Arizona Certificate of Formation: What to File (2026)
Arizona does not have a document called a "Certificate of Formation." To create an Arizona LLC, you file Articles of Organization (Form L010) with the Arizona Corporation Commission for a $50 fee. "Certificate of Formation" is simply what some other states - like Delaware, Texas, and Washington - call the same document.
Quick Answer
- Arizona's document
- Articles of Organization (Form L010) - not a Certificate of Formation
- Filing fee
- $50 regular, $85 expedited (2026)
- Agency
- Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) - file via eCorp
- Statutory agent
- Required - Arizona address; signs Form M002
- Publication
- Required in most counties; Maricopa & Pima exempt
- Annual report
- Not required for Arizona LLCs
Arizona Uses Articles of Organization, Not a Certificate of Formation
If you searched for an "Arizona Certificate of Formation," you have the right idea but the wrong label for this state. Arizona's Limited Liability Company Act - A.R.S. Title 29, Chapter 7 - creates an LLC through Articles of Organization, filed on the Arizona Corporation Commission's Form L010. There is no separate Arizona filing named "Certificate of Formation," and the Corporation Commission does not issue a document by that name. Everything a Certificate of Formation does in another state, the Articles of Organization do in Arizona: they legally bring the LLC into existence.
The confusion is common because "Certificate of Formation" is the term Delaware, Texas, and Washington use for their LLC formation documents, and national templates and articles often use it generically. For the actual Arizona filing and its requirements, see Arizona Articles of Organization, and for the national concept see Articles of Organization.
Why the Terminology Differs State to State
Every US state lets you form an LLC, but the states did not coordinate on what to name the formation document. The three common labels all mean the same thing - the charter document you file with the state to create the LLC:
| Document name | Example states | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization | Arizona, California, Florida, New York | Creates the LLC |
| Certificate of Formation | Delaware, Texas, Washington | Creates the LLC |
| Certificate of Organization | Iowa, Pennsylvania, New Hampshire | Creates the LLC |
So an "Arizona Certificate of Formation" is best understood as the Arizona Articles of Organization. The distinction matters only for using the correct form and vocabulary when you file - the legal effect is identical. Corporations follow the same pattern with different names: in Arizona a corporation files Articles of Incorporation, while some states call that a Certificate of Incorporation.
The practical takeaway is to match your vocabulary to the state you are filing in. If a bank, landlord, lender, or out-of-state form asks an Arizona LLC for its "Certificate of Formation," supply the approved Articles of Organization - that is the document they mean. Likewise, national how-to guides that reference a "Certificate of Formation" step apply to Arizona once you swap in the Articles of Organization and Form L010. Using the wrong term rarely causes a legal problem, but using the wrong form does, so always start from the Arizona Corporation Commission's own Form L010 rather than a generic template labeled for another state.
How to Actually Form an Arizona LLC, Step by Step
Because the real document is the Articles of Organization, here is the process to form the LLC, each step tied to A.R.S. Title 29 or a related tax rule.
- Choose and check your LLC name. Pick a name with an LLC designator that is distinguishable from existing entities, and confirm availability in the ACC business entity search.
- Appoint an Arizona statutory agent. Name a statutory agent - Arizona's term for a registered agent - with a physical Arizona street address who signs a Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002).
- File the Articles of Organization (Form L010). Submit Form L010 to the Arizona Corporation Commission through eCorp and pay the $50 fee, or $85 to expedite. ACC approval is what creates the LLC.
- Publish notice of formation. Outside Maricopa and Pima counties, publish a notice in an approved newspaper for three consecutive publications within 60 days of approval.
- Get an EIN and register for taxes. Apply for a free federal EIN and, if you make taxable sales, obtain a Transaction Privilege Tax license from the Arizona Department of Revenue.
Then adopt an operating agreement (Arizona does not file it) and open a business bank account. See the full walkthrough at how to form an LLC in Arizona.
Arizona LLC Filing Fees (2026)
The cost to create the LLC is the $50 Articles of Organization fee - the "Certificate of Formation" equivalent. The table lists the state fees new LLCs encounter; amounts are effective for 2026 and set by the state.
| Item | Form | Fee (2026) |
|---|---|---|
| Articles of Organization (create the LLC) | Form L010 | $50 |
| Expedited processing (add-on) | Form L010 | +$35 ($85 total) |
| Statutory Agent Acceptance | Form M002 | $0 (no fee) |
| Publication of notice | Newspaper notice | Varies (roughly $60–$300) |
| Annual report | None for LLCs | $0 (not required) |
Because Arizona charges no annual report fee, the $50 filing fee plus one-time publication is often the entire lifetime state cost of the LLC. For a full breakdown across the life of the business, see Arizona LLC cost.
Arizona Statutory Agent Requirement
Whatever you call the formation document, Arizona requires a statutory agent - its term for a registered agent - under A.R.S. §29-3115. The agent must have a physical Arizona street address, must consent in writing on the Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002) filed with your Articles, and must be continuously maintained. You may act as your own statutory agent, name a member, or hire a commercial service. The agent's county also determines whether the publication step applies. See Arizona statutory agent requirements and the national registered agent overview.
What Arizona Issues as Proof of Formation
Because there is no "Certificate of Formation," people often ask what proof they receive that the LLC exists. When the ACC approves your Articles of Organization, it records the filing and returns approval documentation showing the LLC is on the state record. If you later need official proof of active status - for a bank, a lender, or to register in another state - you order a Certificate of Good Standing from the ACC for a fee. That certificate, not a "certificate of formation," is Arizona's standard evidence that the LLC exists and is compliant. You can view your record and status any time through the Arizona business entity search.
Keep your approval documentation and, if you order one, the Certificate of Good Standing with your business records. Banks typically ask for the approved Articles of Organization and your EIN to open an account, while another state's Secretary of State will usually require a recent Certificate of Good Standing before it lets your Arizona LLC register as a foreign entity there. Because Arizona LLCs file no annual report, the Certificate of Good Standing is refreshed on demand rather than tied to an annual filing, so order it close to when you actually need it.
After Formation: EIN, Taxes, and No Annual Report
A federal EIN from the IRS is free and lets you open a bank account, hire employees, and file taxes. By default the IRS treats a single-member LLC as a disregarded entity and a multi-member LLC as a partnership; either can elect S-corporation treatment. Arizona has a state income tax that LLC profits flow through to and no franchise tax. If you sell taxable goods or services, obtain a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue.
A major Arizona advantage: LLCs do not file an annual report with the Corporation Commission, so once formed, your LLC has little recurring state paperwork beyond keeping a valid statutory agent and paying taxes. See Arizona annual report and business licenses in Arizona. To close the LLC later, file Articles of Termination - see how to dissolve an LLC in Arizona.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Arizona have a Certificate of Formation?
No. Arizona forms an LLC through Articles of Organization (Form L010) filed with the Corporation Commission. Certificate of Formation is the term used in states like Delaware, Texas, and Washington.
What document forms an Arizona LLC?
The Articles of Organization, Form L010, filed with the ACC for $50, with a Statutory Agent Acceptance (Form M002). Corporations instead file Articles of Incorporation.
How much does it cost to form an Arizona LLC?
The ACC charges $50 to file the Articles of Organization, or $85 for expedited processing. Newspaper publication is a separate cost in most counties.
What proof do I get that my Arizona LLC exists?
The ACC records your Articles and issues approval documentation. For official proof of active status, order a Certificate of Good Standing from the ACC for a fee.
Is a Certificate of Formation the same as Articles of Organization?
Functionally yes - two names for the document that creates an LLC. Arizona calls it Articles of Organization; other states call it a Certificate of Formation or Certificate of Organization.
Does an Arizona LLC file an annual report?
No. Arizona LLCs do not file an annual report with the Corporation Commission. Only corporations do.
Related
- How to form an LLC (cluster hub)
- Arizona Articles of Organization (the real filing)
- How to form an LLC in Arizona
- Arizona statutory agent requirements
- Arizona business entity search
- How much does an Arizona LLC cost?
- How to dissolve an LLC in Arizona
- Washington Certificate of Formation (a state that uses the term)
Sources
- Arizona Corporation Commission - Corporations Division (Articles of Organization, eCorp).
- Arizona Corporation Commission - Form L010, Articles of Organization (PDF).
- Arizona Corporation Commission - eCorp online filing and entity search.
- Arizona Corporation Commission - Filing Fees ($50 Articles; $35 expedite).
- Arizona Corporation Commission - Certificate of Good Standing (official proof of status).
- Arizona Corporation Commission - Publishing Requirements (publication; Maricopa/Pima exemption).
- Arizona Corporation Commission - Business Services FAQs (LLCs do not file annual reports).
- Arizona State Legislature - A.R.S. §29-3201, Articles of organization.
- Arizona State Legislature - A.R.S. §29-3115, Statutory agent.
- Arizona State Legislature - A.R.S. Title 29, Partnership and Limited Liability Company Act.
- Arizona Department of Revenue - Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not a law firm or a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current requirements with the Arizona Corporation Commission and Arizona Department of Revenue before acting.