How to Start a Corporation in Iowa

Step 1: Name Your Iowa Corporation

Choosing a business name is the first step in starting a corporation.

1. Iowa naming guidelines:

• The name you select cannot be too similar to any business that is already registered or names that have been reserved in Iowa.
• No names will be permitted that contain words creating confusion between the corporation and a government body (such as the State Department or FBI).
• If you want to use restricted words in your name (such as university, attorney, etc.) additional documentation and an appropriately licensed employee are required.
• All corporate names must include one of the following terms: “company”, “incorporated”, “corporation”, “limited”, or any abbreviations of these words.
• You are prohibited from using language in your name that implies your corporation is organized for a purpose not permitted by statute or its articles of incorporation.

Read the Iowa state statute regardingcorporation naming guidelinesfor more information.

2. Is my corporation name available in Iowa?

Your Iowa corporation name must be unique and distinguishable from other business names in Iowa. Use theIowa Secretary of State’s Business Search Portalto determine if your desired business name is available.

3. Is the URL available?

Before registering your Iowa corporation, you’ll need to check if a good URL is available for your business name. It’s important to secure your URL right away.

Step 2: Choose an Iowa Registered Agent

你必须任命一位爱荷华州registered agentwhen registering your corporation with the Secretary of State.

Aregistered agentis an individual or entity appointed to receiveservice of process, government correspondence, and compliance documents on behalf of a business.

Your registered agent can be an individual, business entity, or professional registered agent service. Any member of the corporation or individual can serve as your Iowa registered agent as long as the person:

• is 18 years or older
• has a physical address in the state where business activity is conducted
• is available (in person) during normal business hours

Step 3: Hold an Organizational Meeting

Before you officially file the Articles of Incorporation in Step 4, you will need to hold an organizational meeting to complete the following tasks:

• Fill out and execute theArticles of Incorporation
• Create and approve bylaws
• Select your initial director(s)
• Determine your share structure
• Execute an Incorporator’s Statement

Create and Approve Corporate Bylaws

Bylaws are the rules that determine how your organization will be governed and run. For detailed instructions on creating your bylaws, read ourcorporate bylawsguide.

Step 4: File the Iowa Articles of Incorporation

You will need to file the Iowa Articles of Incorporation to set up a corporation in Iowa. You can file online or by mail with the Iowa Secretary of State. The filing cost is$50.

Iowa doesNOTprovide a hard-copy form of its Articles of Incorporation, but you can create your own using the provided instructions or use the online filing template.

This document will cover the basics of your corporation, including:

• Corporate name
• Corporate registered agent name and address
• The number of authorized shares the corporation is allowed to issue
• Incorporator(s) name(s) and address(es)
• Share class information, when applicable

Step 5: Get an EIN for Your Iowa Corporation

An Employer Identification Number (EIN) is used by the federal government to identify a business entity. It is essentially a Social Security number for the company. An EIN is needed:

• To open a bank account for the company
• For federal and state tax purposes
• To hire employees

Iowa State Corporation Tax Requirements

根据自然of your business, you may be required to register for one or more forms of state tax:

Iowa Sales Tax

If you’re selling a product, you’ll typically need to register for aseller's permitthrough theIowa Department of Revenue'swebsite. This allows a business to collectsales tax.

Iowa Employer Taxes

If you hire employees, you will need to register for Iowa employer taxes through theIowa Department of Revenue's website. This includes Employee Withholding Tax, Unemployment Insurance Tax, and Disability Insurance.

Iowa Corporation Licenses and Permits

To operate your corporation in Iowa, you must comply with federal, state, and local government regulations. For example, restaurants likely need health permits, building permits, signage permits, etc.

Learn more in ourIowa Business Licenseguide.

File the Iowa Biennial Report

You must file theIowa Corporate Biennial Reportbetween Jan. 1 and April 1 of the first even-numbered year following your corporation’s registration and on each even-numbered year after that. The filing fee is$60.

Iowa doesNOTprovide a form for the biennial report, but you can follow the state statute’s instructions to create your own. You can also use the online template by selecting “Biennial Report” from the list of documents on Iowa’sFast Track Filing website.

How to Get an Iowa Certificate of Good Standing

A Certificate of Good Standing, known in Iowa as aCertificate of Existence, verifies that your Iowa corporation was legally formed and has been properly maintained.

To obtain a Certificate of Existence in Iowa, you must search for your corporation in the state’s online database and then print the certificate with the provided link. The fee is$5.

How to Dissolve a Corporation in Iowa

If at any point you would like to permanently stop doing business, orcloseyour business, it is important to officiallydissolveyour corporation. Failure to do so in a timely fashion can result in tax liabilities, penalties, or even legal trouble.

There are five main steps to close your Iowa corporation:

• Stop doing business
• Hold a board meeting, vote on dissolution, and record the meeting in the corporation minutes
• File the Articles of Dissolution with the Iowa Secretary of State
• Close your federal and state business tax accounts with the IRS and Iowa Department of Revenue
• Close your business bank accounts

File Dissolution Documents

Iowa doesNOThave a standard form for the Articles of Dissolution, but the state providesinstructionsfor creating your own. The filing fee is$5.