Legal & Tax Aspects

Assuming you have the necessary information at the ready, you can create a subsidiary in as little as a day. “Necessary information” includes information such as the company name, address, contact persons, intended capitalization, and similar items. Once the company is formed, you will likely be required to draft organizational resolutions and other “housekeeping” items may be required – such as establishing a bank account, adopting bylaws, and arranging financing. Legal fees associated with incorporating or otherwise establishing a subsidiary typically range from $750.00 (U.S.) to $1,500.00 (U.S.), depending on the nature and complexity of the subsidiary relationship. Pennsylvania charges a fee of $125 to file the documents needed to register your company.

The decision to organize an enterprise as either a corporation or as an LLC is made on a case-by-case basis according to each enterprise’s unique requirements. While both structures provide a degree of “limited liability” (which generally prevents creditors from using the personal assets of the businesses’ owners or directors to satisfy the liabilities or debts owed by the company) we recommend that firms seek appropriate legal advice before determining whether to do business as a corporation or an LLC to determine which structure best suits your needs.

Until recently, Delaware was known for having certain unique laws that protect corporate directors from liability for decisions that they make on behalf of their corporation, as well as for having a number of legal decisions that provide helpful guidance as to how corporate matters will be decided in the future-thus promoting legal certainty and planning. In 1988, however, Pennsylvania revised its Business Corporation Law so that it now provides substantially the same protection to directors as Delaware does, thus closing the gap between the two legal systems.

While there is no way to completely shield an enterprise from litigation or liability, firms can significantly reduce these risks by following certain well-established business practices, such as ensuring that the terms of contracts are clear, and by anticipating problems before they emerge. Forming good working relationships with suppliers and customers, and retaining counsel to review contracts and other legal documents are usually effective ways to avoid these problems.

As a general rule, firms are not required to pay income taxes (and are not assessed any by the state) in years in which they do not generate any profits. Pennsylvania does, however, have a “Capital Stock Tax” that is assessed against the ownership interests of both Corporations and LLCs. The amount of Capital Stock Tax that is charged is determined by examining value of the enterprise based on a fixed formula, which primarily examines an enterprise’s net income and net worth. As a result, the amount of the Capital Stock Tax that is ultimately assessed against your firm could be very low, if there is no profit. In recent years, Pennsylvania has been steadily lowering the rate of the Capital Stock Tax.

No, because the current Administration is working hard to reduce the corporate net income tax (CNI). The CNI is only assessed against corporations.

Other considerations include the level of support that the government and other entities will provide for new businesses, and the desirable living opportunities that Pennsylvania offers. It is important to remember that firms are generally required to pay CNI tax in each state in which they conduct business, according to the proportion of the business activities that they perform in each state. In addition, firms located in Pennsylvania can often reduce (or offset) the amount of CNI oversucceed tax that they would otherwise be required to pay in Pennsylvania based on the amount of CNI taxes they pay to other states.

Other considerations include the level of support that the government and other entities will provide for new businesses, and the desirable living opportunities that Pennsylvania offers. It is important to remember that firms are generally required to pay CNI tax in each state in which they conduct business, according to the proportion of the business activities that they perform in each state. In addition, firms located in Pennsylvania can often reduce (or offset) the amount of CNI oversucceed tax that they would otherwise be required to pay in Pennsylvania based on the amount of CNI taxes they pay to other states.