First, you will want to see if your business name is available for use. To check business name availability, you can search registered businesses here: http://commerce.alaska.gov/CBP/Main/CBPLSearch.aspx?mode=Corp

Alaska does not require name reservations. Your business name will be yours once you complete your filing.

Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic DevelopmentDivision of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing

P.O. Box 110808
Juneau, AK 99811-0808
P: (907) 465-2550
F: (907) 465-2974
corporations@alaska.gov

Then file the paperwork with the Alaska Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing, Corporations Section. Alaska corporations and Alaska LLCs can file their Articles of Incorporation or Articles of Organization online at http://commerce.alaska.gov/dnn/cbpl/Corporations/CorpFormsFees.aspx. It costs $250 to form an Alaska corporation or Alaska LLC. The Corporations Section will process your paperwork immediately if you file online. You can mail in your articles, but that takes about 10 days to process.

No matter whether you’re incorporating or forming an LLC in Alaska, you’ll need to include the following information:

Business name

Business purpose

Registered agent name and address

Names and addresses of one or more organizers/incorporators

Number of authorized shares (corporations only)

If you find the incorporation process intimidating or simply want someone to do it for you, you can incorporate in Alaska with Northwest Registered Agent.

Alaska Department of Commerce, Community and Economic Development Division of Corporations, Business, and Professional Licensing

P.O. Box 110808
Juneau, AK 99811-0808
P: (907) 465-2550
F: (907) 465-2974
corporations@alaska.gov

Sales Tax:

Alaska doesn’t have a state sales tax, but some Alaska cities/counties do. For example, Fairbanks and Anchorage do not have sales tax, but Juneau has a 5% sales tax.If you aren’t sure about your specific city/county, look it up online using the Alaska Community Database http://commerce.alaska.gov/cra/DCRAExternal

Income Tax:

Alaska corporations pay Corporate Income Tax ranging from 1% to 9.4% depending on your taxable income. Alaska does not have Personal Income Tax.Since Alaska doesn’t have state personal income tax, there is no employee withholding for state income tax. The Alaska Department of Labor oversees unemployment taxes and workers compensation http://www.labor.state.ak.us/home.htm

Alaska Department of Revenue Tax Division

P.O. Box 110420
Juneau, AK 99811-0420
P: (907) 465-2320
F: (907) 465-2375

Alaska State Business Licensing:

You will need to get an Alaska Business License after you have your filed articles of organization or incorporation. An Alaska Business License costs $100 and has to be renewed each year. In addition to the state license, you will need to find out if your city or county requires any local licenses. One important note, having an Alaska Business License does not protect your businesses name. Multiple business licenses may be issued under the same name. However, registering as a business entity with the Corporations Section does protect your business name. This is a great example of how important it is to form your business properly when you start out.

Any other registration requirements?

Some additional licenses may be required. Here is an overview of some of the major municipalities. Check with your local government about licensing.

Anchorage Municipal Licenses:

Anchorage licenses businesses at the municipal level. Only some types of businesses require an Anchorage municipal license. For example, massage practitioners or pawnbrokers must apply for a municipal license. A complete list of occupations requiring a municipal license is available online: http://www.muni.org/Departments/Assembly/Clerk/Licensing/Pages/Default.aspxAnchorage contractors also require a municipal license to do business in Anchorage http://www.muni.org/Departments/OCPD/development/BSD/Pages/ContractorLicensing.aspx

Fairbanks North Star Licenses:

The Borough of Fairbanks North Star does not require a business license. However, if your business’s physical address is within Fairbanks city limits and your business has an active State of AK Business License, you have to get a City of Fairbanks Business License http://www.fairbanksalaska.us/?p=431654&preview=true

City License Info

Anchorage:

Municipal Clerks Office
632 W. 6th Ave. Suite 25
Anchorage, AK 99501
P: (907) 343-4311
F: (907) 343-4313

Fairbanks:

City Hall
800 Cushman Street
Fairbanks, AK 99701
P: (907) 459-6702
F: (907) 459-6710

Do I need to collect Alaska sales tax?

Alaska doesn’t have state sales tax, but some Alaska cities and counties do.

What is the Alaska sales tax rate?

Check with your city and county to see if there are local taxes. For example, Fairbanks and Anchorage do not have sales tax, but Juneau has a 5% sales tax.

How do I register for sales tax?

There is no state sales tax, so register for local taxes by contacting your city or county government.

Alaska Department of Revenue

Tax Division
P.O. Box 110420
Juneau, AK 99811-0420
P: (907) 465-2320
F: (907) 465-2375
http://tax.alaska.gov/