Everything you need to register a foreign LLC in Wisconsin.
State filing fee$100one-time
Registered agent$125/yearbased on Northwest RA
Total, all in$670
Wisconsin data last reviewed Aug 19, 2026 · wdfi.orgTotals include the $100 filing fee once, Northwest RA at $125/year, and Wisconsin recurring state costs over the selected period.
Foreign Qualification
Filing fee
$100
Form
Foreign Registration Statement - Limited Liability Company (Form Corp 521)
Annual obligation
$65/year
Processing time
Wisconsin publishes no turnaround for standard processing in any channel. What it sells is a guarantee: $100 extra for close of business the next business day, $250 for four hours at the counter, $500 for one hour at the counter
Expedite
$100 for close of business the next business day, $250 for four hours at the counter, $500 for one hour at the counter
Wisconsin data last reviewed Aug 19, 2026 · wdfi.org
Formation in Wisconsin
Formation fee
$130
Annual cost
$25/year
State income tax
Income tax up to 7.65% (2026 tax year)
Privacy
Moderate
What triggers foreign qualification in Wisconsin?
Physical office or place of business
Employees working in the state
Important to know
Foreign LLCs pay $65 for the annual report against $25 for domestic.
Back fees run $97.50 for each year of unregistered operation, being the annual report fee plus a 50 percent penalty.
Activities that do NOT require registration in Wisconsin
The following activities are explicitly carved out by statute. On their own, they do not require a foreign LLC to register in Wisconsin.
Maintaining, defending, mediating, arbitrating, or settling an action or proceeding
Carrying on internal company affairs, including holding meetings of members or managers
Maintaining accounts in financial institutions
Maintaining offices or agencies for transfer, exchange, and registration of the company's securities
Selling through independent contractors
Soliciting or obtaining orders, if the orders require acceptance outside Wisconsin
Creating or acquiring indebtedness, mortgages, or security interests in property
Securing or collecting debts, enforcing security interests, and holding or maintaining the property
Conducting an isolated transaction that is not one of similar transactions
Owning property, and nothing more
Doing business in interstate commerce
Under Wis. Stat. Section 183.0905, as rewritten by 2021 Wis. Act 258 effective 2023-01-01. There is NO time limit on the isolated-transaction carve-out; the repealed Section 183.1003 did carry a 30-day cap and is still widely cited. Note that the act is numbered to the 2021 session although it was published in 2022.
This page provides general information based on publicly available state requirements. It is not legal advice. Verify with the Wisconsin DFI before filing.