Utah Articles of Organization: Cost & How to File (2026)
In Utah, the document many people search for as the "articles of organization" is officially the Certificate of Organization. You file it with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code for a $59 fee under Utah Code § 48-3a-201, most easily online through the OneStop Business Registration. This filing is what legally creates your Utah LLC.
Quick Answer
- Utah's term
- Certificate of Organization (not "articles of organization")
- Agency
- Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code (Dept. of Commerce)
- Filing fee
- $59 (2026)
- Statute
- Utah Code § 48-3a-201
- File online
- OneStop Business Registration (businessregistration.utah.gov)
- Ongoing
- $18 annual renewal by your registration anniversary
"Articles of Organization" vs. Utah's Certificate of Organization
Across the United States, the document that creates an LLC goes by different names. Many states call it the articles of organization; a handful call it a certificate of formation; and Utah, along with other states that adopted the Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, calls it the Certificate of Organization. The terms describe the same kind of filing - the public document that brings the LLC into legal existence.
So if a form, bank, or article tells you to file "Utah articles of organization," what you actually file is the Certificate of Organization with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code. There is no separate "articles of organization" form in Utah. For the whole step-by-step formation process, see how to form an LLC in Utah; for the term used in Texas- and Delaware-style states, see Utah certificate of formation; and for the national definition see articles of organization and what an LLC is.
Agency: Division of Corporations & Commercial Code
The Certificate of Organization is filed with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code, a division of the Utah Department of Commerce. The Division maintains the registry of business entities, accepts formation filings, and issues the confirmation you use to open a bank account. Its acceptance of the certificate is the legal act that creates the LLC under the Utah Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (Utah Code Title 48, Chapter 3a).
You can file online through the state's OneStop Business Registration portal, which routes a single application to both the Division of Corporations and the Utah State Tax Commission at once, or through the Division's own business services pages. Online filing is the fastest option; the Division reports most online filings are processed instantly.
What the Utah Certificate of Organization Must Include
Under Utah Code § 48-3a-201, the Certificate of Organization must state:
- The LLC name, which must include an LLC designator (“LLC,” “L.L.C.,” “L.C.,” or “Limited Liability Company”) and be distinguishable from names already on file.
- The street and mailing address of the company's principal office.
- The name and Utah street address of the registered agent.
- Whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed, which should match your operating agreement.
- The name and address of each organizer who signs and delivers the certificate.
If you are not ready to file but want to lock in a name, you may reserve it for 120 days for a $22 fee under § 48-3a-108. Confirm the name does not infringe a federal trademark before you commit to it.
How to File and the $59 Fee
To create the LLC, deliver the completed Certificate of Organization to the Division of Corporations and pay the $59 filing fee. The most common path is the OneStop Business Registration, where you enter the required information, name your registered agent, choose member or manager management, and pay by card. Once the Division accepts the certificate, your LLC legally exists and you can move on to an EIN and a business bank account.
Optional expedited processing is available for $75 per filing if you need faster handling than the standard 2-to-4-business-day window for non-instant filings. Because state fees change, confirm the current amount on the Division's fee schedule before you file.
Utah LLC Filing Fees (2026)
The table below lists the state fees most new Utah LLCs encounter around the Certificate of Organization, each verified against the Utah Division of Corporations fee schedule. Amounts are set by the state, not by any filing service. For a full breakdown see Utah LLC cost and the national how much an LLC costs guide.
| Item | Filing | Fee (2026) | Agency |
|---|---|---|---|
| Create the LLC | Certificate of Organization | $59 | Division of Corporations |
| Annual renewal (annual report) | Renewal filing | $18 | Division of Corporations |
| Late renewal | Late renewal fee | $10 | Division of Corporations |
| Name reservation (120 days) | Name reservation | $22 | Division of Corporations |
| Expedited processing | Optional add-on | $75 per filing | Division of Corporations |
| Federal EIN | IRS Form SS-4 | $0 (free) | IRS |
Registered Agent Requirement
Every Utah LLC must designate a registered agent on the Certificate of Organization and continuously maintain one thereafter. Utah's Model Registered Agents Act (Utah Code Title 16, Chapter 17) requires the agent to have a physical Utah street address - a post office box alone does not qualify - and to consent to the appointment. The agent receives service of process and official state mail, including your annual renewal notice.
You may act as your own registered agent, name a manager, or hire a commercial registered agent service. Because the Division mails renewal reminders to the agent on file, an agent who moves or stops forwarding mail is a common reason LLCs miss their renewal and expire. See Utah registered agent requirements for detail.
After Filing: EIN, Taxes, and Annual Renewal
Once the Certificate of Organization is accepted, get a free federal EIN from the IRS 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. Utah levies a flat individual income tax of 4.5% for the 2025 tax year on pass-through profits, administered by the Utah State Tax Commission, and you register for a sales tax license if you sell taxable goods or services.
Utah then requires an annual renewal by your registration anniversary, with an $18 fee and a $10 late fee if you miss it. To change a detail on the certificate later, file an amendment with the Division (see the fee schedule for the current amount). To close the LLC, see how to dissolve an LLC in Utah. A separate assumed name is covered at Utah DBA filing, and local permits at business licenses in Utah.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Utah use articles of organization?
Not by that name. Utah calls the LLC formation document the Certificate of Organization. You file it with the Division of Corporations & Commercial Code under Utah Code § 48-3a-201. See articles of organization.
How much does it cost to file the Utah Certificate of Organization?
The state filing fee is $59, paid to the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code. Optional expedited processing is $75 per filing, and a federal EIN is free.
Where do I file the Utah Certificate of Organization?
With the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code, most easily online through the OneStop Business Registration, which also registers you with the Utah State Tax Commission.
What information does the certificate require?
Under § 48-3a-201: the LLC name, principal office address, the registered agent's name and Utah street address, whether it is member- or manager-managed, and each organizer's name and address.
How long does processing take?
Most online filings are processed instantly; other filings generally take about 2 to 4 business days. Expedited processing is $75 per filing.
Do I have to renew my Utah LLC after filing?
Yes. Utah requires an annual renewal by your registration anniversary, with an $18 fee and a $10 late fee if missed. See Utah annual renewal.
Related
- How to form an LLC in Utah
- Utah certificate of formation
- Utah registered agent requirements
- Utah operating agreement
- How much does a Utah LLC cost?
- Utah annual renewal
- Utah DBA filing
- How to dissolve an LLC in Utah
Sources
- Utah Code - § 48-3a-201, Certificate of organization (required contents).
- Utah Code - § 48-3a-108, Reservation of name (120 days, $22).
- Utah Code - Title 48, Chapter 3a, Utah Revised Uniform Limited Liability Company Act.
- Utah Code - Title 16, Chapter 17, Model Registered Agents Act.
- Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code - Division home and processing times.
- Utah Division of Corporations - Fee Schedule (PDF) ($59 Certificate of Organization; $18 renewal; $10 late; $22 name reservation; $75 expedite).
- Utah State Tax Commission - Create & Manage a Tax Account (sales tax license).
- Utah State Tax Commission - Individual income tax rates (4.5% for 2025).
- Justia - Utah Code § 48-3a-201 (annotated).
- Cornell Legal Information Institute - Limited liability company (LLC).
- 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. This is general information, not legal advice. Laws and fees change; verify current requirements with the Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code and the Utah State Tax Commission before acting.