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How much does an LLC cost in Iowa? (2026)
Forming an LLC in Iowa costs $50 in state filing fees. Year one comes to $50 and 5 years to $110, below the median state ($335). The biennial report is filed every two years, at $30 each time.
Iowa 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 1. Income-based taxes and county or newspaper costs are not included.
Fees and official sources
| Fee | Amount | How often | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Formation filing | $50 | once | official page |
| Recurring report | $30 | every two years | official page |
| Minimum state tax | $0 | none found on official pages | being checked |
Adding a registered agent
You can be your own registered agent if you have a street address in Iowa 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 $605. Compare registered agent prices.
Iowa deadlines and late penalties
- The biennial report is filed between January 1 and April 1 of odd-numbered years. The first one is due in the first odd-numbered year after the year the LLC was formed, so an LLC formed in an even year files the next year.
What to know before you file in Iowa
- The biennial report costs $30 filed online and $45 by paper; our totals use the online fee.
Iowa compared with nearby states
Among nearby states, Missouri costs $60 less over 5 years and Illinois costs $340 more than Iowa. 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Iowa | $50 | $50 | $15 | $110 |
| Missouri | $50 | $50 | $0 | $50 |
| Wisconsin | $130 | $130 | $25 | $230 |
| Illinois | $150 | $150 | $75 | $450 |
Questions
- How much does it cost to start an LLC in Iowa?
- The state filing fee is $50. Counting the recurring report and minimum state tax, year one costs $50 in state fees if you act as your own registered agent.
- How much does an LLC cost per year in Iowa?
- After the first year, state fees average $15 a year: the biennial report is $30 every two years.
- Is Iowa a cheap state for an LLC?
- Over 5 years Iowa costs $110 in state fees, which ranks 8 of 49 jurisdictions we have confirmed, cheapest first. The median is $335.
Sources, read verified 2026-11-15: legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.122.pdf · help.sos.iowa.gov/how-do-i-file-biennial-report · legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/2023/489.html · sos.iowa.gov/businesses/business-entity-forms-and-fees