Form a Washington LLC

Forming a Washington Limited Liability Company (LLC) is simply with the Washington LLC formation experts at LawInc. We keep things simple and allow you to easily form your Washington Limited Liability Company online or over the phone (800-989-5294).

Washington LLC formation is simple with LawInc.com. Once you submit your application, we check name availability, prepare your Articles of Organization and file your paperwork with the Washington Secretary of State. As soon as your Washington LLC is formed, we forward you your final paperwork.

A Washington LLC can help protect your personal assets, such as your home, car or family savings. In the event of a lawsuit or if your business should fail, your personal assets cannot be touched, assuming you have properly formed, capitalized and maintained your LLC. This limited liability feature of a Washington LLCs is not available in a sole proprietorship or general partnership, where the business owners are personally liable for all business debts.

Let LawInc walk you through the Washington Limited Liability Company formation process. Our clear, concise and easy to use website, helps keep things simple.

Washington LLC Name

The first step in forming a Washington Limited Liability Company (LLC) is selecting the business name. Washington LLC names:

• Must contain the words must contain the words “Limited Liability Company,” the words “Limited Liability” and abbreviation “Co.,” or the abbreviation “L.L.C.” or “LLC.”
• Must not contain the words or phrases “Bank,” “banking,” “banker,” “trust,” “cooperative,” “partnership,” “corporation,” “incorporated,” or the abbreviations “Corp.,” “Ltd.,” or “Inc.,” or “LP,” “L.P.,” “LLP,” “L.L.P.,” or any combination of the words “industrial” and “loan,” or any combination of any two or more of the words “building,” “savings,” “loan,” “home,” “association,” and “society.”

An available Washington LLC name may be reserved for 120 days.

LawInc.com permits you to choose up to three names and will conduct a name search for your Washington LLC, prior to filing.

Washington LLC Formation

Washington LLC Filing Procedure: When forming a Washington LLC, the Washington Articles of Organization must be filed with the Washington Secretary of State. The Washington Articles of Organization must state:

• The Washington LLC name.
• Name and address of each Washington LLC organizer.
• Street address of Washington registered agent.
• Street address of principle place of business.

Washington LLC Organizers: An Washington limited liability company can be formed by one (1) or more organizers.

Washington LLC Members: Washington LLCs require 1 or more members. There is no residence or age requirement. Washington LLC members are not required to be listed in the Articles of Organization.

Washington LLC Duration: The period of duration of a limited liability company shall be perpetual unless the Washington Articles of Organization place a limitation on the company’s existence or until dissolution or termination.

Washington LLC Purpose: A Washington Limited Liability Company may be formed to transact any or all lawful businesses for which LLCs may be organized under the Law, except the business of banking or insurance.

Washington Registered Agent: An Washington LLC must maintain a registered agent and office to receive service of process in Washington. The Washington registered agent should be available, at an Washington physical address, during normal business hours to accept important legal and tax documents on behalf of the Washington LLC. The registered agent can either be (1) a domestic entity or a foreign entity that is registered to do business in Washington or (2) an individual resident of the state. A Washington LLC may not act as its own agent.

Washington LLC Operating Agreement: After filing, it is highly advised that an operating agreement is drafted which dictates the LLC internal affairs and management. There is no set criteria, but an Washington LLC operating agreement should reference how the Washington LLC is managed, allocation of profits and losses and member capital contributions. The Washington LLC operating agreement does not need to be filed.

Washington LLC Post-Filing Requirements

Washington LLC Annual Report: Washington LLCs are required to file an annual report within 120 days of filing the certificate of formation. The filing fee is $10. To file online, visit: http://www.sos.wa.gov/corps/OnlineApplicationForms.aspx

Washington LLC Taxes

Washington State Income Tax: The LLC tax rate for Washington is variable, depending on Washington taxable net income.

Federal Income Tax: An advantage of the LLC is its tax flexibility. LLC members are allowed to select how the entity will be taxed. An LLC may be classified for federal income tax purposes as either a:

• Sole proprietorship
• Partnership, or
• Corporation.

Single member LLCs are treated the same as sole proprietorships. Profits are reported on Schedule C as part of your individual 1040 tax return. Self-employment taxes on Washington LLC net income must be paid just as you would with any self-employment business.

Most Washington multi-member LLCs elect to be treated as partnerships by the IRS and file IRS Form 1065. On this form, Washington LLC profits are reported and allocated to each of the owners according to the Washington LLC’s operating agreement. Each owner is given a Schedule K-1, which shows each owner’s share of LLC income or loss. The owner then reports and pays taxes on this income on the owner’s annual 1040 income tax return. It is important to note that as with sole proprietorships, all Washington LLC profits are taxed to the owners, even if they are not actually distributed by the LLC. This situation can arise when the LLC needs to use its profits to pay ongoing expenses.

If pass-through taxation is not desired, an LLC may elect to be taxed as a corporation by completing IRS Form 8832. If this election is made, the LLC is taxed as a C corporation by the federal government. Because the corporate income tax rates for the first $75,000 of corporate taxable income are lower than the individual income tax rates that apply to the taxable income of non-corporate taxpayers, it is possible a net income tax savings can result from this tax election. Additionally, an LLC can be taxed like an S corporation by filing IRS Form 2553.

Federal Tax Identification Number/Employer Identification Number (EIN): The Federal Tax Identification Number, also known as the Employer Identification Number (EIN) is a number that is assigned to a business by the Internal Revenue Service. An EIN is like a Social Security Number for a business. It is a requisite for certain business functions such as opening bank accounts or hiring employees. An EIN is typically required if the Washington LLC has more than one owner or any employees.

Washington LLC Dissolution/Cancellation

Washington LLC Dissolution/Cancellation: In order to dissolve or cancel a Washington LLC, the members or managers must file Articles of Termination with the Washington Secretary of State.

Acts Triggering Washington LLC Dissolution: A Washington LLC can be dissolved upon the happening of one of the following:

• At a time specified in the Articles of Organization or operating agreement;
• Upon occurrence of events specified in the Articles of Organization or operating agreement;
• Consent by the specific number or percentage of members indicated in the operating agreement;
• At any time there are no members; or
• Judicial decree to dissolve by a Court.