The Illinois Business Corporation Act requires this form as the foundational document for establishing a corporation in Illinois. Processed by the Department of Business Services under the Illinois Secretary of State, the articles must be filed before the corporation can operate as a recognized legal entity under state law.
The articles ask for several key details about the proposed corporation. You must provide the corporate name, which must be distinct from existing Illinois corporations and include a necessary designator such as "Corporation," "Incorporated," or an accepted abbreviation. The stated purposes of the corporation may be broadly written as any lawful business activity.
Additional information includes the name of the initial registered agent and the Illinois street address of the registered office. The form also asks for details about the capital structure, including the class of shares, the number approved for issuance, and the consideration to be received. The registered agent must maintain a physical Illinois address and is responsible for receiving legal service of process on behalf of the corporate entity.
Filing this document requires payment of an initial filing charge and a franchise tax. The franchise tax is calculated based on the paid-in capital the corporation will represent in Illinois. Incorporators should review the current tax amounts from the Illinois Secretary of State before submitting, as charges are subject to periodic updates.
The form includes optional sections where incorporators can list the initial board of directors, provide estimated property values and business transaction volumes for the upcoming year, and add any other provisions they wish to include in the Articles of Incorporation. These optional sections help establish an updated governance structure and clarify the corporation's purposes from the outset.
Completed Articles of Incorporation must be submitted to the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services. Incorporators, whether individuals or corporate entities acting through authorized officers, must sign the document before submission. Upon review and approval, the state issues a Certificate of Incorporation confirming the legal existence of the new corporation under Illinois law.
| Question | Answer |
|---|---|
| Form Name | Bca 2 10 Form |
| Form Length | 2 pages |
| Fillable? | No |
| Fillable fields | 0 |
| Avg. time to fill out | 30 sec |
| Other names | form bca articles, how to form bca, form bca 2, illinois incorporation |