Form an S-Corp in Mississippi
Forming an S-Corp in Mississippi costs $50 in state filing fees and typically takes 5-7 business days to process. After that, plan for a $25 annual report fee plus $2.50 a year in franchise or minimum tax.
Last verified July 2026 against official Mississippi sources · see sources
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How to File
Choose a Corporate Name
Select a unique name for your S-Corporation that complies with Mississippi naming rules and includes a required designator such as 'Corporation,' 'Incorporated,' 'Corp.,' or 'Inc.' Conduct a name availability search on the Mississippi Secretary of State's website to confirm the name is not already in use.
30 minutes
Appoint a Registered Agent
Designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Mississippi who is authorized to receive legal documents and official correspondence on behalf of the corporation. The registered agent can be an individual Mississippi resident or a qualified registered agent service.
15-30 minutes
File Articles of Incorporation
Prepare and file Articles of Incorporation with the Mississippi Secretary of State's Business Services Division, either online through the Mississippi Business Services portal or by mail. The filing fee is $50, and you must include the corporate name, registered agent details, incorporator information, and authorized shares.
1-2 hours
Create Corporate Bylaws
Draft corporate bylaws that outline the internal governance structure, including procedures for shareholder meetings, officer roles, voting rights, and other operational rules. While not required to be filed with the state, bylaws are essential for corporate compliance and should be adopted at the organizational meeting.
2-4 hours
What's Next After Filing
Once your S-Corp is officially formed, you'll want to complete these important steps:
- •Hold Organizational Meeting and Issue Stock — Conduct an initial organizational meeting of incorporators or directors to adopt bylaws, elect officers, and issue stock to initial shareholders. Document the meeting with minutes and ensure stock issuance complies with securities regulations; S-Corp shareholders are limited to 100 and must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens.
- •Obtain EIN and Elect S-Corp Status with the IRS — Apply for an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS at no cost via the IRS website, then file IRS Form 2553 (Election by a Small Business Corporation) to elect S-Corporation tax status. The election must generally be filed no later than 2 months and 15 days after the beginning of the tax year for which the election is to take effect.
- •Register for Mississippi State Taxes and Licenses — Register with the Mississippi Department of Revenue for applicable state taxes, including withholding tax if you have employees, and obtain any required business licenses or permits at the state, county, or municipal level. Mississippi S-Corporations may be subject to state franchise tax and must ensure compliance with all applicable local licensing requirements.
Fees and Processing Time
- State filing fee:
- $50
- Expedite fee:
- $25
- Standard processing:
- 5-7 business days
- Expedited processing:
- 24-48 hours
Mississippi charges a $50 base filing fee for Articles of Incorporation. An additional $25 expedited processing fee applies for faster turnaround. The S-Corp election itself is made with the IRS (Form 2553) at no charge from the state.
S-Corp in Mississippi: Quick Answers
How much does it cost to form an S-Corp in Mississippi?
The state filing fee is $50, plus $25 if you choose expedited processing. Optional costs such as a paid registered agent are on top of that.
How long does it take to form an S-Corp in Mississippi?
Standard processing is 5-7 business days; expedited processing is 24-48 hours.
Does an S-Corp in Mississippi need a registered agent?
Yes. You must name a registered agent with a physical Mississippi address. You can serve as your own agent if you have a Mississippi street address and are available during business hours.
Does Mississippi require an S-Corp to publish a notice?
No. Mississippi has no newspaper publication requirement for this entity type.
What are the annual fees and filings for an S-Corp in Mississippi?
The annual report fee is $25; franchise or minimum tax is $2.50 a year. Due: April 15. See Annual Obligations below for other required filings.
Advantages
- ✓Pass-through taxation avoids double taxation at both the corporate and personal levels, with income and losses reported directly on shareholders' personal tax returns.
- ✓Shareholders who are active in the business may reduce self-employment tax liability by splitting income between reasonable salary and distributions.
- ✓Provides limited liability protection, shielding shareholders' personal assets from business debts and legal judgments.
- ✓Lends a professional and credible image to the business, which can be beneficial when seeking investors, contracts, or financing.
Considerations
- •S-Corporation status comes with strict IRS eligibility requirements, including a maximum of 100 shareholders, only one class of stock, and shareholders must be U.S. citizens or resident aliens.
- •More complex and costly to maintain than a sole proprietorship or partnership, requiring corporate formalities such as bylaws, meeting minutes, and annual reports.
- •Mississippi's franchise tax adds an ongoing state-level tax burden that LLCs and other pass-through entities may not face in the same way.
Annual Obligations
How an S-Corp Compares in Mississippi
S-Corp vs. LLC
Unlike an LLC, an S-Corporation requires stricter formalities such as issuing stock, holding annual meetings, and maintaining minutes, but may offer payroll tax savings through salary and distribution splitting that LLCs taxed as partnerships cannot as easily achieve.
S-Corp vs. Corporation
A standard C-Corporation is subject to double taxation on profits at both the corporate and shareholder levels, whereas an S-Corporation is a pass-through entity where income is taxed only at the shareholder level, avoiding the corporate income tax.
S-Corp vs. Partnership
Unlike a general partnership, an S-Corporation provides shareholders with limited liability protection from business debts and legal claims, while also offering potential self-employment tax savings that general partners typically do not enjoy.
S-Corp vs. Nonprofit
An S-Corporation is a for-profit entity focused on generating shareholder value and distributing profits, whereas a nonprofit corporation is organized for exempt purposes and cannot distribute profits to members or shareholders.
Sources
Fees, steps and deadlines on this page come from Mississippi's official filing office and tax agency pages listed below and were last verified in July 2026. Fees change — confirm on the official site before you file.
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