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An Illinois certificate of good standing (IL) is a legal document that verifies that your limited liability company (LLC) or corporation was correctly formed and is in good standing with the state.
This Certificate of Good Standing Illinois guide will explain how to get a certificate of good standing in Illinois and the requirements to get a good standing certificate.
What is a Certificate of Good Standing?
The certificate- of good standing, aka “certificate of existence,” confirms that a company is up-to-date with its filings and has no legal issues preventing it from conducting business.
This state document verifies that you have legally formed your LLC or corporation and that your company is properly maintained.
Requirements for Getting an Illinois Certificate of Good Standing
In Illinois, the certificate of good standing is known as a certificate of compliance issued by the Illinois Secretary of State. To qualify for an Illinois certificate of compliance, make sure your corporation or LLC is up-to-date with the following state compliance requirements.
Obtain Business Licenses & Permits
Follow federal, state, and local licensing guidelines to operate your business in Illinois in a state-compliant manner. Some examples include health permits, building permits, medical and other professional licenses, etc.
To find more about state licensing requirements, visit the State of Illinois website.
Pay State Taxes
Different businesses are subjected to different taxes such as Illinois Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax, withholding tax, or sales tax, etc. Depending on your business activity, you must register for various forms of Illinois state tax.
Timely Submit Annual Reports
All Illinois corporations and LLCs must file an annual report that summarizes their business’s finances over the past year.
The Illinois Secretary of State requires your business to submit an annual report. The Illinois LLC annualreport filing fee is $75 and is due each year prior to the first day of the month in which the LLC or corporation was formed.
How Do I Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois?
Once your business is up-to-date with all filings and compliance requirements, you can order your certificate of Good Standing from the state authority.
The Illinois certificate of compliance is requested from the Illinois Secretary of State. To order your certificate of compliance online from the Illinois Secretary of State, click the following link.
You can also apply via mail by downloading the Illinois certificate of compliance using the following link:
LLC Mailing Address:
Secretary of State
Department of Business Services
Limited Liability Division
501 S. Second St., Rm. 351
Springfield, IL 62756
Corporation Mailing Address:
Secretary of State
Department of Business Services
Corporations Division
501 S. Second St., Rm. 330
Springfield, IL 62756
The filing Cost for the Illinois Certificate of Compliance is $25.
Why Do I Need a Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois?
While you don’t necessarily need a certificate of compliance to run your LLC or corporation in Illinois, there are several instances where you may need to get one. These include:
- Opening a business bank account
- Applying for a business loan or line of credit from a bank
- Purchasing business insurance
- Trying to lease commercial space
- Soliciting funds from potential investors
- You want to register your LLC or other business in another state as a foreign or out-of-state LLC
- You want to Transfer or domesticate your business to another state
- You’re selling your business, and the buyer wants proof that the company is in good legal standing
- You are contracting with another company
- You need to show compliance with government regulations in any other situation
FAQs on Illinois Certificate of Good Standing
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