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Limited Liability Partnership (LLP)

Law firms, accounting firms, medical practices, architecture firms

15 Pa.C.S. §§ 8201–8221

Notice: Business entity selection and formation involve legal, tax, and liability considerations that vary by situation. This information is provided for educational purposes. Consult with a licensed attorney and tax professional for guidance specific to your business.

Key Facts

Formation Fee

$125

Liability

Partners protected from other partners' ...

Taxation

Pass-through (Form 1065)

Owners

Two or more partners (typically licensed professionals)

Liability Protection

Partners protected from other partners' malpractice; still liable for own acts

Tax Treatment

Pass-through (Form 1065)

Management Structure

Per partnership agreement

Ownership

Two or more partners (typically licensed professionals)

Advantages & Disadvantages

Advantages

Protects individual partners from others' malpractice liability
Pass-through taxation
Professional firms can maintain partnership structure
Flexible management

Disadvantages

Annual renewal required ($520/year)
No protection from own negligence/malpractice
Must already be a partnership to convert
Not available for all business types

Formation Steps

1

Form (or already have) a general partnership

2

File Statement of Qualification with PA Dept of State ($125)

3

File annual registration renewal ($520)

4

Obtain appropriate professional licenses

5

Maintain required malpractice insurance

Annual Cost Notice

LLPs in Pennsylvania must file an annual registration renewal at a cost of $520 per year. Failure to renew results in automatic loss of LLP status, meaning individual partners lose their malpractice liability protection. Budget accordingly when choosing this entity type.