Is it cheaper to form an LLC in Connecticut or Wyoming?

Wyoming is cheaper at formation ($100) than Connecticut ($120). Ongoing costs are also different: $160 vs $180 per year. Total over three years: $580 vs $660.

Can I form an LLC in Connecticut if I live in Wyoming?

Yes, but your Wyoming business will almost certainly need to register as a foreign LLC in Wyoming too, which means paying Wyoming's foreign registration fee and any ongoing Wyoming obligations on top of the Connecticut ones. The "form elsewhere to save" math usually doesn't work for operating businesses; it only works when you have no physical operations tied to any specific state.

How long does it take to form an LLC in Connecticut vs Wyoming?

Connecticut online: 5 business days; Wyoming online: 1 business day. Connecticut offers paid expedite from $50. Wyoming does not offer paid expedite.

Which state has lower taxes for an LLC, Connecticut or Wyoming?

Connecticut: state income tax applies to member-level pass-through income, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax. Wyoming: no state income tax, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax.

Do both states require a registered agent?

Yes. Every US state (and DC) requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Connecticut and Wyoming both have this requirement. You can serve as your own agent if you live in the state; most out-of-state filers use a commercial agent for $50 to $125 per year.

Which state should I pick if I run an online business from home?

Form in the state you actually live in. Your home state's Department of Revenue treats your residence as nexus regardless of where the LLC is filed, which means you owe state income tax there anyway. Forming in Connecticut or Wyoming to escape your home state's tax doesn't work; it adds paperwork. The non-resident filings make sense when you genuinely operate nowhere in particular: international founders, purely passive holding entities, or real-estate LLCs owning property in other states.

Connecticut vs Wyoming LLC comparison

Connecticut charges $120 to form an LLC; Wyoming charges $100. Day-one sticker price is only part of the story, since most of the real cost comes from the annual obligations that stack up each year you keep the LLC open.

Over a rolling three-year window, Wyoming runs about $80 less in total state fees than Connecticut. Whether that gap matters depends on whether you actually operate in one of these states or are weighing a non-resident filing.

On speed, Wyoming typically clears standard online filings faster than Connecticut. Both states offer expedited tiers at an additional cost for filers on tight timelines.

For most small operators the choice is not really between these two states at all. It is between forming where the business actually operates and trying to route through a non-resident filing. The data below shows what each option actually costs.

Formation filing fee

Connecticut $120

Wyoming $100

Wyoming saves $20

Year 1 total estimate

Connecticut $300

Wyoming $260

Wyoming saves $40

Ongoing per year

Connecticut $180

Wyoming $160

Wyoming saves $20

3-year total

Connecticut $660

Wyoming $580

Wyoming saves $80

Key differences at a glance

Wyoming costs $20 less to form ($100 vs $120).
Wyoming is $20 per year cheaper to maintain ($160 vs $180).
Wyoming has no state individual income tax; pass-through LLC income flows to members without a state layer. The other state does tax at the member level.

Where each state fits

For most filers, forming in the state you actually operate from is the right call. The side-by-side below shows where the two states meaningfully diverge.

What each state offers that the other does not

Only Connecticut

Paid expedited tier

Only Wyoming

No state income tax

Both states

Online filing
No entity-level franchise or LLC tax
No publication requirement
Operating agreement not statutorily required

Three-year cost, side by side

Rough estimate of the state-facing cost to form and keep an LLC through three years. Both totals include a $100 per year registered-agent estimate.

Connecticut Wyoming

Year 1

$300

$260

Year 2

$480

$420

Year 3

$660

$580

Running total includes the one-time filing fee and annual ongoing costs (report fee or franchise tax plus a $100/year registered agent estimate).

What it costs under your specific situation

The table below runs the same LLC through four common scenarios. "Non-resident" rows assume a typical home-state foreign LLC registration adds about $200 per year of stacked cost; the real number depends on which state you live in and ranges from $50 to over $800 depending on jurisdiction.

Scenario	Year 1	Each year after	3-year total
You live in Connecticut, business operates there No foreign LLC registration needed. You pay Connecticut fees only.	$300	$180	$660
You live in Wyoming, business operates there No foreign LLC registration needed. You pay Wyoming fees only.	$260	$160	$580
Non-resident forming in Connecticut with operations elsewhere You pay Connecticut's fees plus a typical home-state foreign LLC registration of about $200 per year.	$500	$380	$1,260
Non-resident forming in Wyoming with operations elsewhere You pay Wyoming's fees plus a typical home-state foreign LLC registration of about $200 per year.	$460	$360	$1,180

Connecticut vs Wyoming: full comparison

Dimension	Connecticut	Wyoming
Online filing Can you file the formation document online?	Yes	Yes
Online approval time Standard, non-expedited	5 business days	1 business day
Expedited option Paid fast-track filing	$50	Not offered
Annual report Required in addition to tax	Required, $80	Required, $60
State-imposed annual tax Franchise, privilege, or LLC tax minimum	None	None
State income tax On pass-through LLC income at member level	Yes	No
Publication requirement Newspaper publication after formation	No	No
Operating agreement Required by state statute	Recommended, not required	Recommended, not required
Foreign LLC fee Cost to register as a foreign LLC in this state	$120	$150
State sales tax General statewide rate	6.3%	4.0%

Taxes in Connecticut and Wyoming

How each state handles entity-level tax on LLCs. Pass-through classification means member-level income tax also applies at each member's residence state.

Connecticut tax

No entity-level franchise tax on LLCs. State income tax applies to member-level pass-through income. Corporate rate 7.5%.

Wyoming tax

No entity-level franchise tax on LLCs. No state income tax.

Ongoing compliance

The recurring filings each state requires after formation.

Connecticut

Annual report $80, due 03/31 each year. Registered agent required in Connecticut.

Wyoming

Annual report $60, due on your anniversary month. Registered agent required in Wyoming.

Formation process, side by side

What actually happens from the moment you start filing to the moment you're in good standing. Use this as a checklist.

Connecticut

Check business-name availability on the Connecticut entity search.
Appoint a registered agent with a physical Connecticut street address.
File Certificate of Organization (Limited Liability Company, Domestic) for $120.
Wait for approval. Online typically 5 business days. Paid expedite from $50.
Adopt an operating agreement (recommended, not required by Connecticut statute).
Apply for a federal EIN (free from the IRS).
Open a business bank account to separate personal and business finances.
File your first annual report and pay $80 when it comes due.

Wyoming

Check business-name availability on the Wyoming entity search.
Appoint a registered agent with a physical Wyoming street address.
File Limited Liability Company Articles of Organization for $100.
Wait for approval. Online typically 1 business days. No paid expedite offered.
Adopt an operating agreement (recommended, not required by Wyoming statute).
Apply for a federal EIN (free from the IRS).
Open a business bank account to separate personal and business finances.
File your first annual report and pay $60 when it comes due.

Before you pick either state

A few things that apply no matter which state you choose. These trip up enough first-time filers that they're worth stating explicitly.

Registered agent is non-negotiable. Both Connecticut and Wyoming (and every other US state) require every LLC to designate a registered agent with a physical street address in the state of formation. You can serve as your own agent if you live in the state; otherwise a commercial agent runs $50 to $125 per year. Using your own home address makes it part of the public record.

Forming elsewhere does not escape your home state's tax. If you live and operate a business from your home state, forming the LLC in Connecticut or Wyoming does not avoid your home state's income tax. The moment you transact business at home, your home state requires a foreign LLC registration, and state tax liability follows your residence regardless of where the entity sits on paper.

EIN applications are free. The IRS issues Employer Identification Numbers directly at no cost. Any service charging you to "get your EIN" is reselling a free form submission. Single-member LLCs with no employees technically don't need one for federal tax, but nearly every bank requires an EIN to open a business account.

Operating agreement matters more than the state you pick. A well-drafted operating agreement governs member ownership, management, profit splits, buy-sell terms, and dissolution. Without one, your LLC runs on the state's default rules, which are rarely what you want. California, Maine, Missouri, and New York require a written one by statute; every other state treats it as strongly recommended.

Agency contacts

Connecticut Secretary of the State, Business Services Division

Website: portal.ct.gov/sots
Phone: (860) 509-6003
Mail: Business Services Division, P.O. Box 150470, Hartford, CT 06115-0470
Office: 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1000, Hartford, CT 06106
Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday

Wyoming Secretary of State - Business Division

Website: sos.wyo.gov
Phone: (307) 777-7311
Email: business@wyo.gov
Mail: Herschler Building East, Suite 100 and 101, 122 W 25th Street, Cheyenne, WY 82002-0020
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain, Monday to Friday

Connecticut Department of Revenue Services

Website: portal.ct.gov/drs
Phone: (860) 297-5962
Email: drs@ct.gov
Mail: 450 Columbus Boulevard, Suite 1, Hartford, CT 06103
Hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM Eastern, Monday to Friday

Wyoming Department of Revenue

Website: revenue.wyo.gov/home
Phone: (307) 777-5200
Mail: Herschler Building East, 122 West 25th Street, Suite E301, Cheyenne, WY 82002
Hours: 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM Mountain, Monday to Friday

Frequently Asked Questions

Is it cheaper to form an LLC in Connecticut or Wyoming?

Wyoming is cheaper at formation ($100) than Connecticut ($120). Ongoing costs are also different: $160 vs $180 per year. Total over three years: $580 vs $660.
Can I form an LLC in Connecticut if I live in Wyoming?

Yes, but your Wyoming business will almost certainly need to register as a foreign LLC in Wyoming too, which means paying Wyoming's foreign registration fee and any ongoing Wyoming obligations on top of the Connecticut ones. The "form elsewhere to save" math usually doesn't work for operating businesses; it only works when you have no physical operations tied to any specific state.
How long does it take to form an LLC in Connecticut vs Wyoming?

Connecticut online: 5 business days; Wyoming online: 1 business day. Connecticut offers paid expedite from $50. Wyoming does not offer paid expedite.
Which state has lower taxes for an LLC, Connecticut or Wyoming?

Connecticut: state income tax applies to member-level pass-through income, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax. Wyoming: no state income tax, no entity-level franchise or LLC tax.
Do both states require a registered agent?

Yes. Every US state (and DC) requires every LLC to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in the state. Connecticut and Wyoming both have this requirement. You can serve as your own agent if you live in the state; most out-of-state filers use a commercial agent for $50 to $125 per year.
Which state should I pick if I run an online business from home?

Form in the state you actually live in. Your home state's Department of Revenue treats your residence as nexus regardless of where the LLC is filed, which means you owe state income tax there anyway. Forming in Connecticut or Wyoming to escape your home state's tax doesn't work; it adds paperwork. The non-resident filings make sense when you genuinely operate nowhere in particular: international founders, purely passive holding entities, or real-estate LLCs owning property in other states.

Full state guides

ConnecticutOpen Connecticut LLC guide →
WyomingOpen Wyoming LLC guide →

More Connecticut and Wyoming comparisons

More Connecticut vs ...

More Wyoming vs ...

Sources

Filing fee: business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/domestic-limited-liability-com… · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Secretary of the State Business Services: Certificate of Organization (formation of a domestic LLC) fee is $120. Same fee applies whether filed online through Business.CT.gov or by mail.
Expedited filing: business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/expedited-services · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut expedited service fee is $50 per transaction. Expedited service is only available for online filings through Business.CT.gov (not available for mail). Expedited filings typically process within 24 hours.
Annual report fee: business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/domestic-limited-liability-com… · verified April 21, 2026
Annual Report fee = $80, filed online between January 1 and March 31 each year. Same $80 fee applies to foreign LLCs (Foreign Annual Report).
Franchise tax: www.cttaxalert.com/2019/08/business-entity-tax-repeal/ · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Public Act 19-117 (2019 budget bill) repealed the $250 biennial Business Entity Tax (Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 12-284b) effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2020. Connecticut no longer imposes a franchise tax or business entity tax on LLCs. Flagged as applies: false per the instructions.
Foreign LLC registration fee: business.ct.gov/knowledge-base/articles/foreign-limited-liability-comp… · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Foreign Registration Statement (foreign LLC): $120 filing fee, matching the domestic Certificate of Organization. Foreign LLCs also file the $80 Annual Report between January 1 and March 31.
Sales tax rate: portal.ct.gov/drs/sales-tax/sales-and-use-tax-information · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Department of Revenue Services: statewide general sales and use tax rate is 6.35%. Connecticut does not authorize local sales taxes. A higher 7.75% rate applies to certain luxury goods and a 1% rate applies to computer and data processing services.
Corporate income tax rate: portal.ct.gov/drs/corporation-tax/corporation-business-tax · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Corporation Business Tax (CBT) base rate is 7.5% on net income. A 10% CBT surtax has been extended through income years beginning before January 1, 2026 by Public Act 24-151. The 7.5% is Connecticut's income-only corporate rate; the surtax and PTET are noted in taxes.notes rather than folded into this number.
Business name search: service.ct.gov/business/s/onlinebusinesssearch?language=en_US · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Business Records Search via the CT.gov portal. Use before filing to confirm name availability.
Online filing portal: business.ct.gov/ · verified April 21, 2026
Business.CT.gov is the official online filing portal for Connecticut business formation, annual reports, and amendments. Filings typically complete within 3 to 5 business days (standard) or about 1 business day with the $50 expedited fee.
Operating agreement requirement: law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-34/chapter-613a/section-34-243d… · verified April 21, 2026
Conn. Gen. Stat. Sec. 34-243a defines an operating agreement as the agreement of all members whether oral, implied, in a record, or any combination. No statutory requirement that the agreement be written or filed. Recorded as not required.
Publication requirement: law.justia.com/codes/connecticut/title-34/chapter-613a/ · verified April 21, 2026
Connecticut Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (Chapter 613a) contains no newspaper publication requirement. LLCs are not required to publish notice of formation.
Filing fee: sos.wyo.gov/business/docs/businessfees.pdf · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming Secretary of State Business Division Filing Fee Schedule (effective 07/01/2021). Domestic LLC Articles of Organization = $100.00 filing fee. Online filings add a 2.4% (minimum $1) credit-card processor convenience fee; the base state fee remains $100.
Expedited filing: sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=BUS · verified April 21, 2026
The Wyoming SoS FAQ explicitly states that the office does not offer expedited service. Online filings are processed immediately; mail filings up to 15 business days.
Foreign LLC registration fee: sos.wyo.gov/forms/business/fllc/fllc-certificateauthority.pdf · verified April 21, 2026
Foreign LLC Application for Certificate of Authority filing fee = $150.00, payable to Wyoming Secretary of State. Requires original certificate of existence/good standing from home state dated within 60 days.
Operating agreement requirement: law.justia.com/codes/wyoming/title-17/chapter-29/article-1/section-17-… · verified April 21, 2026
W.S. 17-29-102(a)(xiii) defines 'operating agreement' to include oral, in a record, implied, or any combination. Wyoming LLC Act does not require a written operating agreement.
Publication requirement: sos.wyo.gov/faqs.aspx?root=BUS · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming SoS FAQ and the Wyoming LLC Act (Chapter 29) contain no publication requirement. Only NY, AZ, and NE require publication.
Annual report fee: sos.wyo.gov/Business/docs/SOSTaxWorksheetRules.pdf · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming annual report license tax = $60 minimum or $0.0002 per dollar of assets located and employed in Wyoming, whichever is greater. Due first day of the anniversary month of formation. Confirmed on the Wyoming SoS annual report page at https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/AnnualReport.aspx and the Wyoming SoS FAQ.
Franchise tax: revenue.wyo.gov/home · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming Department of Revenue publishes no corporate or LLC franchise tax. The only entity-level annual charge on an LLC is the SoS annual report license tax, which is reported under annualReport.fee, not here.
Corporate income tax rate: revenue.wyo.gov/home · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming has no corporate income tax. Article 15 of the Wyoming Constitution bars a state income tax. Field set to null.
Sales tax rate: excise-tax-div.wyo.gov/sales-use-tax-rate-charts · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming statewide sales/use tax rate is 4.0%. Counties may levy additional local option taxes (typically 1-2%) on top.
Business name search: wyobiz.wyo.gov/business/filingsearch.aspx · verified April 21, 2026
Wyoming SoS WyoBiz entity name and filing search. Use before filing Articles of Organization to confirm name availability.
Online filing portal: wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/RegistrationInstr.aspx · verified April 21, 2026
WyoBiz is the Wyoming SoS online business filing portal. Online LLC filings become active immediately. Entities with names beginning with 'A' must be filed by paper for manual review.
Certificate of Formation form: sos.wyo.gov/forms/business/llc/llc-articlesorganization.pdf · verified April 21, 2026
Official LLC-Articles of Organization fillable form published by the Wyoming SoS, used for both mail and in-person filings.

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