Washington S Corporation Formation Attorneys & Lawyers

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Seth W.

Seth Wiener

1226 reviews
As an experienced trial lawyer and litigator, Seth Wiener has resolved numerous federal and state litigations. His cases have included everything from family law to bankruptcy to fraud and more. Before Seth formed his own firm, the Law Office of Seth W. Wiener, he worked for several prominent law offices where he gained a great deal of experience.
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Steven S.

Steven Stark

583 reviews
For over 30 years, Steven Stark has offered counsel to non-profit organizations and private companies. He has a passion for helping small businesses in particular since he himself started several businesses of his own in New York and Florida. He understands the importance of small businesses having a reliable attorney to advise them about legal matters from their inception.
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Scott S.

Scott Stram

406 reviews
As a member of both the New York and New Jersey Bars, Scott Stram is an accomplished lawyer with experience in a range of legal and business areas. This includes corporate law, data security, compliance, real estate, and intellectual property. Before founding Stram Law, Scott was a compliance officer for a company that performed property audits, a director of a security consulting practice, and an operations officer for Viacom and CBS.
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Jake S.

Jake Siciliano

275 reviews
Jake graduated from Thomas Jefferson School of Law where he focused on international trademark and corporate law. As of 2022, he has obtained his L.L.M. in Financial Compli... read more
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Alisha B.

Alisha Bond

238 reviews
-Received a BS in Communications in 2005, JD from Mississippi College School of Law in 2009, and MBA from University of Maryland in 2016. -Results driven and experienced a... read more
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Richard G.

Richard Gora

200 reviews
Looking for an attorney with experience? Richard Gora is the exact attorney you want. Having defended over 100 cases both in state and federal courts and working with clients from around the globe, Richard has an array of different experiences. His services are wide-ranging and include business litigation, securities litigations, employment litigation, and business counsel. Prior to founding Gora LLC, he worked for Finn, Dixon & Herling LLP for eight years.
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Michael W.

Michael Wieser

164 reviews
I am dedicated to working with startup entrepreneurs and early stage growth companies to provide legal stability and scalability for growing enterprises. What sets me apart... read more
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Brig R.

Brig Ricks

160 reviews
I am a senior executive and strategic legal adviser with 19 years of experience providing legal services in international environments. I am a general counsel who can advis... read more
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Grant M.

Grant Maynard

128 reviews
Grant represents high-growth companies in all aspects of formation, financing, and intellectual property issues. He has previously done general corporate, intellectual, and real estate work at Nebraska's oldest law firm before transitioning to a more virtual lifestyle. As an entrepreneur himself, he understands the need to balance legal and business interests.
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Brooks L.

Brooks Lindsay

5 reviews
Brooks is the Founding Attorney of Light Legal PLLC, providing light-weight, light-speed, top-quality legal services for businesses at about half the price of BigLaw. Brook... read more
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Why use UpCounsel to hire a Washington S Corporation Formation Attorney?

Confused by complicated questionnaires and government forms? Want to get your questions answered by a real attorney? UpCounsel provides personalized legal services with experienced attorneys to help form your Washington S Corp the right way.
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Why use UpCounsel to form an S Corporation in Washington

Starting an S Corporation in Washington with a business startup attorney on UpCounsel is easy, informative, and cost-effective. In just three simple steps, our S Corporation attorneys will help you protect your business and personal assets, and help you organize your business for state and federal compliance for an S Corporation.

When forming an S Corporation in Washington with UpCounsel, the attorney you choose to help you will conduct a business name search for your Washington S Corporation and assist you in preparing your S Corporation Operating Agreement, along with providing other legal services based on your needs. Once your Articles of Incorporation have been prepared and successfully filed with the Washington Secretary of State, your Washington S Corporation has been formed and begins its existence as a corporate entity.

However, a corporation does not register as an S Corporation with the Secretary of State. It registers as a corporation with the state and then may file for S Corporation status with the IRS. S Corporation status is a taxation category which provides income tax advantages to small businesses.

Choosing a Company Name for Your S Corporation

One of the first steps in the process of forming your S Corporation is to choose your business name.

The business name that you choose must contain the words "incorporated", "corporation", "limited", or "company", or the abbreviation "Corp.", "Inc., "Ltd." or "Co." It must be distinguishable (not the same as or deceptively similar to) the name of an S Corp or foreign S Corporation reserved or registered.

Your S Corporation name may contain the name of one or more members.

By using UpCounsel, you can choose several business names in order of preference. Your attorney of choice can then conduct a name check for your Washington S Corp before filing to see which names are available. Once you have chosen an available name, your chosen S Corporation attorney can help you properly register your name with the State of Washington .

Requirements for Forming a Washington S Corporation

Article of Incorporation: When forming an S Corporation in Washington, the Article of Incorporation must be filed with the Washington Secretary of State. Washington state law requires that certain information be included in your Article of Incorporation when forming your Washington S Corporation.

This information must include:

  1. The S-Corp's name and address.
  2. The S-Corp's registered agent's name, address, and signature.
  3. The S-Corp's effective date of Articles.
  4. The S-Corp's duration (either infinite or for a finite term).
  5. The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue.
  6. The name(s) and address(es) of the S-Corp's incorporator(s).

Additionally, a Washington S Corporation formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

S Corporation Qualification Requirements: For a corporation to qualify as a S Corporation for tax purposes, it must meet the following requirements:

  1. Must be a domestic corporation.
  2. Have only allowable shareholders including individual, certain trusts, and estates; and may not include partnerships, corporations or non-resident shareholders.
  3. Have only one class of stock
  4. Have no more than 100 shareholders
  5. Not be an ineligible corporation (i.e. certain financial institutions, insurance companies, and domestic international sales corporations).

Additionally, a Washington S Corporation formation generally requires inclusion and/or consideration of the following:

S Corporation Operating Agreement: Although the S Corporation Operating Agreement is not required with the Articles of Incorporation, it is a good idea for every S Corporation with more than one member to have one. The Articles of Incorporation may contain restrictions or prohibitions on the power of the members to adopt, amend, or repeal an operating agreement.

Membership: A S Corporation must have one or more members.

Eligibility Requirements: A natural person or an entity.

Procedure for Membership: The member may acquire an interest in the S Corporation directly from the S Corporation at the time of formation and, after formation, at the time provided in and upon compliance with the Articles of Incorporation or the operating agreement or, if not provided, only upon the vote of a majority in interest of the S Corporation members, excluding the vote of the person acquiring the membership interest, and only when the person becomes a party to the S-Corp's operating agreement.

Resident Agent needed for a Washington S Corporation

Remember every Washington S Corporations must have a registered agent in the state, which is the person or office designated to receive official state correspondence and notice if the company is "served" with a lawsuit. The statutory agent may be an Washington resident or business entity authorized to do business in Washington. However, the registered agent must have a physical Washington street address.

Washington Secretary of State

Once you create an S Corporations in Washington, the Washington Secretary of the Commonwealth will require that certain recurring responsibilities and duties be fulfilled. The most important of these are explained below.

For further information, contact the Washington Secretary of the Commonwealth.

Recurring Responsibilities and Duties for Washington S Corporations

Annual Report: Each S Corporation shall provide an annual report to the Washington Secretary of State regarding its financial condition to each of its members. The fee for filing is $69.

Records: Each Washington S Corporation must keep complete corporate records open to inspection at its principal office. For a detailed list of records required, please contact the Washington Secretary of State.

Business Licenses: Business licenses and/or permits are required for most businesses. Contact the Washington Secretary of the Commonwealth for specific licenses.

Incorporator's Statement: A signed "Incorporator's Statement" showing the names and addresses of the initial directors who will serve on the board until the first annual meeting of shareholders.

Filing Fees for a Washington S Corporation

The processing fee for the Article of Incorporation is generally about $180 but may be expedited online for additional fees. Also, the general fees for filing and reserving a S-Corp's name is $30. These fees can change so it would be best to check with the Washington Secretary of State on what the latest fees are. You may pay these fees in many different forms including cash, check, money orders, or debit and credit cards.

Taxes for a Washington S Corporation

A Washington S Corporation is a special type of corporation created through an IRS tax election. An eligible corporation can avoid double taxation (once to the corporation and again to the shareholders) by a corporation with a Subchapter S designation by the IRS. A corporation must file a Form 2553 to elect "S" status within two months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year.

Owners of the S Corporation report business losses or profits on their personal tax returns, and therefore the business itself is not taxed. Each shareholder is responsible for paying taxes on their pro rata share of the S corporation's items of income, deductions, and credits (through a Schedule K-1 form).

Washington state law follows federal law for income tax purposes. Therefore if a corporation is classified as an association taxable as a S Corporation for federal income tax purposes, so will it be taxable as a corporation for state tax purposes.

Federal Income Tax: An S Corporation does not pay federal income tax.

Washington State Income Tax: Washington does not impose an income tax on businesses or individuals. Washington S Corporations are subject to Washington's Business and Occupation Tax.

Federal Tax Identification Number: Your corporation will need to obtain a federal tax identification number, which is also known as an Employment Identification Number (EIN). You do not need to get a new EIN after the corporation choose to become a S Corporation. An EIN is similar to an individual's social security number. You will need an EIN for your S Corporation as long as there is one member, even if the S Corporation does not have employees. For certain tax filing requirements the attorney you choose on UpCounsel can help prepare your Federal Tax ID Application, if you have not done so already.

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This is the most recent 20 reviews out of 83 reviews for Business Formation attorneys in Washington

Alexander Nahai
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Advisory Agreement

Alexander Nahai

"Alexander was very knowledgeable and quick in supporting the review of my advisory agreement. I would definitely use him in the future."

.
Issaquah, WA,

Daniel E. Goodrich
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Business Licenses & Industry Regulations

Daniel E. Goodrich

"Fantastic help - quick, clear, and made it easy for me to understand."

.
Tacoma, WA,

Grant Maynard
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Restructure Corporation

Grant Maynard

"We've really enjoyed working with Grant and his team. Their feedback is solid, responses pretty quick and we feel supported the way that we want to."

.
Washougal, WA,

Michael Wieser
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Business Formation Consultation

Michael Wieser

"Michael has depth of knowledge and pairs it with a warm, approachable demeanor. Throughout our collaboration, he demonstrated patience, graciously accommodating my numerous questions and revisions, as my business policies underwent refinement. I endorse Michael for his expertise and commendable professionalism."

.
Seattle, WA,

Katie Centolella
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Katie Centolella

"Katie and Brent provided exceptional legal work for my "Consult on Corporate Restructure" project. Working with them was an absolute pleasure. They took the time to understand my specific needs and concerns, and were always available to provide guidance and support whenever I needed it. Their professionalism and expertise were top-notch, and they made the entire process seamless and stress-free. I am truly grateful for their hard work and dedication, and would highly recommend them to anyone in need of legal services."

.
Seattle, WA,

Chelsie Campbell
4.5
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Operating Agreement

Chelsie Campbell

"It was a pleasure to work with Chelsie. Although I did feel the review time could have been a bit faster"

.
Snoqualmie, WA,

Marshall Harris
4.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Complete UDLAB, LLC

Marshall Harris

"It was great working with Marshall on our project. Very personable and knowledgable, however some small details did require correction."

.
Bellevue, WA,

Jake Siciliano
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Corporate Restructure Services

Jake Siciliano

"Straight to the point every time! My Go-to Attorney! Thanks again Jake! Professional as always!"

.
Auburn, WA,

Lara Lavi
3.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Review Advisory Agreement

Lara Lavi

"Lara is very knowledgeable, she delivered very useful insights, and overall I enjoyed working with her. My only complaint is weak follow-through from Lara on responses and meetings."

.
Tacoma, WA,

Craig Choate
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Craig Choate

"Knowledgeable, friendly, and speedy. Would absolutely work with Craig in the future!"

.
Seattle, WA,

Steven Stark
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

LLC Formation and Organization

Steven Stark

"This was my second experience with Steve and his performance once again was outstanding. He set up my LLC entity in Washington State and the process was fast and painless. I will definitely continue to use Steve's services on an as-neeeded basis in the future."

.
Snohomish, WA,

William Barlow
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Form LLC

William Barlow

"My engagement with Bill was nothing less than outstanding! He was extremely knowledgeable and easy to work with. 100% would work with him again and I recommend him to anyone looking for guidance and expertise in legal matters."

.
Vancouver, WA,

Neil Gandhi
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Draft Franchise Agreement

Neil Gandhi

"Pleasant and returned calls quickly"

.
Snohomish, WA,

Eric Goldman
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Band member agreement + investment structure

Eric Goldman

"Always great working with Eric"

.
Seattle, WA,

Drew Stokesbary
4.5
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Drew Stokesbary

"Drew was great to work with. He was very knowledgeable and made good suggestions for helping our with our ownership restructure. I highly recommend him and look forward to working with him in the future."

.
Spokane, WA,

Sean Morrison
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Business Formation Consultation

Sean Morrison

"My consultation call with Sean was incredibly helpful. He was thorough, clear, and was able to easily communicate lots of details in a very digestible way. I left our meeting with a better and more clear understanding of my path forward. I highly recommend Sean!"

.
Seattle, WA,

Anthonie Woller
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Form LLC

Anthonie Woller

"Anthonie Woller was very pleasant to work with. He was kind, courteous and professional."

.
Tacoma, WA,

Geoffrey Amend
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Stripe Atlas Post-Incorporation Package

Geoffrey Amend

"Geoffrey was very professional and understood exactly what I needed when setting up my company."

.
Vancouver, WA,

Carl Marquardt
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Carl Marquardt

"Carl has been great to work with. Very quick and helpful. Will be contacting him again for another project and future projects."

.
Tacoma, WA,

Ellis Eifert
5.0
Clear Communication
Response Time
Knowledgeable
Meets Deadlines

Consult on Corporate Restructure

Ellis Eifert

"A+"

.
Seattle, WA,

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