Louisiana
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As a condition of formation, corporations in Louisiana must file a document known as the articles of incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Information contained in the articles of incorporation will become a matter of public record once the state approves the document. The Louisiana Secretary of State website provides business owners with fill-in-the-blanks articles of incorporation (see Resource section).

Name Considerations

The name of a corporation in Louisiana cannot have a similarity to other businesses registered with the Louisiana Secretary of State. To ensure name availability, call the Louisiana Secretary of State at 225-925-4704, or mail a name inquiry letter to P.O. Box 94125, Baton Rouge, LA 70804-9125. This preliminary step will help you avoid having the articles of incorporation rejected due to using the same name as another company in the state. The legal name of the corporation has to include words such as "Corporation," or an abbreviation such as "Corp."

Federal Tax Identification Number

In Louisiana, a prospective corporation has to obtain a federal tax ID number prior to filing articles of incorporation with the state. Prospective corporations in Louisiana can get a federal tax ID number from the Internal Revenue Service by phone, fax, mail or online using the IRS website. You need to furnish information regarding the company's business activities and indicate the number of people that the company expects to hire. The name, address and Social Security number of an authorized individual is required.

Requirements

The Louisiana articles must contain the legal name of the business, the company's principal office address and the number of shares the company will have the authority to issue to potential shareholders. The name and physical address of a registered agent also must be included in the articles. The registered agent's address acts as the official address of the company where tax and legal documents will get delivered. The articles require you to list the name and address of each incorporator who has the responsibility of organizing the company and filing the articles with the Louisiana Secretary of State. You must state the purpose for forming the company and indicate the duration of the business, unless it will have an unlimited existence.

Filing Procedures

The Louisiana Secretary of State website allows business owners to submit articles of incorporation online. In addition, you can fax the completed articles of incorporation to 225-932-5314. When filing by fax, include a cover sheet that has the contact name, telephone number and address of an authorized representative. Also, the cover sheet must include a credit card number and expiration date to cover the filing fee. As of February 2011, it costs $60 to file articles of incorporation with the Louisiana Secretary of State. The articles of incorporation may also be mailed or delivered in person to the Louisiana Secretary of State's office.

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