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Corporation Filing Fees in North Carolina

In North Carolina, filing articles of incorporation costs $125 and the annual report costs $18 online or $25 on paper.

Last checked . General information, not legal advice.

North Carolina at a glance

Articles of incorporation fee
$125
Annual report fee
$18 online, $25 paper
Report frequency
Every year

Sources

Last checked

The rules in North Carolina

How much does it cost to file articles of incorporation in North Carolina?

Articles of incorporation fee in North Carolina: $125.

What is the annual report fee for a corporation in North Carolina?

Annual report fee in North Carolina: $18 online, $25 paper.

How often does a corporation in North Carolina have to file a report with the state?

Report frequency in North Carolina: Every year.

Where do the North Carolina corporation filing fees come from?

The rules above come from N.C. Gen. Stat. 55-1-22 and N.C. Gen. Stat. 55-16-22. Each source is linked on this page. We last checked them in October 2026.

Good to know

Professional corporations governed by Chapter 55B are exempt from the annual report requirement.

What this means in practice

Check the filing office's current fee schedule before you file. Fees are set by statute but can change, and some offices add separate charges for expedited processing, certified copies, name reservations, or paying by card.

Note the report due date when the corporation is formed. Missing a periodic report can lead to late fees, loss of good standing, and eventually administrative dissolution, which can affect contracts and lawsuits.

The formation fee is only one part of the cost. Franchise or privilege taxes, publication requirements, and local business licenses are often separate, so budget for them as well.

General information, not legal advice. Laws change, and cities can add their own rules, so check the current statute before you rely on it.