New Mexico LLC filing fee guide

New Mexico keeps LLC costs refreshingly simple: $50 for your Articles of Organization with the Secretary of State, plus zero ongoing state requirements. No sneaky franchise taxes, annual report fees, or hidden forms to worry about.

File online through the state's business portal, and your LLC will typically process within 1-3 business days. Online filing is now mandatory as of December 2024, with the state no longer accepting paper submissions.

Current New Mexico LLC filing fees

New Mexico maintains its straightforward approach with transparent filing fees. The Secretary of State charges a flat $50 for your Articles of Organization through the online portal, with a small convenience fee bringing the total to approximately $52. 

This represents the complete cost for forming your LLC with no hidden charges, processing fees, or surprise expenses.

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That $50 filing fee creates your LLC's legal existence. The price stays the same whether you're forming a New Mexico LLC or registering an out-of-state company to do business in the state.

Your LLC remains in good standing simply by maintaining a registered agent with a physical New Mexico address. The state doesn't require annual reports or franchise taxes for LLCs, eliminating the tracking burden that creates compliance headaches in other jurisdictions.

How do New Mexico's LLC filing fees compare to other states?

Looking at where to start your company, the numbers tell an interesting story. New Mexico's structure ($52 to file and $0 annually) has remained unchanged for years, providing the predictability that makes budgeting and planning straightforward for business owners.

Compare that with neighboring states:

• Texas charges $300 upfront and imposes franchise taxes on many businesses, making New Mexico roughly six times cheaper for formation alone and potentially far more affordable over time.
• Colorado matches New Mexico's low $50 filing fee but requires $25 annual reports, adding $125 over five years to your total compliance costs.
• Arizona offers similar benefits with a $50 filing fee and no annual requirements, making it one of the few states with a comparable cost structure.
• Utah costs $59 initially but demands $18 annual renewals, totaling $149 over five years, compared to New Mexico's flat $52.

Across the country, New Mexico consistently ranks among the lowest-cost states. The $132 national average filing fee is more than double New Mexico's cost, while high-fee states create even starker contrasts.

• Massachusetts costs $520 just to get started, followed by an additional $500 every year for annual reports.
• Tennessee gets expensive quickly with substantial fees that increase for multi-member LLCs.

New Mexico avoids both extremes: no franchise tax, no surprise fees, and no separate annual report paperwork. Simply maintain your registered agent, and you're all set. 

For business owners seeking predictable costs without ongoing compliance burdens, New Mexico delivers exactly that structure.

Additional filing fees to consider for New Mexico LLCs

While New Mexico's $50 Articles of Organization cover the basics, several smaller costs might pop up during your LLC's life. Knowing these upfront helps you build a realistic budget for your first year and avoid surprises as you operate.

• Name reservation costs $20 if you want to hold your LLC name for 120 days while finalizing your formation paperwork or securing funding.
• Registered agent costs vary widely based on your approach. Being your own agent costs nothing if you have a reliable New Mexico street address during business hours.
• Amendment fees of $50 apply when you need to modify your Articles of Organization after formation, including name changes, management structure updates, or registered agent modifications.
• Certified copies of formation paperwork and Certificates of Good Standing cost $25 each, plus $1 per page, up to a maximum of $10 per request. 

Local governments add another layer of requirements. Most cities and counties require business licenses with fees typically ranging from $35 to $50 or more annually, depending on your industry and location. These local requirements operate independently from your state-level LLC formation.

Let Discern handle your New Mexico LLC filings

Discern automatically processes filings, maintains real-time compliance dashboards, and displays the exact standing of every entity you own.

For businesses managing entities across multiple states, Discern's capabilities transform compliance from a time-consuming burden into an automated background process. Book a demo today and see how we handle complexity with ease.