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Starting a limited liability company in West Virginia involves a set of costs. In general, the cost of forming an LLC anywhere is much lower than the cost of establishing a corporation or other business structures. To start an LLC in West Virginia, you pay $100 as a filing fee. There are other types of fees, like annual reports, licenses, permits, and state taxes (if applicable).
In this article, the LLCBuddy team has summed up the overall projected LLC cost in West Virginia. From initial filing fee to maintenance cost, and to annual taxes, you will get it covered here!
Cost of LLC Filing in West Virginia
The cost to start an LLC anywhere in the US includes many things. Apart from the initial filing fee, it involves license and permit fees, tax filing, sales taxes, other local and state government fees, etc.
Cost of Filing Formation Certificates
The main cost associated with an LLC is the filing fee paid to the state. The fee is different based on which state you’re in. In West Virginia, the filing fee is $100. Once you file the West Virginia Articles of Organization, you must pay the fees to the West Virginia Secretary of State at the time of form submission. Apart from the filing fee, some other fees and costs are mentioned below,
West Virginia Domestic LLC
- Online Filing costs $100
- Offline (PDF) Filing costs $100
- Annual Report filing costs $25
- Name Reservation fee costs $15
- By Mail: Fill out the LLC formation form, and send it to any of the following addresses:
- Charleston Office One-Stop Business Center 1615 Washington St. E. Charleston, WV 25311.
- Clarksburg Office, North Central WV Business Center, 200 W. Main St., Clarksburg, WV 26301.
- Martinsburg Office Eastern Panhandle Business Center 229 E. Martin St. Martinsburg, WV 25401.
West Virginia Foreign LLC
- Online Filing costs $150
- Offline (PDF) filing costs $150
- Annual Report filing costs $25
- Name Reservation fee costs $25
- By Mail: Fill out the application form, and send it to any of the following addresses:
- Charleston Office One-Stop Business Center 1615 Washington St. E. Charleston, WV 25311.
- Clarksburg Office, North Central WV Business Center, 200 W. Main St., Clarksburg, WV 26301.
- Martinsburg Office Eastern Panhandle Business Center 229 E. Martin St. Martinsburg, WV 25401
Note that filing online is ideal, not only because you need to go to the Secretary of State’s office, but also because it would be faster. You won’t have to wait in a queue to do so.
West Virginia LLC Formation Service or Registered Agent Fee
Hiring a registered agent in West Virginia is necessary while forming an LLC. LLC formation cost includes the cost of hiring a registered agent. You can be your own registered agent; however, that is not recommended, as a registered agent has to be present at the official physical address during working hours. Here are the best LLC services in West Virginia that offer registered agent services as well.
LLC Service | Our Rating & Pricing | Top Features | Learn More |
#1 TOP PICK  | $0 + State Fees |
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 | $0 + State Fees |
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Business Permits and Licenses
The business licenses depend on your business’s activity and location and are renewed yearly. As such, the cost will vary. Check the West Virginia Department of Revenue for regulatory boards or agencies requiring licensing.
West Virginia LLC Taxes to be Paid
To register an LLC in West Virginia, an LLC must pay several taxes to the federal and West Virginia governments. Let’s take a look at some of the main taxes that are to be paid by LLCs in West Virginia. An LLC in the state of West Virginia pays two types of taxes to the West Virginia State Department of Revenue:
State Income Tax: While representing your LLC in West Virginia, you pay yourself. These earnings are reflected in your personal Tax return & can be calculated at the time of paying the Income Tax. The Standard West Virginia State Tax rate, ranging from 3% to 6.5% applies to your earnings. You can claim all the standard allowances & deductions upon filing the tax return.
State Sales & Use Tax: The state of West Virginia levies Sales & use tax on tangible goods & services provided by an LLC. The State Sales & Use tax rate in West Virginia is 6%.
Federal Self-Employment Tax: All the members who run the LLC are self-employed members, because they pay themselves through the LLC. Federal Self-Employment Tax, also known as Social Security or Medicare tax, is paid by all such members or managers. The Federal self-employment tax rate in West Virginia is 15.3 percent.
Federal Income Tax: If you are in the state of West Virginia, you must pay Federal Income Tax, in addition to the State Income Tax. The amount of the Federal Income Tax depends upon your earnings, the income tax bracket your LLC falls into, the deductions, & the manner/ mode of filing.
You pay Federal Income Tax on all the profits your LLC makes after calculating the deductions & allowances, such as Healthcare or Retirement Plans.
Employee & Employer Taxes: An LLC that has several employees on payroll has to pay the Employee-Employer taxes. These taxes are calculated on the basis of various factors, e.g., the amount earned, the number of employees, etc.
Cost Comparison between States
West Virginia is surrounded by many states, namely Kentucky, Virginia, Pennsylvania, Maryland, etc. Each of these states has a different rate of taxes levied on LLCs. Let us take a look at this comparative chart.
| States | Filing Fee | Annual/Biennial Fee | Sales Tax |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 | 6% |
| Pennsylvania | $125 | None | 6% |
| Virginia | $100 | $50 | 4.3% |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 | 6% |
| Kentucky | $40 | $15 | 6% |
Based on the kind of industry your LLC operates in, your LLC will be liable for some other taxes & duties. For Example, if your LLC is in the sector of import & export, you have to pay the import-export duty. You should consult with a professional to verify the tax rates or business costs of registering an LLC in West Virginia.
Other Costs
- West Virginia Name Reservation: $15 for either online filings or by mail
- Doing Business As (DBA): $25 for online filing, or if filing by mail
- Certified Document Copies: $15 + $5 for additional document filing.
- Certified of Good Standing: $10
- Business Domain Name and Website: depend on your preference, but domain name could be as low as $2.99/yr at NameCheap, and web hosting is at least $30/mo at Kinsta.
- Online workspace: at least $4.20/mo for GSuite.
- Business Insurance: would vary depending on insurance type–whether general liability insurance or professional liability insurance–and coverage.
- Dissolution of West Virginia LLC: $135
F.A.Qs
It is possible to form an LLC without professional help, but forms still have associated costs, regardless of where your LLC is formed.
It is difficult to say whether forming an LLC is expensive. Nevertheless, the cost could be anywhere from $40 to $500. If you refuse to hire professionals, you’ll still have expenses like form fees to cover.
The need to separate personal money from business funds, thus necessitating the creation of a business bank account for your LLC.
In Conclusion
The cost of West Virginia is much lower compared to other forms of business. Apart from the state filing fees and annual taxes, you might bear the cost of the registered agent. Compare the prices of professional LLC services and choose the most affordable one. Hiring professionals, like LegalZoom, which offers LLC formation at $0, can be profitable, as there will be no additional cost to form an LLC.