Maine Certificate of Formation: Form MLLC-6, $175 (2026)
The Maine Certificate of Formation is Form MLLC-6, filed with the Maine Secretary of State for a $175 filing fee under 31 MRSA 1531. Filing it is the legal act that creates the LLC. Every Maine LLC then files an annual report by June 1.
Quick Answer
- Document name
- Certificate of Formation (Form MLLC-6)
- Filing fee
- $175
- Agency
- Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions
- Statute
- 31 MRSA 1531
- Annual report
- Form MLLC-13, $85 domestic ($150 foreign), due June 1
- Registered agent
- Commercial or noncommercial, designated in Article Fifth
- Cancellation
- Form MLLC-11C, $75
- Processing
- Roughly 40-55 business days for standard corporate filings
What the Maine Certificate of Formation Is
The Certificate of Formation is the single document that brings a Maine limited liability company into existence. Maine's form number is MLLC-6, and the form itself recites that it is executed and delivered "pursuant to 31 MRSA 1531" - the section of the Maine Limited Liability Company Act that governs formation.
Maine uses "Certificate of Formation" where many states say "Articles of Organization." The documents do the same job. If a bank, lender, or out-of-state agency asks for your articles of organization, the filed and stamped MLLC-6 is what they want.
The certificate is deliberately short. Maine does not ask you to list members, managers, or ownership percentages on the public record. Governance belongs in your Maine operating agreement, which is a private contract and is not filed with the state.
The $175 Filing Fee
The filing fee printed on Form MLLC-6 is $175.00. That is the state's charge to create the LLC; it is not a deposit, it is not refundable if the filing is rejected for a name conflict, and it is not the same as any package price a formation service quotes.
Maine's Bureau of Corporations does not offer instant online formation for LLCs the way some states do - the Secretary of State's filing-requirement guidance describes standard corporate processing running roughly 40 to 55 business days. Expedited handling is available for an additional charge, so if you have a closing or a bank deadline, plan for the queue rather than assuming same-week turnaround.
Maine LLC Filing Fees (2026)
The table below lists the Maine LLC filings most owners encounter, with the fee published by the Secretary of State's Corporations Division.
| Filing | Form | Fee |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Formation (create the LLC) | MLLC-6 | $175 |
| Annual report - domestic LLC | MLLC-13 | $85 |
| Annual report - foreign LLC | MLLC-13 | $150 |
| Statement of appointment or change of registered agent | CLKRA-3 | $35 |
| Certificate of cancellation (close the LLC) | MLLC-11C | $75 |
| Statement of foreign qualification | MLLC-12 | $250 |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 |
What Goes on the Form
Article First is the LLC name. It must contain "limited liability company," "limited company," or an abbreviation - L.L.C., LLC, L.C., or LC - and a low-profit company uses "L3C" or "l3c" under 31 MRSA 1508. Check availability before filing; a rejected name costs you the queue time, not just the paperwork.
Article Second sets the filing date: either the date of the filing itself or a specified later effective date. A later date is useful when you want the LLC's first tax year to start on January 1 rather than in mid-December.
Articles Third and Fourth are optional designations - a low-profit LLC under 31 MRSA 1611, or a professional LLC formed under 13 MRSA Chapter 22-A to render licensed professional services. Most ordinary businesses check neither box.
Article Fifth: The Registered Agent
Article Fifth of Form MLLC-6 requires you to designate either a commercial registered agent - identified by its CRA public number and name - or a noncommercial registered agent, whose name and physical Maine address you supply. Maine will not accept a formation without one.
A noncommercial agent can be you, a member, or any Maine resident willing to accept service of process at a physical street address during business hours. A post office box alone does not satisfy the requirement. If you live outside Maine or do not want your home address in a public database, a commercial agent is the standard solution - see Maine registered agent requirements and the national registered agent guide.
After the Certificate Is Filed
Filing MLLC-6 creates the entity but does not finish the setup. Get a free federal EIN from the IRS - never pay a third party for one - then open a business bank account in the LLC's exact registered name so that personal and business funds stay separate.
Adopt a written operating agreement even if you are the only member. Maine does not file it, but banks ask for it, courts look to it, and it is what proves the LLC is a real entity rather than an alter ego. Then check whether your activity or municipality requires a Maine business license.
Finally, calendar the annual report. Under 31 MRSA 1665, every Maine LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State; the domestic LLC fee is $85 and the legal deadline is June 1. See the Maine annual report guide for the mechanics.
How the New Maine LLC Is Taxed
Maine does not tax the LLC as a separate entity by default. Federally, a single-member LLC is a disregarded entity reported on Schedule C, and a multi-member LLC is a partnership filing Form 1065 - the classification rules are in 26 CFR 301.7701-3.
Because profit passes through, the owner pays self-employment tax at 15.3% on net earnings and reports the income on the Maine individual return. Owners with meaningful profit sometimes add an S-corp election in Maine on IRS Form 2553 to reduce that exposure. See Maine LLC tax filing and self-employment tax in Maine.
Common Filing Mistakes
The most frequent rejections are a name missing the required LLC designator, a registered-agent block left half-completed, a noncommercial agent listed with a P.O. box, and an unsigned form. Each one sends the filing back to the start of a queue measured in weeks.
The most expensive long-run mistake is skipping the June 1 annual report. Falling out of good standing complicates bank financing, real-estate closings, and eventually leads to administrative dissolution - after which reinstatement or a new $175 formation is the only route back. If you are closing the business intentionally, file Form MLLC-11C rather than simply stopping; see how to dissolve an LLC in Maine.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Maine Certificate of Formation?
It is the document that legally creates a Maine limited liability company. Maine's version is Form MLLC-6, filed with the Secretary of State under 31 MRSA 1531 for a $175 fee. Other states call the same document the articles of organization. The stamped copy returned by the state is the LLC's proof of existence.
How much does it cost to file a Maine Certificate of Formation?
$175. That fee is printed on Form MLLC-6 itself and is paid to the Maine Secretary of State. It is not refundable if the filing is rejected, and it does not include the annual report, registered agent service, or a federal EIN, which is free from the IRS.
How long does Maine take to process an LLC formation?
The Secretary of State's filing guidance describes standard corporate processing of roughly 40 to 55 business days. Expedited handling is available for an additional fee. Because Maine does not offer instant online LLC formation, build the queue time into any bank, lease, or closing deadline.
Do I need a registered agent on Form MLLC-6?
Yes. Article Fifth requires you to designate either a commercial registered agent, identified by CRA public number, or a noncommercial registered agent with a physical Maine street address. A post office box alone is not acceptable, and Maine will reject a certificate that leaves the designation blank.
What is the Maine LLC annual report fee?
$85 for a domestic Maine LLC and $150 for a foreign LLC, filed on Form MLLC-13. Under 31 MRSA 1665 the report is due by June 1 each year. Missing it puts the LLC out of good standing and can ultimately lead to administrative dissolution.
Do I have to file my operating agreement with Maine?
No. Maine does not file or record operating agreements, and Form MLLC-6 does not ask for members or managers. The operating agreement is a private contract among the owners. You should still have one in writing, because banks, lenders, and courts rely on it to establish how the LLC is governed.
Related
- How to form an LLC in Maine
- Maine annual report
- Maine registered agent
- Maine operating agreement
- How to dissolve an LLC in Maine
- Maine business entity search
- Maine LLC tax filing
- How to form an LLC
- How to get an EIN
- S-corp vs LLC
- Business license overview
- Registered agent requirements
Sources
- Maine Secretary of State - Limited Liability Company Forms (form numbers and fees: MLLC-6 $175, MLLC-13 $85/$150, CLKRA-3 $35, MLLC-11C $75, MLLC-12 $250).
- Maine Secretary of State - Form MLLC-6, Certificate of Formation (filing fee $175; 31 MRSA 1531; registered agent designation).
- Maine Secretary of State - Filing Requirement Reminders (annual report deadline and processing times).
- Maine Legislature - 31 MRSA 1665, Annual report for Secretary of State (annual report requirement).
- IRS - Limited Liability Company (LLC) (federal default tax classification).
- IRS - Single Member Limited Liability Companies (disregarded entity treatment).
- IRS - Get an Employer Identification Number (EIN is free).
- IRS - About Form SS-4 (EIN application).
- IRS - Self-Employment Tax (15.3% combined rate; $400 filing threshold).
- Legal Information Institute (Cornell) - 26 CFR 301.7701-3 (entity classification election).
LegalGlass provides general information for educational purposes and is not legal advice, is not a law firm, and is not a substitute for advice from a licensed attorney or tax professional. Laws, fees, and thresholds change; verify current amounts with the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections and Commissions before acting.