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How much does an LLC cost in Delaware? (2026)
Forming an LLC in Delaware costs $90 in state filing fees. Year one comes to $90 and 5 years to $1,690, above the median state ($335). Most of the long-run cost is the annual LLC tax, $400 a year.
Delaware LLC, 5 years
State fees, acting as your own registered agent
Year 1
Years 2 to 5
Assumes the recurring report is first due in year 2 and the minimum state tax every year from year 2. Income-based taxes and county or newspaper costs are not included.
Fees and official sources
| Fee | Amount | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | $90 | once | official page |
| Recurring report | $0 | no recurring report | official page |
| Annual LLC tax | $400 | every year | official page |
Adding a registered agent
You can be your own registered agent if you have a street address in Delaware and are there in business hours. With the lowest standalone price on our list, Harbor Compliance (registered agent) at $99 a year, the 5-year cost becomes $2,185. Compare registered agent prices.
Delaware deadlines and late penalties
- Delaware LLCs file no annual report. The annual tax for the prior year is due on or before June 1.
- Paying after June 1 adds a $200 penalty, plus interest of 1.5% a month on the tax and penalty.
What to know before you file in Delaware
- Each registered series of a Delaware series LLC pays its own annual tax of $100.
- State tax: Every Delaware LLC pays the same flat $400 a year.
Delaware compared with nearby states
Delaware is the most expensive of this group: Pennsylvania costs $1,537 less over 5 years. The state where you form is usually the state where the LLC does business; forming elsewhere can mean registering in both.
| State | To file | Year 1 | Average per year after | 5 years |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Delaware | $90 | $90 | $400 | $1,690 |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $125 | $7 | $153 |
| New Jersey | $100 | $100 | $75 | $400 |
| Maryland | $100 | $100 | $300 | $1,300 |
Questions
- How much does it cost to start an LLC in Delaware?
- The state filing fee is $90. Counting the recurring report and minimum state tax, year one costs $90 in state fees if you act as your own registered agent.
- How much does an LLC cost per year in Delaware?
- After the first year, state fees average $400 a year: the annual LLC tax is $400 a year.
- Is Delaware a cheap state for an LLC?
- Over 5 years Delaware costs $1,690 in state fees, which ranks 44 of 49 jurisdictions we have confirmed, cheapest first. The median is $335.
Sources, read verified 2026-11-15: corpfiles.delaware.gov/LLCFormation.pdf · corp.delaware.gov/howtoform/ · corp.delaware.gov/alt-entitytaxinstructions/ · delcode.delaware.gov/title6/c018/sc11/