Rhode Island Secretary of State office — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Official Resource
Rhode Island Official SOS WebsiteThe Rhode Island Secretary of State's Business Services Division handles all entity formations, annual reports, amendments, and certificates. The Providence office serves walk-in filers; online filings are processed through the state's business portal. All annual reports follow a fixed February 1 through May 1 filing window — there is no anniversary-based deadline.
Office contact
- Address
- 148 W. River Street, Providence, RI 02904
- Phone
- (401) 222-3040
- corporations@sos.ri.gov
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Online filing portal
- business.sos.ri.gov
- Business Services homepage
- sos.ri.gov — Business Services
Entity formation and filing fees
Rhode Island charges $230 for for-profit corporation formation — notably higher than most states. LLC formation at $150 is in the moderate range. Nonprofit formations are $35. Online filing adds a $2.50 surcharge on annual reports; no surcharge on formation filings. Verify current amounts at sos.ri.gov before filing.
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization | $150 |
| Domestic LLC — Annual Report (Feb 1–May 1) | $50 + $2.50 online surcharge |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $230 |
| Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report (Feb 1–May 1) | $50 + $2.50 online surcharge |
| Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $35 |
| Name Reservation (online) | $50 |
| Certificate of Good Standing (online) | $22 |
| Certificate of Good Standing (in-person) | $20 |
| Certificate of Good Standing — nonprofit rate (online) | $7 |
| Certificate of Good Standing — nonprofit rate (in-person/mail) | $5 |
Corporations, benefit corporations, workers' cooperatives, and LLCs also owe a separate $400 minimum annual tax to the RI Division of Taxation — not the Department of State — regardless of profit or business activity level; it is not pro-rated. Annual reports filed after the May 1 deadline incur a $25 late penalty applied June 1, plus an additional $3 if filed online. Domestic Benefit Corporations file on a different schedule — within 120 days of fiscal year end — for a $60 fee.
Key Rhode Island state licensing agencies
Rhode Island Division of Taxation
- What it covers
- Sales and use tax registration, employer withholding, business tax registration
- Website
- tax.ri.gov
Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance, employer registration, temporary disability insurance
- Website
- dlt.ri.gov
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR)
- What it covers
- Professional and occupational licensing — healthcare, real estate, contractors, insurance
- Website
- dbr.ri.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form a corporation in Rhode Island?
$230 for a for-profit corporation — notably higher than most states. LLC formation is $150, in the moderate range, and nonprofit formation is $35, the lowest of the three.
Does Rhode Island charge a separate annual business tax besides the report fee?
Yes. Corporations, benefit corporations, workers' cooperatives, and LLCs owe a separate $400 minimum annual tax to the RI Division of Taxation, not the Department of State. It applies regardless of profit or activity level and is not pro-rated.
What's the penalty for filing a Rhode Island annual report late?
A $25 late penalty applies starting June 1 for reports filed after the May 1 deadline, plus an additional $3 if the report was filed online.
This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Rhode Island Secretary of State's office or any state agency listed above. Contact information and fees verified against official Rhode Island Secretary of State sources, August 2026. Verify current fees at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.