Utah is one of the cheaper states in which to keep an LLC running. The Certificate of Organization costs $59, and the yearly renewal (Utah’s name for the annual report) is just $18. The catch is timing: the renewal is due by the end of your LLC’s anniversary month every year, and an LLC that falls far enough behind can be administratively dissolved. Utah also rewrote its general business-entity rules in a new chapter of the Utah Code that took effect on October 1, 2026.
Utah LLC at a glance
Fees and deadlines from official state sources| Formation document | Certificate of Organization (Domestic Limited Liability Company) |
|---|---|
| Filing fee | $59 |
| Processing / expedite | Most online filings are processed immediately; filings needing manual review take 5 to 7 business days. Expedited processing: $75 per filing |
| Annual report | Annual Report/Renewal, due by the last day of your anniversary month: $18 |
| State LLC tax | No separate annual LLC tax found on official Utah sources |
| Registered agent | Required, with a Utah street address |
| Newspaper publication | Not part of Utah’s LLC filing requirements |
| Where to file | Utah Business Registration System |
Step 1Choose a name that passes Utah’s rules
Your LLC’s name has to be distinguishable from the names of other active entities, registered D.B.A.s and reserved names on the Division’s records. Under Utah law, a name counts as distinguishable if it has at least one different word, letter or numeral. Simply swapping the entity ending (for example “LLC” for “Inc.”) or adding “the” does not make a name different.
The name must include “limited liability company,” “limited company,” or one of the abbreviations “L.L.C.,” “LLC,” “L.C.” or “LC.” You may shorten “limited” to “Ltd.” and “company” to “Co.” An LLC name cannot contain words such as “corporation,” “incorporated,” “association,” “partnership” or “limited partnership,” because those suggest a different type of entity.
Run your idea through the name availability search in the Business Registration System, and look at the business entity records for similar names too. The Division notes that a name that looks available is not final until it approves your filing. If you want to hold a name before you file, a name reservation costs $22 and lasts 120 calendar days.
Step 2Designate a registered agent
Every Utah LLC must designate and keep a registered agent in the state. The agent is the point of contact for lawsuits and official notices. Utah gives you a few ways to fill this role:
- a commercial registered agent listed with the Division (you only need to give its name);
- a noncommercial agent, such as yourself or another person or business, with a name and address; or
- the title of a position within your LLC (for example “Manager”) whose holder can accept service, plus that position’s mailing address.
Addresses in these filings must be a street address in Utah. By naming an agent, your LLC confirms that the agent has agreed to serve. Going 60 consecutive days without a registered agent is one of the grounds for administrative dissolution, so update the record promptly if your agent changes.
Step 3File the Certificate of Organization online
Utah handles formations through its Business Registration System. You log in with a UtahID (you can create one at login), choose Formations, then Domestic Formations, and select Domestic Limited Liability Company from the list. The system walks you through a step-by-step flow, collecting details such as your LLC’s name, registered agent and principal office, then sends you to payment.
The state fee is $59, and the Division states that all of its fees are non-refundable, so double-check spelling and addresses before you pay. A filing is treated as received only after the fee is paid.
According to the Division, most filings are processed immediately. Filings that need manual review, such as paper filings uploaded through “Submit a Paper Filing,” filings with attachments, those needing Utah State Tax Commission review, or names that need a conflict check, can take 5 to 7 business days. If you need faster handling, the fee schedule lists expedited processing at $75 per filing.
Step 4Renew every year to stay in good standing
Every Utah LLC must file an Annual Report/Renewal each year. Under the Utah Code, it is due on the last day of your anniversary month, meaning the calendar month your LLC’s formation took effect. You can file up to 60 days early. Renewals are done online: log in, choose Renewals, find your LLC, confirm or update the information, sign and pay $18.
Missing the deadline has real consequences. The fee schedule lists a late renewal fee of $10. If the report is not delivered within 60 days after it is due, the Division may begin administrative dissolution. It must first send a notice, and you then have 60 days to fix the problem. An LLC that is dissolved this way can only wind up its affairs or apply for reinstatement, which costs $54.
Step 5Finish setting up your LLC
- Operating agreement. Utah does not ask you to file one, but a written agreement covering ownership, management and how profits are shared is worth having, especially with more than one member.
- EIN. Get a free Employer Identification Number directly from the IRS. The Division does not issue or keep EINs.
- State tax accounts. If you will sell taxable goods or services or have employees, apply for the relevant accounts (form TC-69) through the Utah State Tax Commission.
- Local business license. The Division says that after registering, you need a business license from the city, town or county where your business is located or operating.
- Out-of-state LLCs. An LLC formed elsewhere generally registers as a foreign LLC to do business in Utah, rather than forming a new one.
What a Utah LLC costs
| Certificate of Organization (one-time) | $59 |
|---|---|
| Name reservation (optional, one-time) | $22 |
| Expedited processing (optional) | $75 per filing |
| Annual Report/Renewal (yearly) | $18 |
| Late renewal fee (if late) | $10 |
| EIN from the IRS | Free |
How Utah compares
State filing fee to form an LLC, next to neighboring states. The national median is $100.
National median · Fees from each state's official sources; some states charge a different amount online or by mail. If you live and run your business in Utah, forming your LLC in another state usually means also registering it here as a foreign LLC, so you pay both states' fees.
Utah taxes to know about
We did not find a separate annual LLC tax on Utah’s official sites. Instead, how your LLC is taxed generally follows its federal classification. The Utah State Tax Commission treats LLCs classified as partnerships as pass-through entities, which file Form TC-65 (S corporations file TC-20S) on an annual or fiscal-year basis. Pass-through entities may also have Utah withholding obligations for nonresident members. Sales tax and employer withholding apply only if your business has those activities. Talk to a tax professional about your specific situation.
File it yourself or use a formation service?
Utah’s online system is straightforward, and if you file yourself the only cost is the state fee. Formation services charge extra to prepare and submit the filing for you, and some bundle a registered agent, compliance reminders or document templates. That can be convenient if you would rather not handle the paperwork or need an agent, but none of it is required to form a valid Utah LLC.
Recent changes
- New entity rules (October 1, 2026). Utah enacted Title 16, Chapter 1a of the Utah Code in its 2026 General Session. It brings together the rules on names, name reservations, registered agents, annual reports and administrative dissolution for business entities, including the anniversary-month renewal deadline described above.
- Current fee schedule. The Division’s FY2026 fee schedule took effect July 1, 2025.
Frequently asked questions
How long does it take to form an LLC in Utah?
The Division says most filings are processed immediately. Filings that need manual review can take 5 to 7 business days.
When is my first Utah annual renewal due?
The renewal is due each year by the last day of your anniversary month, the month your LLC was formed. You may file up to 60 days before that date.
Can I be my own registered agent in Utah?
Yes. You can serve as a noncommercial registered agent if you have a Utah street address. You can also designate a commercial registered agent or an office title within your LLC.
Does Utah require LLCs to publish a notice in a newspaper?
No. Utah’s official LLC filing steps do not include a publication requirement.
What happens if I miss the renewal?
A late fee applies, and if the report is more than 60 days overdue the Division may start administrative dissolution after giving you notice and 60 days to fix it.
Sources
- Utah Division of Corporations: current fee schedule (PDF)
- Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code: home page and processing times
- Utah Division of Corporations: Domestic Limited Liability Company
- Utah Division of Corporations: Annual Report/Renewal guide
- Utah Business Registration System (filing and name search)
- Utah Code Title 16, Chapter 1a (effective 10/1/2026)
- Utah Code 16-1a-302: permitted names
- Utah Code 16-1a-303: name requirements by entity type
- Utah Code 16-1a-304: reservation of name
- Utah Code 16-1a-402: registered agent required
- Utah Code 16-1a-403: addresses in filings
- Utah Code 16-1a-404: designation of a registered agent
- Utah Code 16-1a-212: annual report
- Utah Code 16-1a-602: grounds for administrative dissolution
- Utah Code 16-1a-603: administrative dissolution procedure
- Utah State Tax Commission: pass-through entity withholding
- Utah State Tax Commission: create and manage a business tax account
- Utah Division of Corporations: business licensing
- Utah Division of Corporations: misleading mailer advisory (July 2025)
- IRS: Get an Employer Identification Number