Kentucky Secretary of State office — contact, fees, and licensing

Official Resource

The Kentucky Secretary of State's Business Filings Division registers entities, processes annual reports, and maintains public filing records. Most filing types are available online; the office also links out to the Department of Revenue and the Education and Labor Cabinet's registration flows for new businesses through the Kentucky One Stop Business Portal.

Updated August 2026

Office contact

Address: 1025 Capital Center Drive, Suite 201, Frankfort, KY 40601
Mailing address: Office of the Secretary of State, Business Filings, P.O. Box 718, Frankfort, KY 40602
Phone: (502) 564-3490
Fax: (502) 564-5687
Office hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Online filing portal: onestop.ky.gov — Kentucky One Stop Business Portal
Business Filings homepage: sos.ky.gov — Business Filings

Entity formation and filing fees

Kentucky's formation fees are among the lowest in the region. The same $40 rate applies to LLCs and for-profit corporations; nonprofits pay just $8. Annual reports are a flat $15 for all entity types. Fees below are from the Secretary of State's official published fee schedule. Verify current amounts at the Secretary of State's website before filing.

Filing	Fee
LLC — Articles of Organization	$40
LLC — Annual Report (due June 30)	$15
Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation	$40
Profit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 30)	$15
Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation	$8
Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 30)	$15
Foreign LLC or Corporation — Application for Certificate of Authority	$90
Name Reservation	$15
Certificate of Existence / Good Standing	$10
Certified Copies (first 5 pages)	$10

Kentucky's nonprofit formation fee of $8 is one of the lowest in the country. The $15 flat annual report fee applies regardless of entity type — a straightforward structure compared to states that differentiate by size or revenue. Foreign entities (out-of-state LLCs and corporations registering to transact business in Kentucky) pay a higher $90 Certificate of Authority fee.

Key Kentucky state licensing agencies

Agency	What it covers	Website
Kentucky Department of Revenue	State tax registration, sales and use tax, income tax withholding, business tax accounts	revenue.ky.gov
Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet	Unemployment insurance registration, workers' compensation, wage and hour compliance (formerly the standalone Labor Cabinet)	elc.ky.gov
Kentucky Board of Licensure for Engineers and Land Surveyors	Engineering and land surveying professional licenses	pels.ky.gov
Kentucky One Stop Business Portal	Integrated hub for SOS registration, DOR tax accounts, and Education and Labor Cabinet employer setup	onestop.ky.gov

Kentucky Department of Revenue

What it covers: State tax registration, sales and use tax, income tax withholding, business tax accounts
Website: revenue.ky.gov

Kentucky Education and Labor Cabinet

What it covers: Unemployment insurance registration, workers' compensation, wage and hour compliance (formerly the standalone Labor Cabinet)
Website: elc.ky.gov

Kentucky Board of Licensure for Engineers and Land Surveyors

What it covers: Engineering and land surveying professional licenses
Website: pels.ky.gov

Kentucky One Stop Business Portal

What it covers: Integrated hub for SOS registration, DOR tax accounts, and Education and Labor Cabinet employer setup
Website: onestop.ky.gov

This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Kentucky Secretary of State's office or any state agency listed above. Contact information and fees verified against official Kentucky Secretary of State sources, August 2026. Verify current fees at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.

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