Foreign registration · no form number

Iowa Corporation Foreign Registration in Montana

A corporation formed in Iowa that wants to do business in Montana files an online registration (no form number), with $70 in state fees. Montana may ask for Iowa's Certificate of Existence ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Services from your Iowa records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

Iowa vs Montana: the paperwork

	Iowa formed here	Montana registering here
Document	Iowa Certificate of Existence	Certificate of Authority (no form number)
State fee	$5	$70 at order
How it is handled	Iowa: online as a printable PDF right after payment	Filed online with Montana
Office	Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services
Official page	sos.iowa.gov	help.sosmt.gov
Yearly filing	Biennial Report, $60, every two years	Annual Report, no fee, every year
Due	April 1 of even-numbered years	April 15
Agent	Your Iowa registered agent	Our Montana registered agent

How Iowa companies register with Montana

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

Your Iowa name and Montana's rules

We check your exact Iowa name against Montana's records before filing.

Your Montana agent and the Iowa one

Iowa and Montana both call it a registered agent. Your current registered agent stays for Iowa; ours takes Montana's papers and notices.

Staying in good standing in Iowa and Montana

Iowa wants the Biennial Report every two years ($60); Montana wants the Annual Report every year (no fee). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Iowa to Montana

An LLC formed in Iowa files its own registration with Montana ($70 in state fees, the same; no home-state certificate is needed). After that come Iowa's Biennial Report ($30) and Montana's Annual Report ($20). See the LLC filing.

Registering a Montana company in Iowa

A corporation formed in Montana that registers with Iowa files Form 635_0110A with $100 in state fees. See that filing.

Questions Iowa owners ask about Montana

Does my Iowa company need to register in Montana?

Yes, once an Iowa business operates there; Montana registers it as a foreign corporation.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: Montana issues one to Iowa corporations once the filing is approved.

How much does the Montana registration cost?

$269 at checkout; Montana may also want Iowa's Certificate of Existence, at extra cost.

What are the yearly costs for Iowa and Montana?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), Iowa's report ($60, every two years) and Montana's report (no fee).

Does Montana require a registered agent?

Yes: the Iowa registered agent stays, and ours covers Montana for year one.

Can I form a new Montana corporation instead?

Yes, but Iowa keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Montana's Annual Report (no fee), and the original keeps Iowa's Biennial Report.

What does a Montana company file to register in Iowa?

It files Form 635_0110A with $100 in state fees.

How do I get an Iowa certificate of good standing?

Iowa issues the Certificate of Existence online as a printable PDF right after payment ($5).

Official sources

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