United States

Company Formation in Ohio

State of Ohio — Office of the Secretary of State

Formation Time

1–2 business days

Min. Capital

No minimum

Corporate Tax

0% state corporate income tax (replaced by CAT: 0% up to $3M gross receipts, then 0.26%)

Foreign Ownership

100%

Overview

The State of Ohio is experiencing an extraordinary economic and technological renaissance, rapidly emerging as the 'Silicon Heartland' of the United States. Anchored by Intel's historic $20+ billion semiconductor mega-fab project in New Albany (Columbus metro)—the largest single private-sector investment in Ohio history—alongside Honda and LG's multi-billion-dollar electric vehicle battery manufacturing hub, Ohio is the premier manufacturing, semiconductor, and logistics epicenter of the Midwest. Crucially for business owners, Ohio has **completely eliminated state corporate income tax** on businesses. In its place, Ohio levies the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT), which completely exempts the first $3,000,000 of taxable gross receipts (0% tax), and charges a modest 0.26% rate only on gross receipts exceeding $3M. Furthermore, Ohio requires **zero ($0) annual report fees for LLCs**, making it one of the most profitable, low-overhead states in the United States to establish an operational or trading enterprise.

0% state corporate income tax

$3M CAT gross receipts exemption

$0 annual report fee for LLCs

Silicon Heartland Intel mega-fab

Fast 1-2 day digital filing

Why Choose Ohio

0% state corporate income tax — replaced by the low-rate Commercial Activity Tax (CAT)

First $3,000,000 of gross business receipts are 100% exempt from the Ohio CAT

$0 annual report filing fee for Ohio LLCs — zero ongoing maintenance fees to the state

The Silicon Heartland — host to Intel's $20B semiconductor manufacturing mega-fab

Columbus metropolitan area is the #1 fastest-growing tech and startup hub in the Midwest

Fast 1–2 business day electronic formation through the Ohio Secretary of State

Top-tier North American logistics hub within 1-day trucking access of 60% of US/Canada markets

Direct access to tier-1 US banking rails, Stripe merchant processing, and USD clearing

Business Entity Types

Entity	Ownership	Directors	Capital	Tax	Best For
Limited Liability Company (LLC)	100%	1 manager/member	None	Pass-through taxation; 0% state corporate income tax; 0% CAT on receipts up to $3M	E-commerce, supply chain logistics, consulting, software firms, cross-border trading
Business Corporation (C-Corp)	100%	1 individual	None	0% Ohio state corporate income tax; 0.26% CAT on receipts over $3M + 21% federal CIT	Manufacturing enterprises, semiconductor suppliers, institutional venture ventures

Step-by-Step Formation Process

Name Availability & Statutory Agent

1 day

Search Ohio corporate registry and appoint Ohio statutory agent.

Articles of Organization Filing

1–2 days

Submit filing via Ohio Secretary of State Business Services portal.

IRS EIN Issuance

1–2 days

Obtain federal Employer Identification Number from the IRS.

Operating Agreement & Corporate Records

1 day

Draft company operating agreement and initial resolutions.

Remote US Corporate Banking

3–5 days

Open FDIC-insured US corporate bank account with Mercury, Relay, or KeyBank.

Costs & Fees

Government / License Fee	USD 99+
Our Service Fee	USD 850 – 2,200
Annual Renewal	USD 0+

Fees are indicative and may vary based on business activity, entity type, and additional approvals required. Contact us for a precise custom quote.

Get Custom Quote

Banking

Ohio corporations enjoy exceptional banking support anchored by major regional headquarters (KeyBank in Cleveland, Fifth Third Bank in Cincinnati, Huntington Bank in Columbus) as well as national institutions (JPMorgan Chase major ops center) and modern digital platforms (Mercury, Relay).

Account Opening Time

3–7 business days

Multi-Currency

Yes — multiple currencies supported

Recommended Banks

KeyBank (Cleveland HQ)Fifth Third Bank (Cincinnati HQ)Huntington Bank (Columbus HQ)JPMorgan ChaseMercury

Tax Overview

Corporate Tax

0% state corporate income tax. Commercial Activity Tax (CAT): $0 on gross receipts ≤ $3,000,000; 0.26% on receipts > $3,000,000 + 21% federal CIT

Personal Income Tax

0% to 3.5% (phasing to a top flat rate of 2.75%)

VAT / Sales Tax

5.75% state sales tax (up to 8.0% combined local)

Capital Gains Tax

Taxed as personal income (max 3.5%) or at federal corporate rates

Withholding Tax

30% federal statutory (reduced by tax treaties)

Double Tax Treaties

68 countries

Ohio has no corporate franchise tax and no traditional corporate income tax. Single-member foreign-owned LLCs with no US-source income pay 0% CAT and 0% US federal tax.

Visa & Residency

E-2 Treaty Investor Visa

2–5 years, renewable

For investors from treaty countries establishing a commercial business in Ohio

L-1 Intra-Company Transferee

1–7 years

For executives transferring from a foreign parent to an Ohio operating subsidiary

Family visa: AvailableProcessing: 2–6 months

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it true that Ohio has no state corporate income tax?

Yes. Ohio completely eliminated its corporate franchise and corporate income tax for commercial enterprises. Instead, Ohio levies the Commercial Activity Tax (CAT) on gross receipts. Under current law, the first $3,000,000 of taxable gross receipts is 100% tax-exempt ($0 tax), and receipts above $3M are taxed at a low rate of just 0.26%.

What is the annual report fee for an Ohio LLC?

Ohio does not require LLCs to file annual reports with the Ohio Secretary of State, and there is zero ($0) annual report fee. Once incorporated, your LLC remains in good standing without recurring state renewal fees, making it one of the most cost-effective states in America.

Why is Ohio being called the 'Silicon Heartland'?

Ohio earned this title due to massive high-tech capital investments, headlined by Intel's $20+ billion semiconductor manufacturing mega-complex in New Albany, Honda and LG Energy Solution's $4.4 billion EV battery plant in Jeffersonville, and major hyperscale cloud data center campuses operated by Amazon Web Services, Google, and Microsoft.

Can foreign non-residents form an Ohio LLC remotely?

Yes. Non-US residents can form and 100% own an Ohio LLC or corporation without traveling to Ohio or holding a US visa. Incorp International provides the mandatory Ohio statutory agent and coordinates remote US bank account setup.

How fast can an Ohio company be incorporated?

Filings submitted through the Ohio Secretary of State's electronic portal are typically approved and certified within 1 to 2 business days. Same-day expedited filing is also available.

What is an Ohio Statutory Agent?

Ohio law requires every legal entity to continuously maintain a Statutory Agent with a physical street address in Ohio to accept official legal notices and service of process. Incorp International provides this registered statutory agent service.