Articles of Incorporation Alaska

Articles of Incorporation Alaska are the documents a business must file to become a corporation in the state of Alaska.4 min read

Articles of Incorporation Alaska are the documents a business must file to become a corporation in the state of Alaska.

Overview

When starting a business or nonprofit corporation, the first step is to file your Articles of Incorporation. Before your business can become a legal entity with a distinct corporate name, the Articles of Incorporation must be approved. Once the document has been approved, your corporation can then apply for tax IDs, sign contracts, obtain permits and licenses, and carry out business activities.

How to Incorporate

During the filing process, make sure you have a clear understanding of the information that you must provide in the Articles of Incorporation for your application to be approved. The information covered in state-provided Articles of Incorporation templates meets the minimum requirements for the Alaska CBPL to approve the incorporation.

To qualify for 501(c)3 status, you must meet specific IRS requirements. You also need additional provisions in your articles to be eligible for state tax exemptions, certain banking purposes, B-corporations, and other certifications.

There are three options for drafting and filing your Articles of Incorporation:

• Prepare and file personally.
• File through a lawyer.
• File through a dedicated document preparation and filing service.

How to File Articles of Incorporation for a Profit Corporation

Name of Corporation

When filing Articles of Incorporation, your corporation must have a name, which is unique to that of all other Alaska-incorporated entities. Double check to make sure your business name is available before applying for incorporation.

Your corporation business name has to include a suffix like "corporation," "company," "incorporated,” or "limited." Also, the corporation cannot use a name that is not related to its purpose as provided in its Articles of Incorporation. In some cases, the surname of at least one serving or retired shareholder of the professional corporation must appear in the business name, except where the professional board frees it of that obligation.

Purpose of the Corporation

In Alaska, corporations can list their purpose as “any lawful purpose, but you can also provide a detailed description of the business entity's purpose. Alaska allows only the following professional services to register as a professional corporation, and their Articles of Incorporation must declare their purpose concerning the services they provide:

• Acupuncturist.
• Architect, Engineer, or Land Surveyor.
• Audiologist.
• Chiropractor.
• Dental Services.
• Dispensing Optician.
• Geologist.
• Legal Services.
• Marital Family Therapy.
• Medical Services.
• Naturopath.
• Nursing.
• Optometry.
• Pharmacy.
• Physical/Occupational Therapy.
• Physician's Assistant.
• Professional Counselor.
• Psychology.
• Public Accountant.
• Social Work.
• Veterinary Services.

NAICS Code

You also need to list the 6-digit industry grouping code from the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) that provides the best description of the corporation. However, the industry must match the declaration of purpose in your articles.

Registered Agent

Your Articles of Incorporation must also list your registered agent. The registered agent is the person or registered entity who receives processes, notices, or demands on behalf of the corporation and then forwards them to the business address.

Your registered agent can be an Alaska resident or an Alaskan corporation in good standing with the Alaska CBPL as long as they agree to represent your corporation