Georgia Articles of Organization: Filing & Cost (2026)

Q: What form is the Georgia Articles of Organization?

It is Form CD 030, the Articles of Organization for a Georgia LLC, filed with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. Most filers submit it online through the eCorp portal rather than on the paper form.

Q: How much does it cost to file Articles of Organization in Georgia?

The state filing fee is $100 when filed online through eCorp and $110 when filed by mail or in person. There is also a $50 annual registration fee due each year after formation.

Q: Does a Georgia LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. Every Georgia LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical Georgia street address who is available during business hours. The agent is named in the Articles of Organization, under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act, O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11.

Q: When is the first Georgia annual registration due?

The first annual registration is due between January 1 and April 1 of the year following the year your LLC was formed. The fee is $50 filed online, and a $25 late penalty applies if you miss the deadline.

Q: How long does Georgia take to approve an LLC?

Online filings through eCorp are typically processed within about seven business days, and expedited service is available for an additional fee for faster turnaround. Processing times vary with volume.

Fact-checked by the LegalGlass editorial team against primary sources · Published Aug 6, 2026 · Last updated Aug 6, 2026

You form a Georgia LLC by filing Articles of Organization (Form CD 030) with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. The filing fee is $100 online through the eCorp portal or $110 by mail. You must name a Georgia registered agent, and after formation you file a $50 annual registration due by April 1 each year.

Quick Answer

Form: Articles of Organization - Form CD 030
Filing fee: $100 online (eCorp) / $110 by mail (2026)
Agency: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Registered agent: Required - Georgia street address
Annual registration: $50, due Jan 1–Apr 1 each year
Governing law: O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11

Georgia Agency and Form: Corporations Division, Form CD 030

A Georgia LLC is created by filing Articles of Organization with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. The paper version is Form CD 030, but most filers use the Corporations Division's online filing system, eCorp, which builds the articles for you. Filing and acceptance of the articles is the legal act that forms the LLC under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act, O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11.

When you file online, Georgia also requires a transmittal of basic information (the online system collects this automatically). The Articles of Organization themselves are short: the LLC's name, which must contain a designator such as "LLC," "L.L.C.," "limited liability company," or "limited company" and be distinguishable from existing names; the name and address of the registered agent; the mailing address of the principal office; and the organizer's information. For the national overview, see Articles of Organization and how to form an LLC.

How to File Georgia Articles of Organization

Forming a Georgia LLC through eCorp is a short online process. Each step corresponds to a requirement of the Georgia LLC Act or a federal tax rule.

Check your name. Run the Georgia business entity search to confirm the name is distinguishable. If you are not ready to file, reserve it for 30 days for a $25 fee.
Appoint a registered agent. Choose an individual Georgia resident or an authorized entity with a physical Georgia street address to receive service of process.
File the Articles of Organization. Submit online through eCorp and pay the $100 fee (or mail Form CD 030 with the $110 fee).
Adopt an operating agreement. Georgia does not file it, but an operating agreement sets ownership, management, and profit sharing.
Get an EIN and register for taxes. Apply for a free federal EIN, then register with the Georgia Department of Revenue for any taxes you owe, such as sales tax or withholding.

After the Corporations Division approves the filing, your LLC exists and you can open a business bank account with the stamped articles and the EIN. Keep a copy of the approved Articles of Organization and your registered agent details somewhere safe, because you will need them for the bank, for future amendments, and to confirm your entity in the Georgia business search when other parties ask for proof that your LLC is active and in good standing.

Georgia LLC Filing Fees (2026)

The core cost is the $100 online Articles of Organization fee. The table lists the state fees a new Georgia LLC most often encounters, each verified against the Corporations Division fee schedule or the Georgia Department of Revenue. Amounts are effective for 2026 and are set by the state. See Georgia LLC cost for the full breakdown.

Item	Form / method	Fee (2026)	Agency
Articles of Organization (online)	eCorp / CD 030	$100	Corporations Division
Articles of Organization (paper)	Form CD 030 by mail	$110	Corporations Division
Name reservation (30 days)	eCorp	$25	Corporations Division
Annual registration (online)	eCorp	$50	Corporations Division
Federal EIN	IRS Form SS-4	$0 (free)	IRS
Annual registration late penalty	-	$25	Corporations Division

Expedited processing is available from the Corporations Division for an additional fee if you need faster handling. Because expedite and paper fees change, confirm current amounts on the Secretary of State's business forms and fees page before you file.

Georgia Registered Agent Requirement

Every Georgia LLC must name a registered agent in its Articles of Organization and maintain one continuously. Under the Georgia Limited Liability Company Act (O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11), the agent must have a physical street address in Georgia - a post office box alone is not sufficient - and be available during normal business hours to accept service of process and official notices. The agent can be an individual Georgia resident, the LLC's owner, or a company authorized to serve as a commercial registered agent in Georgia.

You can act as your own registered agent, but many owners hire a service to keep their home address off the public record and to make sure someone is always available to receive documents. To change agents later, you update the registered agent information with the Corporations Division, typically as part of your annual registration or through a separate amendment. Failing to maintain a registered agent can lead to administrative dissolution of the LLC. See our detailed Georgia registered agent guide and the national registered agent overview.

Annual Registration and Ongoing Duties

After you form the LLC, Georgia requires an annual registration - not an "annual report" as some states call it - filed with the Corporations Division. The first annual registration is due between January 1 and April 1 of the year after the year your LLC was formed, and one is due in that window every year afterward. The fee is $50 filed online. If you miss the April 1 deadline, Georgia adds a $25 late penalty, and continued failure to register can lead to administrative dissolution.

You can also file a multi-year registration to cover up to three years at once. Keeping the annual registration and registered agent current is the main ongoing state obligation for a Georgia LLC. For the deadlines and penalties in detail, see Georgia annual registration.

EIN, Georgia Taxes, and Licenses

A federal EIN is issued free by the IRS and is used to 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 corporate or S-corporation treatment. Georgia has no separate LLC franchise tax, but the LLC's income flows through to the members, who pay Georgia income tax, and the LLC itself may owe sales tax or withholding.

If your LLC sells taxable goods or services, you must register with the Georgia Department of Revenue for a sales and use tax number before making sales. Georgia has no single statewide general business license, but many cities and counties require a local business license (sometimes called an occupation tax certificate), and regulated professions need their own licenses. See Georgia business licenses and business tax for details. Registering with the Department of Revenue is separate from your Corporations Division filing, so forming the LLC does not by itself set up your state tax accounts - you complete that step afterward once you have your EIN and know which taxes apply to your activity.

Penalties for Missing Georgia Requirements

If a Georgia LLC fails to file its annual registration or maintain a registered agent, the Corporations Division can administratively dissolve the LLC after notice. A dissolved LLC loses the right to conduct business and its liability protection can be jeopardized until it is reinstated. Reinstatement generally requires filing the delinquent registrations, paying the fees and the $25 late penalty, and submitting a reinstatement request. Keeping the registration and agent current - and calendaring the April 1 deadline - is the simplest way to avoid these outcomes. To close an LLC properly instead of letting it lapse, see how to dissolve a Georgia LLC. Administrative dissolution is not the same as a clean, intentional wind-down: an administratively dissolved LLC can still carry lingering tax and creditor obligations, and reinstating it later is usually more expensive and slower than simply keeping the annual registration current in the first place.

Frequently Asked Questions

What form is the Georgia Articles of Organization?

Form CD 030, filed with the Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division. Most filers submit it online through eCorp rather than on paper.

How much does it cost to file Articles of Organization in Georgia?

$100 online through eCorp, or $110 by mail. A $50 annual registration is also due each year. See Georgia LLC cost.

Does a Georgia LLC need a registered agent?

Yes. You must name and maintain a registered agent with a physical Georgia address in the Articles of Organization.

When is the first Georgia annual registration due?

Between January 1 and April 1 of the year after formation, for a $50 fee. A $25 late penalty applies if you miss it. See Georgia annual registration.

How long does Georgia take to approve an LLC?

Online eCorp filings usually process within about seven business days; expedited service is available for an added fee.

Sources

Georgia Secretary of State - How to Register a Domestic Entity (Articles of Organization; $100 online / $110 paper).
Georgia Secretary of State - Georgia Business Forms (Form CD 030).
Georgia Secretary of State - Corporations Division FAQ (registered agent; processing).
Georgia Secretary of State - How to File Annual Registration ($50; due April 1; $25 late penalty).
Georgia Secretary of State - How to Reserve a Name ($25 name reservation).
Georgia Corporations Division - Business Search (eCorp) (name availability).
Georgia.gov - Register an LLC (state formation overview).
Georgia Department of Revenue - Register a New Business (sales tax and withholding).
Georgia Department of Revenue - Business Taxes (income and sales tax).
Justia - O.C.G.A. Title 14, Chapter 11 (Georgia LLC Act).
IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default classification).
IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (free EIN).
Cornell Law School LII - 26 CFR 301.7701-3 (entity classification election).

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 Georgia Secretary of State and Georgia Department of Revenue before acting.