Start A Corporation In Idaho

Your corporation’s legal name is the one you list on the Articles of Incorporation.

An assumed business name, also called a doing business as name (DBA) or a fictitious business name (FBN), is any name besides your company’s legal name. To use an assumed business name in Idaho, you must first file a Certificate of Assumed Business Name and pay a $25 filing fee.

Find out more about How to get a DBA Name for Your Idaho Business.

Yes. However, you will then have to list your name and address on the public record. And you’ll have to be present at your address during normal business hours to accept legal documents in person. If you’re willing to do that, you can act as your own registered agent in Idaho.

Yes. You can change your registered agent in Idaho anytime by filing a Statement of Change of Registered Agent to the Idaho Secretary of State’s office. Filing is free if you file electronically or $20 if you file manually.

You can file your articles online, by mail, or in person.

Mail and in person:
Office of the Secretary of State
450 N 4th Street
PO Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0080

Online:
Idaho Secretary of State website

New corporations must provide information about each beneficial owner and their company applicant. (Corporations formed before 2024 don’t need to give company applicant information.) You’ll also need to provide some basic company information.

Beneficial owner and company applicant information: 

• Full name
• Date of birth
• Residential or business street address
• Personal identification document (such as a driver’s license or passport), including the ID number

Company information:

• Legal business name
• Any DBAs/assumed business names
• Business street address
• State of incorporation
• Employer Identification Number (EIN)

Yes. Whenever information that’s required on the BOI Report changes, (such as the chief officers, company name, or address) you’ll need to file an updated report within 30 days. You can file your updated report for free through FinCEN’s E-filing system.

No. Unlike the information on your Idaho Articles of Incorporation, your BOI Report won’t be publicly available. The only groups that will be able to access BOI Report information are US government agencies, law enforcement, and financial institutions (for customer verification purposes).

Yes, there are 23 classes of exemption from the BOI Report. The most common exemptions include:

• Large operating companies
• Most financial companies, such as banks and credit unions
• Investment companies registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC)
• Insurance companies registered with a state or federal agency
• Public utilities companies registered with a state or federal agency
• Tax-exempt entities

Creating bylaws can be overwhelming—where do you start? Northwest can help. We give you free corporate bylaws when you hire us to form your Idaho corporation. We know what kinds of topics and questions corporations need to address, and we’ve spent years refining and improving our forms. We offer many other free corporate forms as well, including templates for resolutions and meeting minutes.

Corporate bylaws cover basic policies and procedures for issues such as company finances and management. Bylaws should cover a range of topics, answering key questions like those below:

• Meetings: When and where will meetings for shareholders and directors be held? How many attendees are required to transact business? What are the procedures for voting or proxy voting? How do you call a special meeting? What actions can be taken without a meeting?

• Stock: How are stock certificates issued and transferred? How is voting affected by issues such as corporate stock owners or fractional shares?

• Directors and officers: How many directors must there be? Which officer positions are required? What powers do they have? How do you fill a vacancy or remove a director or officer?

• Finances: What are the procedures for retaining profits, issuing dividends, and paying bills? Who can withdraw money from the corporate bank account or sign checks?

• Records: Where is the corporate book to be kept? What information will be maintained? How are requests for review or access honored? Can records or copies be kept or distributed digitally?

• Amendments and emergencies: Who can amend bylaws and how? Can emergency bylaws be adopted in the case of disaster?

Corporate bylaws can make other provisions as well, assuming additions are in accordance with state law.

$0. Here’s a nice benefit to doing business in Idaho – there is no fee to file your Annual Report.

The filing is due at the end of your anniversary month (the month you first incorporated). For example, if you formed your business on April 17th, you’re required to file by April 30th.each year. There is no late fee if you file after the deadline, but if you take more than 60 days to do so, your corporation may be administratively dissolved.

These filings can be easy to forget—which is why we send our clients automatic reminders for your Idaho Annual Report filings. Or better yet, let us file for you. With our business renewal service, we can complete and submit your annual report for you for $100.

Idaho corporations have to file a corporate net income tax, which has a flat 6.925% rate. The minimum tax fee is $20. Most businesses also have to pay a $10 tax for the state’s Permanent Building Fund.

Idaho’s sales tax rate is 6%. City sales taxes can be tacked on as well, making the average total sales tax 6.04%. Certain cities like Boise and Idaho Falls also have special sales taxes on lodging in “auditorium districts,” but that only applies to hotels and similar businesses.

Yes, if you conduct business in Idaho, you’re required to register with the Idaho State Tax Commission. You can register via the Idaho Business Registration System or by filing Form IBR-1, the Idaho Business Registration Form. You’ll need your EIN before you can register.