LLC Domestication | How to Move Your LLC to Another State

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Many LLC owners prefer LLC Domestication over other methods of changing the LLC domicile. However, moving your LLC via LLC Domestication is more than filling out some paperwork. How? Let’s see how.

How to Domesticate an LLC

What is LLC Domestication

What is an LC domestication? It is the legal process of changing the LLC’s domicile. Practically, you move your LLC’s charter from one state to another through the LLC domestication process after changing your state of residence.

In other words, LLC domestication allows your LLC to change the governing laws of your LLC. LLC domesticating allows you to maintain previous business contracts and employees.

Moreover, you do not need to change bank accounts, credit ratings, and tax ID number (also known as EIN).

Since your business will only be located in one state after LLC domestication, you won’t have to worry about double filings and meeting the LLC requirements of both states.

Fun Fact: An LLC domestication is not the only way to move your LLC to another state. It is just one of the processes of moving your LLC.

States that Allow LLC Domestication

Despite the popularity of LLC domestication for moving an LLC from one state to another, not all states allow the domestication of an LLC.

Which state allows domesticating your LLC? There are many though. To date, only 37 states have enacted laws authorizing business domestication, including LLCs, corporations, and other legal entities, into their jurisdiction.

The states that allow LLC domestication are listed below.

Click on the state below where you want to file the Article of Domestication and follow the state-specific process.

Arizona
California
Colorado
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Idaho
Indiana
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Massachusetts
Maine
Minnesota
Mississippi
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire

New Jersey
Ohio
Pennsylvania
South Dakota
Texas
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wisconsin
Wyoming

How to Move (Domesticate) an LLC from One State to Another

Domesticating or Moving you LLC from one state to another is an easy task. It is not difficult as long as you follow a proper procedure. LLC demostication instructions are simple. You can do it yourself or hire a reliable LLC domestication service.

Each state has specific guidelines for LLC domestication in its jurisdiction. However, the following steps of moving an LLC are common in every state. Kindly follow these steps carefully to successfully domesticate your LLC.

Step One

Acquire a Certificate of Good Standing 

A certificate of good standing is a legal document issued by the state.

The certificate verifies that your LLC or corporation was legally formed and operated in a state compliance manner.

LLC domestication requires that your LLC does not have any outstanding debts or taxes in the home state. So you have to pay state taxes, LLC annual fees, and other fees in the state where you originally registered your LLC. 

To prove that your LLC is up to date on all important business marks, you need to submit a certificate of good standing while filing Articles of Domestication. You can learn more on how to get a certificate of good standing in all 50 states to get a certificate of good standing in your specific state.

Step Two

Complete the Articles of Dissolution Form 

Articles of Dissolution are the legal documents you file with the state to dissolve your LLC formally.

On this step, you just need to download the LLC dissolution form and complete it with the correct information.

Important Note: Do not file articles of dissolution in the LLC’s home state prior to getting domestication approval from the state where you want to move your LLC.

Once the state of your new residence approves your LLC domestication, you are required to submit this LLC dissolution or LLC termination form with the state and wind up your LLC in that state.

Step Three

File Articles of Continuance or Articles of Domestication

To formally move your LLC from the LLC’s home state to the state of your new residence, you need to file articles of domestication, aka articles of continuance.

You need to submit the certificate of good standing and a copy of the articles of termination/dissolution form with articles of domestication.

After filing Articles of Domestication, you can change your LLC’s domicile or location. To file articles of domestication click on the respective state.

Select a State

Alabama DomesticationLouisiana DomesticationOhio Domestication
Alaska DomesticationMaine DomesticationOklahoma Domestication
Arizona DomesticationMaryland DomesticationOregon Domestication
Arkansas DomesticationMassachusetts DomesticationPennsylvania Domestication
California DomesticationMichigan DomesticationRhode Island Domestication
Colorado DomesticationMinnesota DomesticationSouth Dakota Domestication
Colorado DomesticationMississippi DomesticationSouth Carolina Domestication
Delaware DomesticationMissouri DomesticationTennessee Domestication
Florida DomesticationMontana DomesticationTexas Domestication
Georgia DomesticationNebraska Domestication Utah Domestication
Hawaii DomesticationNevada DomesticationVermont Domestication
Idaho DomesticationNew Hampshire Domestication Virginia Domestication
Illinois DomesticationNew Jersey Domestication Washington Domestication
Indiana DomesticationNew Mexico DomesticationWashington D.C. Domestication
Iow DomesticationNew York DomesticationWest Virginia Domestication
Kansa DomesticationNorth Carolina DomesticationWisconsin Domestication
Kentucky DomesticationNorth Dakota DomesticationWyoming Domestication
Option One

Wait for an Approval

Once you file articles of domestication with the state of your new residence, you have to wait for the approval.

Most states take two weeks on average to process your document and verify that your LLC does not have any outstanding debts, taxes, or other state obligations in its home state.

Option One

File Articles of Dissolution in the Previous State 

Once you get the permission for domestication in the state of the new residence, you need to file articles of dissolution in the previous state.

This is how you will have your LLC transferred from the previous state of LLC registration to the state of the new residence. 

What to do After Moving Your LLC?

Once you move your business to the state of your new residence, you need to comply with the rules of your new domicile state. Make sure you:

FAQs on How to Domesticate an LLC

What is the difference between continuation and domestication?

Domestication and continuation are often considered the same. But in many states, they are considered two different processes.

In LLC domestication, only out-of-state businesses can domesticate in a particular state.

On the contrary, LLC continuation is a process that allows out-of-country or out-of-state businesses to relocate to a particular state.

How can you move an LLC to another state?

There are 4 different ways to move a business from one state to another. Below are listed the ways through which you can move your LLC to a different state:

  • LLC domestication
  • Forming a New LLC and Merging it into the Old LLC
  • Operating the LLC as Foreign LLC
  • Dissolving the Old LLC and Forming a New LLC

Can you move your LLC to Florida?

Yes, you can move your LLC in or out of Florida anytime. The state of Florida allows you to domesticate your LLC by filing articles of domestication with the Florida secretary of state.

Which states allow LLC domestication?

Though you can move your LLC from one state to another anytime, LLC domestication is allowed only by a limited state. Here is the list of states that allow LLC domestication.

Can I move my LLC to Texas using LLC domestication?

Yes, you can move your LLC in or out of Texas anytime. The state of Texas allows you to domesticate your LLC by filing articles of domestication with the Texas secretary of state. However, in Texas, you must be aware of the tax effect of LLC domestication.

You must pay Texas franchise taxes and pay the outstanding franchise taxes to the previous state.

To satisfy this requirement, you need to obtain a certificate of franchise account status from the Texas Comptroller.

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