Foreign registration
Foreign Registration in North Carolina
An LLC or corporation formed elsewhere applies for a certificate of authority to transact business in North Carolina. The state fee is $250 for either. Authorized foreign entities keep an NC registered agent and file the North Carolina annual report.
North Carolina fees re-checked against the SOS schedule: October 30, 2026
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.
- Filed online with the NC Secretary of State
- We track your April 15 annual report
- Cited to NC General Statutes 57D and 55
- Talk to a filer: (386) 465-3937
Foreign Registration in North Carolina: the North Carolina specifics
State fee: $250
Application for certificate of authority, $250 for a foreign LLC (G.S. 57D-1-22) or foreign corporation (G.S. 55-1-22). Attach a current certificate of existence from your home state.
Check it: NC Department of the Secretary of StateRegistered agent rules (G.S. 55D-30)
The agent must be an individual who lives in North Carolina, or a domestic or authorized foreign entity, and the agent's business office must be the same as the registered office. A commercial agent keeps your home address off the public record. Ours is $199 per year.
Check it: North Carolina General StatutesAnnual report: April 15
North Carolina LLCs file an annual report with the Secretary of State by April 15 every year, starting the year after formation (G.S. 57D-2-24). The state fee is $200, and filing online by card adds a $3 processing charge. Corporations owe their report by the 15th day of the fourth month after fiscal year end, which is April 15 for a calendar-year company (G.S. 55-16-22), at $25 on paper or less online.
Check it: NC Department of the Secretary of StateForeign Registration in North Carolina: questions
Not always. Whether you are transacting business depends on your activities; sales tax nexus with NCDOR is a separate question.
Check it: NC Department of RevenueYes. Every filing on this site can be made directly with the NC Department of the Secretary of State, Business Registration Division, for the state fee alone. We charge a separate service fee to prepare and file it for you.
Check it: NC Department of the Secretary of StateReady when you are, North Carolina.
Heads up: we are an independent company that prepares and submits North Carolina filings for owners. We are not the North Carolina Department of the Secretary of State and we do not give legal advice. Every state and county charge passes through at the exact amount billed, and anyone can file directly with the Business Registration Division for no service fee.