Pennsylvania Form DSCB:15-8821 is the Certificate of Organization that every person forming a domestic limited liability company in Pennsylvania must file with the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations inside the Department of State. The form, paired with a Docketing Statement DSCB:15-134A, is what legally creates your LLC under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821.
The state filing fee is $125, and a small mistake on this single page can delay formation for weeks, void liability protection for early business activity, or cost the LLC its preferred name. Pennsylvania processes more than 70,000 new LLC filings each year through its Business Filing Services portal, and Bureau staff routinely reject filings for missing designators, P.O. Box-only addresses, and unsigned organizer blocks.
In this guide you will learn:
- 📋 What every box on Form DSCB:15-8821 actually asks and how to answer it
- 🏠 How to choose between a registered office address and a Commercial Registered Office Provider
- ⚖️ When to check the restricted professional company or benefit company boxes
- 💵 The real fees, deadlines, and the new Act 122 of 2022 annual report obligation
- ✅ Three full filled-out examples plus a checklist of mistakes that get filings rejected
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form DSCB:15-8821 is the Certificate of Organization – Domestic Limited Liability Company, the single document that brings a Pennsylvania LLC into legal existence. It is filed under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821, part of Pennsylvania’s Uniform Limited Liability Company Act of 2016. The Bureau date-stamps the certificate, and that stamped date (or a future effective date you choose) becomes the LLC’s birthday for liability, tax, and contract purposes.
Anyone 18 or older, or any existing association, may act as an “organizer” and sign the form. The organizer does not have to become a member of the LLC. Many lawyers, paralegals, and online formation services serve only as organizers and resign immediately after filing.
You must file this form if you are creating a brand-new Pennsylvania LLC, including a single-member LLC, a multi-member LLC, a restricted professional company (law firm, medical practice, CPA firm, etc.), or a benefit company. Foreign LLCs already formed in another state do not use this form. They register instead with a Foreign Registration Statement on Form DSCB:15-412. A misconception worth correcting is that DSCB:15-8821 also forms a limited partnership; that is wrong. Limited partnerships use DSCB:15-8621 instead.
The current revision of the form is the Rev. 2/2017 edition, and the Department of State still hosts that PDF on its Registration Forms page. Always confirm the revision date on the bottom-left corner of the PDF before filing, because the Bureau rejects obsolete versions without refunding the fee.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filing DSCB:15-8821 takes about ten minutes if you have the right facts in front of you, and several hours if you do not. Gather everything below before you open the form. The single biggest cause of rejection is starting the filing without a confirmed name search and a real registered office.
- Approved LLC name with a designator. Search the Pennsylvania business name database and confirm your chosen name is available and ends in “Company,” “Limited,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Co.,” “Ltd.,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.”
- Registered office street address in Pennsylvania. A P.O. Box alone is not acceptable under 15 Pa.C.S. § 109; you need a real street address inside the Commonwealth.
- CROP information (optional). If you do not have a Pennsylvania street address, you can hire a Commercial Registered Office Provider and list its name and county.
- Each organizer’s full legal name and street address. Every organizer signs page 2, so collect signatures in advance.
- Effective date decision. Decide whether the LLC starts the moment the Bureau stamps it or on a specific future date and time (up to 90 days out).
- Restricted professional service determination. If members are licensed in chiropractic, dentistry, law, medicine, optometry, osteopathy, podiatry, public accounting, psychology, or veterinary medicine, you must check Box 5.
- Benefit company decision. Decide whether the LLC will pursue general or specific public benefit purposes under 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 88, Subchapter L.
- Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN). Apply at IRS.gov before filing the Docketing Statement, since the EIN goes on the DSCB:15-134A.
- Tax year-end and tax responsible party. The Docketing Statement requires the name and address of the person handling initial tax reports and a fiscal-year-end month/day.
- Payment method. Have a credit card ready for online filing or a check payable to the Department of State for mail filing.
- Plan for additional provisions. Decide if you need to attach an 8½ × 11 sheet for extra clauses (such as series LLC limitations or member-managed/manager-managed declarations).
Missing any of these can stop the filing cold. For example, if you skip the name search and the Bureau finds your name conflicts with an existing entity, you lose the $125 filing fee and have to refile from scratch.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The Department of State publishes Form DSCB:15-8821 as a fillable PDF on its Registration Forms page. You can download the PDF and either type into the boxes or print and complete by hand in black ink. Avoid third-party copies; revision dates change quietly and an outdated form gets rejected.
The Bureau strongly prefers online filing through the Pennsylvania Business Filing Services portal (sometimes called the PA Business One-Stop Hub). The portal walks you through the same fields as the PDF, validates the LLC name in real time against the business database, and confirms your effective date instantly. Online filings are typically reviewed in 7 to 10 business days, while mailed filings can take 4 to 6 weeks during peak season.
You can also pick up paper copies in person at the Bureau’s office at 401 North Street, Room 206, Harrisburg, PA 17120, where the public counter accepts walk-in filings. A common misconception is that paper filings are “safer.” They are not; they are slower and more error-prone because there is no real-time name validation. The Bureau publishes its current processing turnaround on the filing services portal home page, so check before deciding which channel to use.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out DSCB:15-8821 Line by Line
The form has seven numbered sections plus a signature block. Every box matters. Use the printed labels exactly as they appear on the official PDF, and follow each instruction below in order.
Top Header: Fee, Filer Information, and Return Address
The top of page 1 has three small boxes the Bureau uses to route your filing. The leftmost block asks who is submitting the form, the middle block lists the $125 fee, and the right block asks for the address where the Bureau should mail the stamped, approved certificate.
To answer it, write the filer’s full name and street address in the left block; this can be the LLC organizer, the LLC’s attorney, or a registered agent service. Print the same return address in the right block unless you want the certificate mailed somewhere else. Leave the fee block alone — it is preprinted.
For example, Maria Lopez, 412 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 writes her name and that address in both the filer and return-address blocks because she is forming her own LLC and wants the stamped copy mailed to her home office.
A frequent edge case: attorneys who form LLCs for clients often put the law firm in the filer block and the client’s address in the return-address block, which speeds up delivery to the new owner. The most common mistake here is leaving the return-address block blank, which causes the Bureau to mail the certificate back to whoever wrote the check, sometimes a third party who is not authorized to receive entity records. A misconception is that this header is optional decoration — it is not; an empty return-address block can delay receipt of your stamped certificate by weeks.
Section 1: Name of the Limited Liability Company
Section 1 asks for the exact legal name of the LLC, and the form reminds you in parentheses that a designator is required. The name must include “Company,” “Limited,” “Limited Liability Company,” or one of the abbreviations (Co., Ltd., L.L.C., or LLC) under 15 Pa.C.S. § 204.
To answer it, type or print the full name in title case exactly as you want it to appear on every contract, bank account, and tax return going forward. Match capitalization, punctuation, and spacing precisely; the Bureau records what you write.
For example, Beechwoods Equipment Leasing Company is exactly how David Bish wrote his LLC’s name when he filed in DuBois, Clearfield County. He used “Company” as his designator instead of “LLC.”
A nuance: if your desired name conflicts with an existing entity, you can reserve a different name first using Form DSCB:15-208 for $70. The most common mistake is forgetting the designator entirely (writing “Beechwoods Equipment Leasing” with no “Company” or “LLC”), which guarantees a rejection letter. Many filers also believe they can use a “doing business as” name on this form; that is a misconception. The DBA goes on a separate Fictitious Name Registration Form DSCB:54-311 after the LLC is formed.
Section 2(a): Initial Registered Office Street Address
Section 2(a) asks for the LLC’s initial registered office inside Pennsylvania, including number, street, city, state, ZIP, and county. The form warns directly on the line that a post office box alone is not acceptable.
To answer it, fill in a real Pennsylvania street address where the LLC will accept service of process and official mail. Use uppercase or title case consistently, include a suite or apartment number if applicable, and make sure the county field matches the city.
For example, 650 DuBois St., DuBois, PA 15801, Clearfield is what David Bish entered in this block. He used his physical office, not a mail drop.
A common edge case: home-based founders worry about privacy because the registered office becomes a public record searchable on the business database. The fix is to use a CROP under Section 2(b) instead. The most common mistake is putting a P.O. Box on this line, which causes automatic rejection because the Bureau cannot serve legal process on a P.O. Box. Filers also often mismatch the county and city — for example, writing “Pittsburgh” with “Westmoreland” County instead of Allegheny — which the Bureau flags during review and bounces back.
Section 2(b): Commercial Registered Office Provider
Section 2(b) is the alternative to Section 2(a). It asks for the name of a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP) and the county where the CROP serves as the LLC’s registered office under 15 Pa.C.S. § 109.
To answer it, complete either 2(a) or 2(b), never both. If you use a CROP, write “c/o” followed by the exact registered name of the provider and the Pennsylvania county where the provider is registered.
For example, c/o Corporation Service Company, Dauphin is how an out-of-state founder using CSC’s Harrisburg location would complete this line. The street address is not needed because the CROP’s address is on file with the Bureau.
A nuance: the CROP must be on the Bureau’s list of registered providers; you cannot list a friend’s mailbox business unless that business has separately filed as a CROP. The most common mistake is filling in both 2(a) and 2(b), which forces the Bureau to issue a deficiency letter while it figures out which one is real. A misconception filers carry in is that using a CROP means they do not need a Pennsylvania presence at all; they still must list a Pennsylvania CROP, not an out-of-state one.
Section 3: Name and Address of Each Organizer
Section 3 asks for the name and street address of each organizer, with a reminder that all organizers must sign page 2. There is no minimum or maximum number of organizers under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821(a).
To answer it, list each organizer’s full legal name and complete mailing address in the columns provided. If you need more space, attach an 8½ × 11 sheet labeled “Section 3 continued.”
For example, David Bish, 201 N Brady St, DuBois, Clearfield, PA 15801 is the full single-organizer line from a real filing. He listed only himself because he was the sole organizer.
A common edge case: an LLC can be formed by an organizer who never becomes a member. Many law firms list a paralegal as the organizer, file the certificate, and have the paralegal sign a “statement of resignation of organizer” the same day. The most common mistake is listing only one organizer’s name when two people signed the bottom of page 2; the Bureau will reject the form for inconsistency. A misconception is that the organizer becomes personally liable for the LLC’s debts; the organizer is not a member or manager and has no continuing role unless they hold one of those positions in the operating agreement.
Section 4: Effective Date of the Certificate of Organization
Section 4 asks when the certificate becomes effective. It gives you two checkboxes: effective upon filing or effective on a specified future date and time, up to 90 days after the Bureau date-stamps the form under 15 Pa.C.S. § 135.
To answer it, check the first box if you want the LLC to exist the moment the Bureau processes the filing. Check the second box and write the date in MM/DD/YYYY format, plus an optional hour, if you want a future effective date.
For example, David Bish checked the “effective upon filing” box because he wanted his LLC to start immediately. By contrast, Aisha Patel, forming Patel Consulting LLC on December 18, would check the second box and write 01/01/2026 to align with a clean tax year.
A nuance: the future date cannot be more than 90 days out, and you cannot backdate. The most common mistake is checking both boxes, which voids the section and forces the Bureau to default to the filing date. A misconception is that a future effective date delays the filing review; it does not. The Bureau still reviews the filing immediately and just holds the certificate’s legal start until your chosen date.
Section 5: Restricted Professional Companies Only
Section 5 applies only to LLCs formed to render restricted professional services under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8997. The box lists ten services: chiropractic, dentistry, law, medicine and surgery, optometry, osteopathic medicine and surgery, podiatric medicine, public accounting, psychology, and veterinary medicine.
To answer it, check the top box if the LLC will provide a restricted professional service, then check every sub-box that applies. Many practices check more than one (for example, medicine and surgery plus osteopathy for a multi-specialty group).
For example, Lopez Family Dentistry, LLC checks the restricted professional company box and the Dentistry sub-box because all members are licensed dentists.
A nuance worth knowing: restricted professional companies must file a Certificate of Annual Registration on Form DSCB:15-8221 every year and pay an annual registration fee of $610 per member, in addition to the new Act 122 annual report. The most common mistake is leaving Section 5 blank when members are licensed professionals, which strips the LLC of its restricted-professional status and can violate state licensing-board rules. A misconception is that any “professional” can use this section; only the ten listed services qualify, and a marketing consultancy or a software firm should leave it blank.
Section 6: Benefit Companies Only
Section 6 applies only to LLCs formed as benefit companies under 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 88, Subchapter L. A benefit company commits to creating “general public benefit,” and may also commit to one or more specific public benefits.
To answer it, check the first box to declare the LLC a benefit company. Then optionally check the second box and list the specific public benefits, such as “providing low-income beneficiaries with beneficial products,” “promoting environmental restoration in the Susquehanna watershed,” or “preserving the arts.”
For example, Marcus Reed forms Three Rivers Reforestation, LLC and checks the benefit company box and writes “Restoring native tree canopy in Allegheny County watersheds” as the specific public benefit.
A nuance: benefit companies must publish an annual benefit report to members and post it on a public website under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8894. The most common mistake is checking the benefit company box without understanding the reporting commitment, then failing to publish the annual benefit report and inviting member lawsuits. A misconception is that benefit company status is the same as IRS 501(c)(3) tax exemption; it is not. Benefit companies are taxed like any other for-profit LLC unless they separately apply to the IRS.
Section 7: Additional Provisions
Section 7 invites the organizer to attach an 8½ × 11 sheet with any extra provisions. Common additions include manager-managed designations, indemnification clauses, series LLC limitations under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8851, and statements about the duration of the LLC.
To answer it, write “See attached Exhibit A” inside the box if you are attaching extra pages, or leave it blank if you are not. Number each additional page and include the LLC’s name at the top of each attachment so it cannot be separated from the certificate.
For example, Reed Capital Partners, LLC attaches Exhibit A stating “This limited liability company is manager-managed pursuant to 15 Pa.C.S. § 8847.” Marcus checks the box reference and signs every page of the attachment.
A nuance: anything you put in Section 7 becomes part of the public certificate. Many founders prefer to keep economic and management terms in the operating agreement rather than the certificate, so that future changes do not require a public amendment. The most common mistake is duplicating language already in the operating agreement, which then forces the LLC to file an Amendment on DSCB:15-8822 every time the operating agreement changes. A misconception is that Section 7 is required; it is purely optional.
Signature Block: Testimony and Organizer Signatures
The signature block at the bottom of page 2 begins with “IN TESTIMONY WHEREOF, the organizer(s) has (have) signed this Certificate of Organization this ___ day of __, 20_.” Every organizer named in Section 3 must sign here in ink (paper) or by typed name (online).
To answer it, fill in the day, month, and year, and have each organizer sign on a separate line. Online filings use typed-name signatures, which carry the same legal weight under Pennsylvania’s Electronic Transactions Act.
For example, on the Beechwoods Equipment Leasing Company filing, David Bish signed and dated the block “16 day of March, 2017.”
A nuance: if an organizer signs on behalf of an entity (for example, a holding company acting as organizer), the signer must include their title (e.g., “Manager of Bish Holdings, LLC, Organizer”). The most common mistake is having only one organizer sign when Section 3 lists two; the Bureau bounces the filing back. A misconception is that a notary must witness the signature. Pennsylvania does not require notarization of DSCB:15-8821.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
The three scenarios below show the same form completed for very different LLCs. Use them as templates while filling out your own certificate.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez Forms a Single-Member Real Estate LLC
Maria owns a duplex in Pittsburgh and wants to put the property into an LLC for liability protection. She is the sole organizer and sole member.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Filer header | Maria Lopez, 412 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
| Section 1 — LLC Name | Walnut Street Holdings, LLC |
| Section 2(a) — Registered Office | 412 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222, Allegheny |
| Section 2(b) — CROP | Left blank |
| Section 3 — Organizer | Maria Lopez, 412 Walnut Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15222 |
| Section 4 — Effective Date | Box 1 checked: effective upon filing |
| Section 5 — Restricted Professional | Left blank |
| Section 6 — Benefit Company | Left blank |
| Section 7 — Additional Provisions | Left blank |
| Signature Block | Maria Lopez, signed 03/22/2026 |
Scenario 2: Lopez Family Dentistry Forms a Restricted Professional LLC
Dr. Carlos Lopez and Dr. Elena Vargas are licensed dentists merging their two solo practices into one LLC. They use a CROP for privacy.
| Form Section | What Carlos and Elena Enter |
|---|---|
| Filer header | Lopez & Vargas Law Office, c/o counsel, 100 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
| Section 1 — LLC Name | Lopez Family Dentistry, LLC |
| Section 2(a) — Registered Office | Left blank |
| Section 2(b) — CROP | c/o Corporation Service Company, Dauphin |
| Section 3 — Organizers | Carlos Lopez DDS, 250 Pine St, Lancaster, PA 17602 and Elena Vargas DDS, 18 Oak Ln, Lancaster, PA 17603 |
| Section 4 — Effective Date | Box 2 checked: 07/01/2026 at 12:01 AM |
| Section 5 — Restricted Professional | Top box and Dentistry sub-box both checked |
| Section 6 — Benefit Company | Left blank |
| Section 7 — Additional Provisions | “See Exhibit A — manager-managed” |
| Signature Block | Carlos Lopez and Elena Vargas, signed 06/14/2026 |
Scenario 3: Three Rivers Reforestation Forms a Benefit Company
Marcus Reed forms a benefit LLC focused on watershed restoration in western Pennsylvania. He has two co-organizers and a specific public benefit purpose.
| Form Section | What Marcus and Co-Organizers Enter |
|---|---|
| Filer header | Marcus Reed, 88 River Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212 |
| Section 1 — LLC Name | Three Rivers Reforestation, LLC |
| Section 2(a) — Registered Office | 88 River Road, Pittsburgh, PA 15212, Allegheny |
| Section 2(b) — CROP | Left blank |
| Section 3 — Organizers | Marcus Reed, Aisha Patel, David Cho with full PA addresses |
| Section 4 — Effective Date | Box 1 checked: effective upon filing |
| Section 5 — Restricted Professional | Left blank |
| Section 6 — Benefit Company | Top box checked; specific public benefit: “Restoring native tree canopy in Allegheny County watersheds” |
| Section 7 — Additional Provisions | “See Exhibit A — annual benefit report posted at www.threeriversreforest.org” |
| Signature Block | Marcus Reed, Aisha Patel, David Cho, signed 05/01/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
Pennsylvania accepts DSCB:15-8821 through three channels: online, by mail, and in person. The fee is the same — $125 — across every channel, and a Docketing Statement DSCB:15-134A must accompany the certificate in every channel.
Online: Log into the Business Filing Services portal, upload your completed PDF or fill the on-screen form, attach the docketing statement, and pay $125 by Visa, MasterCard, American Express, or Discover. Processing typically takes 7–10 business days, and the stamped certificate arrives by email PDF. Save the email confirmation and the PDF as your proof of filing.
By mail: Send the signed original certificate, the docketing statement, and a check for $125 payable to Department of State to Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, P.O. Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722. Processing takes 4–6 weeks, sometimes longer in January and December. Use certified mail with return receipt as your proof of filing.
In person: Walk in to 401 North Street, Room 206, Harrisburg, PA 17120 during normal business hours and hand the package to the counter clerk. The Bureau no longer offers same-day expedited processing for LLCs, so the in-person turnaround mirrors the mail timeline. Keep the date-stamped receipt the clerk gives you as proof of filing.
A nuance: the Bureau will not start processing your filing if your check is wrong, the docketing statement is missing, or any organizer signature is absent. Each rejection costs you the queue position, so do a final check before sealing the envelope.
What Happens After You File
Once the Bureau approves DSCB:15-8821, the LLC legally exists as of the effective date. You will receive a stamped certificate (paper or PDF) showing the entity number assigned by the Department of State. Save that number; you will need it for banking, tax registration, and every future state filing.
Within a few weeks, the LLC should obtain an EIN from the IRS, open a business bank account, register for any required Pennsylvania tax accounts on myPATH, and adopt a written operating agreement. The operating agreement is not filed with the state, but it is the document banks and courts will demand to see.
Beginning in 2025, every Pennsylvania LLC must also file an annual report under Act 122 of 2022. The fee is $7 per year for for-profit LLCs and the deadline for LLCs is September 30 each year, per guidance from Sisterson & Co.. Failure to file for repeated years can result in administrative dissolution starting in 2027.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Most rejected DSCB:15-8821 filings fail because of the same handful of errors. Fixing them in advance saves weeks.
- Forgetting the LLC designator (“LLC,” “Ltd.,” “Company”) in Section 1, which causes outright rejection.
- Listing a P.O. Box only in Section 2(a), which violates the Bureau’s address rule.
- Filling in both Section 2(a) and Section 2(b), which forces the Bureau to issue a deficiency letter.
- Mismatching the city and county fields, such as pairing Pittsburgh with Westmoreland County.
- Listing only one organizer in Section 3 when two organizers sign the bottom of page 2.
- Backdating the effective date in Section 4, which is not allowed under 15 Pa.C.S. § 135.
- Choosing a future effective date more than 90 days out, which the Bureau will reject.
- Leaving Section 5 blank when members are licensed in a restricted professional service, stripping the LLC of its professional designation.
- Checking the benefit company box in Section 6 without understanding the annual benefit report duty.
- Writing the LLC name inconsistently (different capitalization or punctuation) on the certificate, the docketing statement, and the check.
- Forgetting to attach the DSCB:15-134A docketing statement, which the Bureau treats as an incomplete filing.
- Sending a check to the wrong payee — it must be “Department of State,” not “Bureau of Corporations.”
- Omitting one organizer’s signature, which makes the entire filing void.
Do’s and Don’ts
A short list of habits that separate clean filings from rejected ones.
Do’s
- Do search the business name database before paying the fee.
- Do use the same legal name on the certificate, docketing statement, and check.
- Do choose Section 2(a) or Section 2(b), never both.
- Do save a PDF of the stamped certificate in two locations (cloud and local).
- Do calendar the September 30 annual report deadline immediately after formation.
- Do adopt a written operating agreement within 30 days of formation.
Don’ts
- Don’t use a P.O. Box as your registered office.
- Don’t backdate the effective date.
- Don’t list a fictitious “doing business as” name in Section 1.
- Don’t notarize the form (Pennsylvania does not require it).
- Don’t submit DSCB:15-8821 without the DSCB:15-134A docketing statement.
- Don’t pay with a personal check that lists a different name than the LLC’s filer block.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
For founders who can read carefully and gather their facts, DSCB:15-8821 is one of the simpler U.S. LLC formation forms. For founders forming professional or benefit LLCs, professional help often pays for itself.
Pros of filing on your own
- Costs only the $125 state fee, with no professional markup.
- Forces the founder to learn the structure of the LLC firsthand.
- The online portal catches name conflicts in real time.
- Same-day completion is possible if all information is ready.
- You retain full control over the timing of effective date and signatures.
Cons of filing on your own
- Easy to miss the Docketing Statement DSCB:15-134A requirement.
- Restricted professional designations and benefit company commitments carry legal consequences most founders do not fully appreciate.
- Section 7 attachments often duplicate the operating agreement, locking the LLC into public terms.
- A rejection costs the $125 fee plus weeks of delay.
- No follow-up support for the new Act 122 annual report duty.
FAQs
Is DSCB:15-8821 the same form as DSCB:15-8621?
No. DSCB:15-8821 forms a domestic limited liability company under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8821. DSCB:15-8621 forms a domestic limited partnership and is an entirely different document.
Can a P.O. Box be used as the registered office in Section 2(a)?
No. A post office box alone is not acceptable. You must list a real Pennsylvania street address, or use a Commercial Registered Office Provider in Section 2(b).
Do I have to fill in both Section 2(a) and Section 2(b)?
No. Choose one. Filling in both creates a deficiency that the Bureau will reject, costing weeks of processing time.
Does the LLC name in Section 1 need a designator?
Yes. The name must end in “Company,” “Limited,” “Limited Liability Company,” “Co.,” “Ltd.,” “L.L.C.,” or “LLC.” Without it, the filing is rejected.
Is notarization required on the signature block?
No. Pennsylvania does not require any organizer signature on DSCB:15-8821 to be notarized.
Can I backdate the effective date in Section 4?
No. Backdating is not allowed. You may pick the filing date or any future date up to 90 days after filing.
Do I need to check Section 5 if my members are licensed engineers?
No. Engineering is not on the list of restricted professional services under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8997. Leave Section 5 blank.
Does the organizer in Section 3 become a member of the LLC?
No. The organizer is only the person who signs the certificate. Membership comes from the operating agreement, not this form.
Is the $125 filing fee refundable if my filing is rejected?
No. The Bureau keeps the fee even when a filing is rejected. You must pay another $125 with the corrected submission.
Do I file the docketing statement with this certificate?
Yes. The Docketing Statement DSCB:15-134A must accompany every new LLC filing under guidance from the Department of State.
Does forming a benefit company in Section 6 give me tax-exempt status?
No. Benefit company status under 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 88, Subchapter L does not affect federal taxes. You still apply separately to the IRS for any exemption.
Do I have to file a Pennsylvania annual report after forming the LLC?
Yes. Under Act 122 of 2022, every Pennsylvania LLC files an annual report by September 30 each year for a $7 fee, per guidance from McNees Wallace & Nurick.
Can a foreign LLC use DSCB:15-8821 to do business in Pennsylvania?
No. Foreign LLCs use a Foreign Registration Statement, not the Certificate of Organization. DSCB:15-8821 is for Pennsylvania-domiciled LLCs only.
Do I need to attach the operating agreement to the certificate?
No. The operating agreement is a private document and never gets filed with the state. Only the certificate and docketing statement go to the Bureau.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Form DSCB:15-1306 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Form DSCB:15-1311 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Form DSCB:15-4124 (w/Examples) + FAQs
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- How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Form PA-40 X (w/Examples) + FAQs