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Alabama . 2026 filing guide

Alabama Secretary of State filings, deadlines, and how to do them right.

Annual reports, business search, registered agent changes, reinstatement, dissolution, tax registration. Every Alabama filing explained, plus the business environment, regulatory bodies, and a year-round compliance calendar. Verified against the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division as of June 2026.

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Verified against Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division on Jun 12, 2026
Agency
Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division
Branded as Alabama SOS Business Services
Phone
334-242-5324
Mon-Fri 8am-5pm CT
Annual due
March 15
10% annual penalty
Processing
3-5 business days
Online filings
Alabama business environment

Why founders choose Alabama (and what to know first)

Low formation fees and Business Privilege Tax structure favorable for smaller businesses. Strong aerospace, automotive, and manufacturing ecosystem. The annual report is combined with the BPT filing.

Economy
~$280B economy
Registered entities
~500,000 active entities
New formations / year
~75,000 annually
Key industries
Aerospace, automotive, agriculture, steel, healthcare, Huntsville tech corridor
Alabama tax profile

Tax obligations at a glance

Tax type Where Alabama stands
State income tax2% to 5%
Corporate income tax6.5% C-Corp
Sales tax4% state + 0-7% local
Franchise taxBusiness Privilege Tax, min $50

Tax obligations depend on entity type, where you operate, and where revenue is sourced. Consult a licensed CPA for entity-specific advice. File.Business connects you with vetted CPAs in Alabama on request.

Beyond the SoS

Other Alabama agencies your business will touch

The Secretary of State handles formation and corporate filings. These agencies handle the rest of your Alabama compliance.

Alabama Dept of Revenue
334-242-1170

Sales tax, corporate income tax, Business Privilege Tax

Alabama Dept of Labor
334-242-8400

Unemployment insurance, employer reporting

Alabama Dept of Insurance
334-269-3550

Insurance company licensing

Alabama Workforce Development
334-242-8055

Workforce programs, employer services

Alabama Workers Compensation
334-956-4044

Workers comp requirements

Alabama Department of Public Health
334-206-5300

Health-related business licensing

Alabama compliance calendar

Year-round filings every Alabama business should know

Recurring federal and state deadlines that affect Alabama businesses. Our Compliance Calendar tracks these and 200+ others against your entity.

WhenWhat is due
March 15Alabama annual filing deadline
Jan 31W-2 and 1099 deadlines (federal, applies to all state employers)
Mar 15Form 1065 and 1120-S deadline (pass-through entities)
Apr 15Form 1040 + Q1 federal estimated tax
Jun 15Q2 federal estimated tax
Sep 15Q3 federal estimated tax. Extended 1120-S / 1065
Oct 15Extended 1040 / 1120 deadline
Dec 31Year-end. BOI updates due within 30 days of beneficial-owner changes (FinCEN).
View full Alabama compliance calendar →
How-to . LLC formation

How to form an LLC in Alabama: step by step

Each step explained with what Alabama requires. File.Business handles all of this for $0 service fee plus the $200 state fee.

1
Pick a name

Search the state business name database to confirm the name is distinguishable. Must include LLC, L.L.C., or Limited Liability Company.

2
Choose a registered agent

State street address required (no P.O. Box). The agent must accept the appointment and be available during business hours.

3
File the Articles of Organization

Submit to the Secretary of State with the state filing fee. Online filing is the fastest channel.

4
Draft the operating agreement

Not filed with the state but legally important. Defines members, contributions, distributions, and manager rules.

5
Apply for an EIN

IRS Form SS-4. Online if a member has an SSN; mail/fax if all members are non-US.

6
Open a business bank account

Most banks require: Articles, EIN letter, operating agreement, and beneficial-owner ID.

7
Register for state tax accounts

Department of Revenue for sales tax, withholding accounts if hiring employees.

Start your Alabama LLC →

Ready to file your Alabama paperwork the easy way?

Five minutes per filing. State fee passed through at cost. Audit trail and deadline tracking included.

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Disclosure. File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division or any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Information on this page is for general guidance only and is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Filing fees and deadlines verified against the Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division as of June 2026 and may change. For entity-specific guidance, consult a licensed Alabama attorney or CPA.

File.Business is a private business filing and compliance service. We are not a government agency and are not affiliated with any Secretary of State office. You may file directly with the appropriate state agency. SOC 2 Type II audited. 220,000+ businesses formed since 2017.