Alabama

Foreign registration · Form 326

Alabama Corporation Foreign Registration in Louisiana

Louisiana registers a corporation from Alabama as a foreign corporation on Form 326, with $160 in state fees. Louisiana may ask for Alabama's Certificate of Existence ($25). We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division from your Alabama records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

What Alabama and Louisiana each ask for

	Alabama formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Alabama Certificate of Existence	Form 326, Application of Foreign Corporation for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$25	$160 at order
How it is handled	Alabama: online as an instant printable certificate with a seal and authentication number	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Alabama Secretary of State, Business Entities Division	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	sos.alabama.gov	sos.la.gov
Yearly filing	Business Privilege Tax return (Form CPT), fee set by the state, every year	Annual Report, $30, every year
Due		On or before the anniversary of the date authority to do business was issued
Agent	Your Alabama registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

From Alabama to Louisiana, step by step

We prepare and file Form 326
It names us as your Louisiana registered agent, with your Alabama name and formation date. If Louisiana wants the Alabama certificate, it is ordered first. Once Louisiana approves it, the Alabama company can do business there.

Your Alabama name and Louisiana's rules

We check your exact Alabama name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Agents: Louisiana and Alabama

Alabama and Louisiana both call it a registered agent. Louisiana papers come to us; Alabama's agent is unchanged.

Staying in good standing in Alabama and Louisiana

Alabama wants the Business Privilege Tax return (Form CPT) every year; Louisiana wants the Annual Report every year ($30). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Alabama to Louisiana

An LLC formed in Alabama files Form 972 with Louisiana ($190 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($25)). After that come Alabama's Form PPT — Alabama Business Privilege Tax Return and Annual Report and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). See the LLC filing.

Registering a Louisiana company in Alabama

A corporation formed in Louisiana that registers with Alabama files Alabama's registration (no form number) with $184 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: Alabama to Louisiana

Does my Alabama company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once an Alabama business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: Louisiana issues one to Alabama corporations once the form is approved.

How much does it cost to register an Alabama corporation in Louisiana?

$359 at checkout; Louisiana may also want Alabama's Certificate of Existence, at extra cost.

What are the yearly costs for Alabama and Louisiana?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), Alabama's report (fee set by the state) and Louisiana's report ($30).

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

An Alabama company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Alabama registered agent stays, and ours covers Louisiana for year one.

Can I form a new Louisiana corporation instead?

Yes, but Alabama keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($30), and the original keeps Alabama's Business Privilege Tax return (Form CPT).

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Alabama?

It files Alabama's registration with $184 in state fees.

Official sources

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