the service, not Idaho, is about 74% of your three-year outlay. Choosing the agent well is usually a bigger lever than choosing the state.
Gotchas (fact-based)
- Zero-fee annual report still required; non-filing can lead to administrative dissolution after ~60 days past due.
- Credit-card convenience fees on SOSBiz (if any) not included.
Who Idaho is for / not for
Often a fit when…
- Domestic LLCs seeking low ongoing SOS cost after a modest formation fee.
Often a poor fit when…
- Filers who cannot use SOSBiz online (paper path adds manual fees).
Orientation only — not legal advice.
Common questions about Idaho LLC cost
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Idaho?
$100 to Idaho Secretary of State for the formation filing. Certificate of Organization base $100 online via SOSBiz; paper adds $20 manual processing ($120). That is the state charge only. A formation service is a separate bill on top: Formation $39 (RA Y1 included) works out to $39 in year one, versus $249 on the most expensive path we track.
What are the ongoing Idaho LLC fees after year one?
$0 in recurring Annual Report charges under the modelled scenario (By the last day of the anniversary month of formation each year). No SOS filing fee for online annual report; paper may incur $20 manual processing. Filing is still mandatory. Recurring state charges are what make a low formation fee misleading — they are the reason this site models three years instead of one.
What does a Idaho LLC really cost over three years?
$100 in Idaho state fees, plus whatever your provider charges. With the cheapest tracked path that is $389 all-in over three years; with the most expensive it is $847 — a $458 difference that has nothing to do with Idaho.
Do I need a registered agent in Idaho?
Yes. Registered agent with Idaho street address required. Confirm Idaho's DIY-versus-commercial agent rules with Idaho Secretary of State before you file — a home address here becomes public record. On the money side, the four providers tracked here charge $0–$249 in year one for formation plus the agent, then $125–$249 a year in agent renewal after that — separate from every Idaho figure above.
Is Idaho a cheap state to form an LLC?
On charter cost alone, Idaho ranks #8 of 51 at $100 over three years, against a $35 floor and a $2,510 ceiling. But cheapest charter is not the same as cheapest outcome: if you operate somewhere else you will likely foreign-qualify there and pay that state's fees and taxes too. See the full 3-year state fee ranking for the comparison.
How the Idaho three-year number is built
Formation $100 (online) + 3× online annual report $0 = $100. Figures are re-derived from the cited Idaho sources rather than copied from other guides.
Deliberately excluded from the Idaho state subtotal:
- Professional registered agent fees (same shopping problem in every state)
- County newspaper publication (NY, AZ, and similar — variable)
- Card / portal convenience fees unless fixed on the SOS schedule
- Expedites, name reservations, certified copies, foreign qualification
- Income / sales / payroll taxes and variable gross-receipts tiers above a stated floor
Unverified / confirm before filing
- item: unverified — check source —
- Re-check live Idaho Secretary of State fee schedules — amounts change.
Sources (official)
- Idaho SOS Certificate of Organization LLC PDF
- Idaho SOS Business Forms (LLC fees)
- Idaho SOSBiz help – annual reports
Keep comparing
- Cheapest states to form an LLC (2026)
All 51 charters ranked by three-year state fees — see exactly where Idaho's $100 lands.
- LLC formation true 3-year cost: Northwest vs ZenBusiness vs Bizee vs LegalZoom
The provider side of the Idaho math, with the upsells worth skipping.
- All 51 state hubs
Same fee model, state by state.