Register an LLC in District of Columbia (2026)

Ready to file in District of Columbia?

The articles of organization prepared and filed for you, the state fee shown on its own line before you pay, and the approved copy emailed.

File your District of Columbia LLC

at america-llc-filing.com, or start on Standard Filings

What registering an LLC in District of Columbia means

District of Columbia keeps the register of companies formed under its law. Your LLC is on it the moment the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection files Articles of Organization. From that day the company can open a bank account, sign contracts and be sued in its own name rather than yours. The registration does not include a federal tax number, a District of Columbia tax account or a local business license; those come after and are separate registrations with other offices.

People use "register", "form" and "file" for the same act. In District of Columbia the act is one document, Articles of Organization, and one fee, $99. The step-by-step for everything around it, from the operating agreement to the bank account, is in how to start an LLC in District of Columbia; this page is about the registration itself.

Registration document

District of Columbia: Articles of Organization

Filed with

District of Columbia: The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (boss.dc.gov)

State fee

District of Columbia: $99

Registered agent

District of Columbia: Required; District of Columbia street address

Published processing time

District of Columbia: About 5 business days.

State expedite

District of Columbia: $50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service.

Recurring state report

District of Columbia: $300 every 2 years, due april 1 (biennial)

District of Columbia LLC registration at a glance
Item	District of Columbia
Registration document	Articles of Organization
Filed with	The DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (boss.dc.gov)
State fee	$99
Registered agent	Required; District of Columbia street address
Published processing time	About 5 business days.
State expedite	$50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service.
Recurring state report	$300 every 2 years, due april 1 (biennial)

What it costs to register an LLC in District of Columbia

The filing fee is set by District of Columbia and is the same whether you file it yourself or a service files it for you. District of Columbia charges $99 for the Articles of Organization.

Articles of Organization filing fee

Amount: $99
Notes: Paid once, to the state

Expedited review

Amount: $50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service.
Notes: Optional, set by the state

Recurring biennial report

Amount: $300 every 2 years
Notes: Due april 1 (biennial)

Late penalty on the report

Amount: $100, added by the state to a late report.

District of Columbia LLC registration fees, 2026
Fee	Amount	Notes
Articles of Organization filing fee	$99	Paid once, to the state
Expedited review	$50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service.	Optional, set by the state
Recurring biennial report	$300 every 2 years	Due april 1 (biennial)
Late penalty on the report	$100, added by the state to a late report.

State fees verified October 2026 and set by the state, not by us. Online filing prices. Yearly costs, the five-year total and how District of Columbia compares are in District of Columbia LLC cost.

Step 1: Confirm District of Columbia is the state to register in

Register where the company will actually operate. An LLC that does business in District of Columbia but registers elsewhere has to register in District of Columbia anyway, as a foreign LLC, and pay two states.

Wyoming, Delaware and Nevada come up because of privacy, case law or taxes. They make sense for a holding company or a business with no fixed location. A company that operates in District of Columbia and registers somewhere else ends up registered in both. The comparison is in cheapest states to form an LLC.

Step 2: Clear the name with District of Columbia

District of Columbia requires a name distinguishable from every company on its records, with an LLC designator. Search the state's business records at boss.dc.gov before you file.

Rules on designators, restricted words and the distinguishability test are in LLC name rules. A rejection for a name conflict costs days and, in some states, a second fee.

Step 3: Name a District of Columbia registered agent

District of Columbia requires a registered agent with a District of Columbia street address, available in business hours. On the filing: Not on DLC-1. Serving yourself: An individual with a DC address can serve (DC distinguishes commercial and noncommercial agents)

Who may serve, whether the agent signs, and what becomes public: District of Columbia registered agent requirements.

Step 4: Prepare Articles of Organization

The District of Columbia form asks for the company name with its LLC designator, the registered agent and its District of Columbia street address, the principal or mailing address, and the organizer who signs. 'One or more persons acting as the organizers.' DLCP's BOI chart notes the organizer need not be a beneficial owner. A filing service can be organizer. Everything on it becomes a public record; what District of Columbia shows is listed below.

The document itself, and what every state's version asks for, is explained in articles of organization.

Step 5: File Articles of Organization and pay the $99 fee

Filed with the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (boss.dc.gov). The state fee is $99, paid once. District of Columbia publishes this guidance on processing: About 5 business days.

Faster review: $50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service.

District of Columbia takes the filing from the public at boss.dc.gov. Ready to file? The Articles of Organization prepared and filed for you, with the state fee on its own line: form your District of Columbia LLC at america-llc-filing.com.

Step 6: Complete the District of Columbia registrations that follow

4 registrations follow in District of Columbia: (1) Biennial Report (BRA-25), which re-reports beneficial owners; (2) Tax registration with the Office of Tax and Revenue (Form FR-500 on MyTax.DC.gov); (3) Basic Business License through DLCP in BOSS (includes a Clean Hands check); (4) DC franchise tax return (Form D-30), or the D-30N affidavit if DC gross income is $12,000 or less. Then the federal tax number and the operating agreement.

The order and the deadlines are in what to do after forming an LLC. The recurring state report is the one owners forget.

What becomes public when you register in District of Columbia

Everything on Articles of Organization is a public record once District of Columbia files it; anyone can pull it from the state's business search. On the District of Columbia filing: All 10%-plus owners and controlling persons (members and managers) with residence and business addresses. Organizer name and address.

'One or more persons acting as the organizers.' DLCP's BOI chart notes the organizer need not be a beneficial owner. A filing service can be organizer. The operating agreement, the ownership split and the tax election are not filed with District of Columbia and stay private. Do you need an operating agreement?

How long District of Columbia takes to register an LLC

District of Columbia publishes this guidance on processing: About 5 business days. Paid faster review is offered: $50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service. The figures are the state's own and move with its workload; a rejection for a name conflict or a missing agent consent restarts the clock. Every state's published time is in how long it takes to form an LLC.

Ready to register your District of Columbia LLC?

Name checked, Articles of Organization prepared and filed with District of Columbia, the $99 state fee on its own line, approved copy emailed.

File your District of Columbia LLC →

After registration in District of Columbia

The state registration is the first of several. These are the ones District of Columbia owners run into, in the order they usually come up.

Biennial Report (BRA-25), which re-reports beneficial owners. Due april 1 of the year after formation, then every 2 years. Cost: $300 ($100 late fee).
Tax registration with the Office of Tax and Revenue (Form FR-500 on MyTax.DC.gov) Due before conducting business. Cost: no fee.
Basic Business License through DLCP in BOSS (includes a Clean Hands check) Due before conducting business. Cost: varies by license category.
DC franchise tax return (Form D-30), or the D-30N affidavit if DC gross income is $12,000 or less. Due april 15 each year (calendar year). Cost: 8.25% of taxable income; $250 minimum ($1,000 above $1M in DC receipts).
Federal tax number (EIN). Issued by the IRS after the state registration, at no charge; the bank asks for it. How to get one: EIN for an LLC.
Operating agreement. Not filed with District of Columbia, but the document that says who owns the company and who can sign for it.

The recurring report is where most companies lose good standing. When it is due, file the District of Columbia report at america-llc-filing.com, or the District of Columbia LLC annual report page has the due date, fee, late penalty and portal.

Before you file in District of Columbia

From District of Columbia's published forms and filing instructions:

The beneficial owner section needs residence and business addresses for every member or manager over 10% or in control.

Sources

The District of Columbia facts on this page come from the state's own forms, fee schedules and statutes, read for the October 2026 fee audit. Fees change; the state's page is the final word.

Standard Filings is a filing service, not a law firm. This page is general information from District of Columbia's published filing rules and fee schedules, not legal or tax advice.

District of Columbia LLC registration FAQ

How much does it cost to register an LLC in District of Columbia?+

District of Columbia charges $99 to file the Articles of Organization, paid once to the state and the same whether you file yourself or use a service. After that, the recurring requirement is $300 every 2 years, due April 1 (biennial). State fees verified October 2026; the full picture is in District of Columbia LLC cost.

Where do I register an LLC in District of Columbia?+

With the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (boss.dc.gov). That is the only office that creates the company. Tax accounts, the registrations listed above and local licenses are registered separately afterwards.

How long does District of Columbia take to register an LLC?+

District of Columbia publishes this guidance on processing: About 5 business days. Paid faster review is offered: $50 for 3-day service; $100 for 1-day service.

Do I need a District of Columbia registered agent?+

Yes. District of Columbia requires a registered agent with a District of Columbia street address, available in business hours. On the filing: Not on DLC-1. Serving yourself: An individual with a DC address can serve (DC distinguishes commercial and noncommercial agents) Who may serve and what becomes public is in District of Columbia registered agent requirements.

Can I register a District of Columbia LLC from out of state?+

Yes. District of Columbia takes filings from anyone, but the registered agent must have a District of Columbia street address, so an out-of-state owner names a District of Columbia resident or a registered agent company. If the company does business where you live, it registers there too, as a foreign LLC.

What do I file in District of Columbia every year?+

District of Columbia's recurring requirement: $300 every 2 years, due April 1 (biennial). Late: $100, added by the state to a late report. Also recurring: Tax registration with the Office of Tax and Revenue (Form FR-500 on MyTax.DC.gov); Basic Business License through DLCP in BOSS (includes a Clean Hands check); DC franchise tax return (Form D-30), or the D-30N affidavit if DC gross income is $12,000 or less.

How to Register an LLC in District of Columbia