Rhode Island LLC Cost: Filing Fee, Annual Fees and 5-Year Total
Forming an LLC in Rhode Island costs $150 in state filing fees and then $450 a year to keep it active ($50 in filing fees plus a $400 state tax). Rhode Island's estimated five-year state costs of $2,350 are 601% above the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Checked against official state sources (October 2026) · Last verified: October 29, 2026 · Sources
What an LLC costs in Rhode Island
| Item | Amount | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Formation filing fee | $150 | One time |
| Recurring state filing / report fee | $50/yr | Annual report, $50 |
| State tax / mandatory annual charge | $400/yr | Annual LLC charge, Form RI-1065 (Division of Taxation). Owed every year, starting with the formation year (conditions below). |
| Year-one cost | $550 | Formation fee + any year-one extra + the first year's state tax |
| Estimated 5-year state costs | $2,350 | Formation + year-one extras + 4 years of filing / report fees + 5 years of the state tax; ranks 49th cheapest of 51 |
The five-year figure counts state government fees and, where one applies, the separate mandatory annual state tax shown above. It assumes a single-member LLC owned by an individual with little or no income. It excludes registered agent services, formation-service fees, publication costs, local business licenses, income-based state taxes (income, gross-receipts, B&O, sales) and any optional extras. How we calculate it.
State tax you owe on top of the filing fees
Rhode Island charges a separate $400 a year state tax or charge on top of the filing-office fees: Annual LLC charge, Form RI-1065 (Division of Taxation). Owed every year the LLC exists, including the formation year, even with no income and even for a disregarded single-member LLC. It is not prorated. Due with the return: April 15 for an individually owned single-member LLC. We count it in the year-one, annual and five-year totals above and in the rankings.
Verified details
- Articles of Organization: $150.
- Annual report: $50, filed between February 1 and May 1; the first is due in the calendar year after registration. A $25 penalty applies to late filings.
- Annual charge: $400 for every LLC (multi-member or single-member) that is not taxed as a corporation, paid with Form RI-1065. It applies to any year the business exists, including the formation year and the dissolution year, whether the year is full or partial.
- A single-member LLC owned by an individual files RI-1065 with the owner's RI-1040 and uses its owner's due date (April 15 for most individuals). The charge has been $400 since tax year 2017.
Annual reports and upkeep
Rhode Island filing cadence: Annual (Feb 1 to May 1). Annual report, $50. Missing filings can lead to late fees and, eventually, administrative dissolution, so put the dates in a calendar. See annual reports and franchise taxes explained.
How to form an LLC in Rhode Island
- Check the name. Search the Rhode Island business records on the Secretary of State / filing office site to confirm your LLC name is available and includes an LLC designator.
- Pick a registered agent. Every state requires a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. You can serve as your own agent if you live in Rhode Island and are reachable during business hours, or hire a commercial agent. Registered agent guide.
- File the formation document. The state filing fee is $150. Use the state's online filing portal where available; paper filing is slower.
- Write an operating agreement. Most states do not require you to file one, but banks and partners typically ask for it, and it sets ownership and decision rules. Operating agreement basics.
- Get an EIN. The IRS issues EINs for free through its online application. Beware of sites that charge for it.
- Open a business bank account and calendar the deadlines. Put the annual (feb 1 to may 1) filing dates in a calendar so the LLC stays in good standing.
Want someone else to handle the filing in Rhode Island?
A formation service files the paperwork for a fee on top of the state fee and often includes a first year of registered agent service. It saves time, but you can file directly with the state for the state fee alone. Compare DIY and services.
See a formation service (partner link) Sponsored
Living or operating outside Rhode Island?
You can form an LLC in Rhode Island even if you live elsewhere, but if you actually do business in your home state you will usually also have to register the LLC there as a foreign LLC and pay that state's fees, so you may pay twice. In Texas, for example, an out-of-state LLC transacting business pays $750 to register. See forming an LLC in a state other than your own.
Compare Rhode Island with similar-cost states
| State | Formation | Annual | 5-yr total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $500 | $500 | $2,500 |
| Delaware | $110 | $400 | $2,110 |
| Tennessee | $300 | $400 | $2,000 |
| Nevada | $425 | $350 | $1,825 |
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to start an LLC in Rhode Island?
The state filing fee is $150. Add a registered agent if you do not serve as your own, plus any local licenses.
What is the annual cost of an LLC in Rhode Island?
Annual report, $50. Rhode Island also charges a $400 annual state tax (Annual LLC charge, Form RI-1065 (Division of Taxation)). That is about $450 per year in state costs in total.
Do I need a registered agent in Rhode Island?
Yes. Rhode Island requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state. You may act as your own agent if you meet the state's requirements.
Do I need an operating agreement in Rhode Island?
Most states do not make you file one, but you should have one. Check Rhode Island's LLC statute and ask your bank what it requires. We do not give legal advice.
Is Rhode Island cheap compared with other states?
Rhode Island's estimated five-year state costs of $2,350 are 601% above the 51-jurisdiction median of $335.
Sources
- Rhode Island official filing site: www.sos.ri.gov
- RI SOS: start your business
- RI SOS: file your annual report
- RI SOS: costs and fees
- RI Division of Taxation: Notice 2026-01, RI filing requirements for LLCs
- RI SOS: pay your business taxes (minimum tax chart)
- R.I. Gen. Laws 7-16-67 (LLC annual charge)
Fees change. Confirm the amount on the state's official page before you file.
Fee data: official state government pages and statutes (checked October 28–29, 2026); sources are linked on each state page. See our methodology. Not legal or tax advice.