How to Register an LLC in Connecticut (2026 Filing Guide)
To register an LLC in Connecticut, you file a Certificate of Organization with the Connecticut Secretary of the State through the Business.CT.gov portal. The state filing fee is $120. Online filings are typically processed in 2 to 3 business days, with 24-hour expedited service available for an added $50. Once approved, you will still need an EIN from the IRS and a statutory agent with a physical Connecticut address, plus an annual report filed every year between January 1 and March 31 for $80.
AnyWhereFormations handles this filing end to end for founders who would rather not manage state portals and deadlines themselves. Below is the full process if you want to understand each step, or to file it yourself.
What You Need Before You File
- A business name that is distinguishable from every other entity on record with the Connecticut Secretary of the State and includes “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or an approved abbreviation
- A statutory agent with a physical Connecticut street address, not a P.O. box, who is ready to accept the appointment
- A principal office street address (a P.O. box is only acceptable for the separate mailing address field)
- The name and address of at least one member or manager
- A payment method for the $120 state fee
Steps to Register a Connecticut LLC
1. Check name availability
Search the Connecticut Secretary of the State’s Business Records Search through Business.CT.gov to confirm your desired name is distinguishable from existing businesses on record under Connecticut General Statutes Section 34-243d. Words implying a government connection are prohibited, and terms suggesting a licensed profession, such as “Bank” or “Attorney,” may need extra approval. You can reserve a name for 120 days for $60 if you are not ready to file yet, though filing your Certificate of Organization directly registers the name at no extra charge.
2. Appoint a statutory agent, and get their acceptance
Connecticut requires every LLC to maintain a statutory agent with a physical Connecticut street address, available during normal business hours to accept legal documents. This can be yourself, another member, or a commercial statutory agent service, which keeps your personal address off the public record and matters most for founders who do not have a Connecticut address, including international founders. For online filings, the agent must click an acceptance link sent by email or text within 72 hours of submission, or the filing is rejected. This step trips up more first-time filers than any other part of the process, so confirm your agent knows to watch for that notice before you submit.
3. File the Certificate of Organization
Submit your Certificate of Organization online through Business.CT.gov or by mail to the Business Services Division in Hartford. You will list the LLC name, principal office address, statutory agent information, at least one member or manager, an organizer signature, and a general business purpose statement. The filing fee is $120. Online filing is faster, delivers documents automatically, and is the only path to the 24-hour expedited option for an added $50; mail filings take 7 to 10 business days and cannot be expedited.
4. Draft an operating agreement
Connecticut does not legally require a written operating agreement, but state law gives one legal effect if you have it, meaning Connecticut courts will enforce its terms. Without one, the state’s default statutory rules govern instead, which may not reflect what you and your members actually intended. Banks frequently ask for one before opening an account.
5. Get a federal EIN
Apply for an Employer Identification Number directly from the IRS at no cost. Multi-member LLCs always need one; single-member LLCs need one if they plan to hire employees or elect S-corp tax treatment. Founders without a US Social Security Number can still get an EIN by submitting Form SS-4 by fax rather than through the online IRS system.
6. Register with the Connecticut Department of Revenue Services if applicable
If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, or has employees, register through the myconneCT portal using the REG-1 Business Registration Application. Connecticut’s statewide sales and use tax rate is 6.35 percent. Multi-member LLCs taxed as partnerships also owe a mandatory Pass-Through Entity Tax of 6.99 percent on Connecticut-sourced income, with members receiving a corresponding credit on their individual returns.
7. Open a business bank account
Keep business funds separate from personal funds to preserve your LLC’s liability protection. Banks typically ask for your approved Certificate of Organization, Acceptance Letter, EIN confirmation, and operating agreement.
8. File your annual report
Connecticut requires an annual report every year, filed online only through Business.CT.gov, for $80. The filing window is January 1 through March 31 regardless of your formation date, so an LLC approved in December still has until that March 31 to file its first report. There is no monetary late fee, but missing the deadline puts the LLC into default, and continued non-filing leads to administrative dissolution.
How Long Does Connecticut LLC Approval Take?
Online filings are generally processed in 2 to 3 business days, with a 24-hour expedited option available for an added $50. Mail filings take 7 to 10 business days once received, and can stretch to several weeks during high-volume periods, with no expedited option available by mail. Your LLC does not legally exist until the state approves the filing, so avoid signing contracts or opening accounts under the LLC name until approval is in hand.
Foreign Founders and International Applicants
Connecticut does not require an LLC member to live in the state or be a US citizen. International founders commonly use a commercial statutory agent for the required in-state address and apply for an EIN by fax using Form SS-4 rather than the SSN-gated online IRS application. AnyWhereFormations manages both of these steps directly for non-resident founders, and keeps track of the statutory agent’s acceptance deadline so a missed 72-hour window doesn’t derail an online filing.
A Note for Licensed Professionals
Connecticut does not allow licensed professionals, including attorneys, physicians, accountants, and engineers, to operate under a standard LLC. If your work requires a professional license, confirm your entity options, such as a professional limited liability company (PLLC) or professional corporation, before filing a standard Certificate of Organization.
How much does it cost to register an LLC in Connecticut?
The state filing fee for the Certificate of Organization is $120. Add the $80 annual report fee each year, filed between January 1 and March 31.
Do I need a registered agent in Connecticut?
Yes, called a statutory agent in Connecticut. Every LLC must maintain one with a physical Connecticut street address, and for online filings that agent must accept the appointment within 72 hours or the filing is rejected.
Can a non-US resident form a Connecticut LLC?
Yes. Connecticut does not require LLC members to live in the state or be US citizens. Non-residents need a statutory agent with a physical Connecticut address and typically apply for an EIN by fax if they do not hold a Social Security Number.
Is an operating agreement required in Connecticut?
No, but Connecticut law gives a written operating agreement legal effect if you have one, meaning courts will enforce it. Without one, the state’s default statutory rules apply instead.
When is the Connecticut LLC annual report due?
Every year between January 1 and March 31, for an $80 fee, regardless of when during the prior year your LLC was formed. Filing is online only through Business.CT.gov.
Can licensed professionals form a standard LLC in Connecticut?
No. Connecticut does not permit licensed professionals such as attorneys, physicians, or accountants to operate under a standard LLC. They need to confirm an alternative structure, such as a PLLC, before filing.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Connecticut?
Online filings are generally approved in 2 to 3 business days, with 24-hour expedited processing available for an added $50. Mail filings take 7 to 10 business days with no expedited option.
File Your Connecticut LLC With AnyWhereFormations
AnyWhereFormations prepares and files your Certificate of Organization, sets up your statutory agent and confirms their acceptance, secures your EIN, and keeps your annual report on schedule so your LLC stays in good standing. This is built for founders, including those outside the US, who want the entity formed correctly the first time without learning Connecticut’s filing system themselves.
