Earlier quoted context omitted.
When we logged into the tax portal, only this amount was shown as to pay. Terrible UX. In fact, the fine was actually what we paid (minimum tax + missed deadline + interest). “Normal fine”: We just didn't expect you to be able to incorporate a company and if you miss the tax payment deadline, you will receive a fine 100 times higher than the cost of incorporating the company, no matter what. But of course, I don't re…
Are you sure this was the Federal tax portal, and not the Delaware Franchise tax? As far as I know, only the latter defaults to a "scary" tax calculation based on number of shares (but you can easily switch it to the Assumed Par Value Capital Method based calculation, which would be $400 in total for you, assuming you filed on time). Federal taxes should be $0 if you had no profits.
Here’s a detailed writeup I prepared a while back about exactly how to resolve this if you want to DIY it. (This is one of the very few filings I actually recommend you DIY.)
https://pilot.com/blog/how-to-file-your-delaware-franchise-t...