Nevada LLC vs Montana LLC (2026)
Compare Nevada LLC vs Montana LLC on filing fees, taxes, privacy laws, and annual costs. Find out which state is actually better for your business.
By Edmond Hui · Last updated: August 13, 2026
Verdict: Nevada wins for most businesses
For most Nevada-based businesses, forming locally in Nevada is the smarter choice. You avoid paying fees in two states and managing compliance in both. Montana only makes sense if your business genuinely operates there, and even then the total costs deserve a hard look.
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| Factor | Nevada | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| Filing Fee | $425 | $35 |
| Processing Time | Not published by the state | Not published by the state |
| Annual Report Fee | $350 | $20 |
| Annual Report Due | Anniversary month | April 15 |
| State Income Tax | No | Yes |
| Anonymous LLC | No | No |
| Publication Requirement | No | No |
| Foreign LLC Cost (if forming out-of-state) | N/A, you're in your home state | $425 + registered agent ~$150/yr |
Full fee breakdown for either state: Nevada LLC cost and Montana LLC cost.
Business Climate: Nevada vs Montana
| Factor | Nevada | Montana |
|---|---|---|
| 5-year business survival rate | 47.6% (#41 of 51) | 53% (#16 of 51) |
| Business application growth (2026 YTD (Jan to Jul) vs 2025 YTD (same months)) | +10.8% YoY (#30 of 51 by volume) | +13.4% YoY (#40 of 51 by volume) |
Sources: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Business Employment Dynamics · U.S. Census Bureau, Business Formation Statistics (BFS)
Compare LLC Costs: Nevada vs Montana
Nevada
Montana
Costs include every mandatory state charge: the filing fee, the report fee (annualised where a state files biennially), any state entity-level tax shown in its own row above, a one-time publication cost where a state requires publication, and any one-time registration charge a state requires before the LLC may trade. Annualising makes the 1, 3 and 5 year rows a cost of ownership rather than a payment schedule: a biennial state charges its whole report fee in the years it falls due and nothing in between. Entity-level taxes that only apply after a corporate election, or above an owner or income threshold, are excluded and flagged on the state's own cost page. New York's publication cost is carried at a $250 floor, roughly $200 of newspaper cost in a low-cost county plus the $50 Certificate of Publication fee. No county-clerk-designated New York City newspaper publishes a rate card, so the four-figure NYC estimates in wide circulation cannot be traced to a primary source and are not asserted here; budget for materially more than the floor if you file in a NYC county. Montana's annual report is free when filed by April 15 and $35 after, a waiver the Secretary of State applies at its discretion. Every fee was verified against the state's own fee schedule, statute, or revenue authority on 29 July 2026. Excludes registered agent and legal fees. For informational purposes only, not legal or tax advice.
Filing Fees & Formation Costs
Nevada charges $425 to form an LLC, while Montana charges $35. Montana is $390 cheaper upfront. The cost that usually gets overlooked: if you form in Montana but operate in Nevada, you must also register as a foreign LLC in Nevada ($425 in mandatory Nevada charges: the $75 filing, the $150 Annual List and the $200 State Business License) and maintain a registered agent in Montana (typically around $150 per year). That puts the realistic first-year cost of the Montana route at roughly $610, versus $425 for simply forming in Nevada. Speed isn't a basis for choosing between them: neither Nevada nor Montana publishes a standard processing time, so any figure comparing the two is guesswork.
Taxes: Nevada vs Montana
Nevada has no personal income tax, while Montana taxes individual income. Since pass-through LLC profits are taxed where you live and operate, a Nevada-based owner keeps Nevada's no-income-tax benefit either way. Forming in Montana adds no tax advantage. Montana levies a two-bracket individual income tax; per HB 337 (2025) the top rate drops from 5.9% to 5.65% effective January 1, 2026, with the 4.7% lower rate applying up to $47,500 single/$95,000 joint (Montana Department of Revenue). Every LLC must hold a State Business License at $200/year (NRS 76.100; corporations pay $500) and file a $150 Annual List (NRS 86.263/86.5461), $350/year total recurring. The Commerce Tax (NRS ch. 363C) applies only to businesses with Nevada gross revenue over $4 million. No franchise or privilege tax on LLCs; the Secretary of State currently waives the annual report fee for reports filed by April 15 ($35 if filed late).
Privacy & Asset Protection
Neither Nevada nor Montana offers anonymous LLC formation: both states require owner or manager information on public filings. MCA 35-8-208 requires the LLC's annual report to state the names and business mailing addresses of the managers (if manager-managed) or of the members (if member-managed), and these reports are public. Business owners who prioritize privacy typically form a holding company in a state like Wyoming or New Mexico instead. Both states provide charging-order protection for LLC members, and for most small businesses the practical difference in asset protection between the two is minimal.
Annual Maintenance Costs
Nevada LLCs file an annual report ($350, due in the anniversary month), and Montana LLCs file an annual report ($20, due April 15). If you form in Montana while operating in Nevada, you maintain filings in both states, Montana's report plus Nevada's equivalent for your foreign registration, and pay a Montana registered agent roughly $150 per year. That brings ongoing costs of the Montana route to roughly $520 per year, versus about $350 to keep a domestic Nevada LLC in good standing. There are also recurring state taxes to weigh on each side. Every LLC must hold a State Business License at $200/year (NRS 76.100; corporations pay $500) and file a $150 Annual List (NRS 86.263/86.5461), $350/year total recurring. The Commerce Tax (NRS ch. 363C) applies only to businesses with Nevada gross revenue over $4 million. No franchise or privilege tax on LLCs; the Secretary of State currently waives the annual report fee for reports filed by April 15 ($35 if filed late).
When Montana Actually Makes Sense
Forming in Montana makes sense in a few specific situations: your business genuinely operates in Montana, with a real office, employees, or property there, or you're relocating to Montana in the near future and accept taking on Montana's personal income tax, which Nevada doesn't levy. For a typical small business based in Nevada, none of these usually apply. Registering a Montana LLC to do business back home means $425 in mandatory Nevada registration charges, on top of Montana's $35 formation fee, while Nevada's own annual report runs $150 a year and is due in the anniversary month. When in doubt, form where you actually do business.
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