How to Form an LLC in New Jersey, Step by Step
New Jersey LLCs file a $100.00 certificate of formation, register for State taxes and file an annual report. Here is each step.
New Jersey puts its LLC process in one place. You form the company, register it for state taxes, then file an annual report. If you are still weighing the choice, see whether an LLC is right for you first.
Registering a business in New Jersey
New Jersey's business portal says all companies doing business in the state need to register with it. An LLC is one way to do that. The portal also says the steps to register may vary. This depends on your business structure and industry. So check your own field before you start.
Step 1: Choose and reserve your LLC name
Pick your name before anything else.
Do you have to reserve it separately? No. New Jersey's business portal says you reserve your name when you submit your business formation documents. The reservation is built into the filing.
Want the name held before you file? The state allows that too. New Jersey's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services lists a $50.00 fee for an LLC name reservation.
Step 2: File your certificate of formation
This is the step that creates the LLC. New Jersey's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services lists a $100.00 fee for an LLC's certificate of formation.
Where do you file it? With the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. For what a registered agent does, read a guide to an LLC's registered agent.
New Jersey's business portal says an Entity ID is a 10-digit number used to identify your corporate business records.
The portal also says corporate records are public. It says tax records are kept separate from them. Tax records are confidential. Your formation filing is public. Your tax filings are not.
Formed somewhere else first? A foreign LLC pays the same amount. New Jersey's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services lists a $100.00 fee for a foreign LLC's certificate of registration.
Step 3: Get an EIN from the IRS
New Jersey's business portal says you may apply for an EIN from the IRS online, by fax, or by mail.
The portal also says an EIN does not expire, and once it has been assigned it is never issued again. So apply once and keep the number safe. For more detail, read how to apply for an EIN for an LLC.
Step 4: Register your LLC for New Jersey state taxes
New Jersey's business portal says your business formation will determine the income tax forms needed to file taxes for your business.
New Jersey's guide says your NJ Tax ID number is the same as your EIN and 3-digit location code. The guide also says a PIN number was provided when you registered for State taxes.
New Jersey's guide says myNewJersey is the State's secure login platform, and you must set up a myNewJersey account to access Premier Business Services. That guide says Premier Business Services is the State's electronic tax filing and payment platform. It provides access to your tax records and lets you make tax payments.
New Jersey's guide says you must have registered for State taxes to add a business to your Premier Business Services account. You can also give employees, payroll companies, or tax professionals limited access to Premier Business Services on your behalf.
New Jersey's guide says a Business Registration Certificate is useful if you are looking into public contracting. The guide says Standing Certificates may be helpful to confirm corporate status.
Step 5: File your New Jersey annual report
New Jersey's business portal says every business in New Jersey must file an annual report.
New Jersey's Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services lists a $75.00 Annual Report fee among its LLC filing fees. The portal says filing the annual report includes making sure your registered agent and address are up to date. So the report doubles as a chance to fix stale contact details.
The portal says failing to file the annual report can result in the revocation of your business. For a broader look at this duty, see the annual LLC report.
New Jersey taxes your LLC will file
How the LLC files depends on how many members it has. New Jersey's business portal says sole proprietorships, general partnerships, and single-member LLCs file their business taxes with their personal taxes. The portal says multi-member LLCs need to file information on their partners' gross-income tax.
Local licenses and municipal fees
New Jersey's guide says cities or towns typically do not charge business taxes directly. But the guide says there may be fees for owning a business within a municipality, including fire protection or mercantile licenses.
New Jersey's portal says to contact your Municipal Clerk for additional information on local ordinances. For the general picture, read what a business license covers.
Federal beneficial ownership reporting
FinCEN's FAQs say U.S. companies are exempt from Beneficial Ownership Information reporting requirements under the new rule.
Frequently asked questions about forming an LLC in New Jersey
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Jersey?
The certificate of formation costs $100.00. The annual report fee is $75.00. A separate name reservation, if you want one, costs $50.00.
What is a New Jersey Entity ID number?
It is a 10-digit number. The state uses it to identify your corporate business records.
What is a NAICS code?
New Jersey's business portal says a NAICS code is an 8-digit number used to classify your business industry in the United States.
Can a foreign LLC register in New Jersey?
Yes. It files a certificate of registration, which costs $100.00. For more on the general process, see how to form an LLC and the state filing fee for an LLC where you formed it.