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Foreign corporation certificate of authority

Louisiana Corporation Certificate of Authority: Form 326

A corporation formed in another state registers with Louisiana on Form 326, Application of Foreign Corporation for Certificate of Authority. The $160 filing fee goes to Louisiana; our $199 covers preparing and filing it plus the first year of Louisiana registered agent service, for $359 at checkout. Louisiana sets its own proof rule for foreign corporations.

Our service$199
Louisiana state fee$160
Total$359
Choose your home state

Louisiana corporation certificate of authority at a glance

Filing
Form 326, Application of Foreign Corporation for Certificate of Authority
State fee
$160 filing fee
Total with us
$359, first year of Louisiana registered agent service included
Home-state certificate
Set by the state
Louisiana yearly filing
Annual Report, $30, every year
Filed with
Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division

What Form 326 asks for

Form 326 has 10 numbered items. In practice, Louisiana needs:

  • The exact name of your corporation as formed
  • The state it was formed in and its date of formation
  • A Louisiana registered agent with a street address there; we fill in ours
  • A principal office address

Corporation into Louisiana, by home state

Every home state pays the same $359 at checkout for Louisiana.

Formed inHome-state certificateFirst year
AlabamaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
AlaskaCertificate of Compliance, if asked$359
ArizonaCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
ArkansasCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
CaliforniaCertificate of Status, if asked$359
ColoradoCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
ConnecticutCertificate of Legal Existence, if asked$359
DelawareCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
FloridaCertificate of Status, if asked$359
GeorgiaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
HawaiiGood Standing Certificate, if asked$359
IdahoCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
IllinoisCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
IndianaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
IowaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
KansasCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
KentuckyCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
MaineCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
MarylandCertificate of Status, if asked$359
MassachusettsCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
MichiganCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
MinnesotaCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
MississippiCertificate of Good Standing / Certificate of Existence, if asked$359
MissouriCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
MontanaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
NebraskaCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
NevadaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
New HampshireCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
New JerseyStanding Certificate, if asked$359
New MexicoCertificate of Good Standing and Compliance, if asked$359
New YorkCertificate of Status, if asked$359
North CarolinaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
North DakotaCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
OhioCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
OklahomaCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
OregonCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
PennsylvaniaSubsistence Certificate, if asked$359
Rhode IslandCertificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
South CarolinaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
South DakotaCertificate of Good Standing/Existence, if asked$359
TennesseeCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
TexasCertificate of Fact - Status, if asked$359
UtahCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
VermontCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
VirginiaCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359
WashingtonCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
West VirginiaCertificate of Existence, if asked$359
WisconsinCertificate of Status, if asked$359
WyomingCertificate of Good Standing, if asked$359

When Louisiana expects a corporation to register

Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not, on their own, count as doing business in Louisiana. An office, staff, or regular sales and contracts there are what typically lead to registration.

If you do business in Louisiana without registering

An unregistered corporation doing business there cannot start a lawsuit in Louisiana courts until it registers. Its contracts stay valid, and it can still defend a case brought against it. When it does register, Louisiana collects the fees it would have charged for the years it went unregistered.

Louisiana registered agent rule

Louisiana requires every registered foreign corporation to keep a registered agent there. A resigning agent stays responsible for 30 days after filing the resignation. Our $199 includes the first year of Louisiana registered agent service, then $149 a year.

Louisiana yearly filings

Once registered, your corporation files the Louisiana Annual Report every year, at $30, due on or before the anniversary of the date authority to do business was issued. The Louisiana filing window opens 30 days before the anniversary date and closes Anniversary date. From year two, keeping the Louisiana registration costs $179 a year with our registered agent service.

How long Louisiana takes

We file Form 326 with the Louisiana Secretary of State. Paid speed-ups: 24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60; they are optional and not in the total.

Louisiana foreign corporation questions

Do I have to register my corporation in Louisiana?

Yes, if it was formed in another state and does business there. Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own. An office, staff or regular sales there usually mean registering.

How much does foreign corporation registration in Louisiana cost?

$359 at checkout: the $160 filing fee plus our $199, which includes the first year of registered agent service.

What does it cost each year to stay registered in Louisiana?

$179 a year: $30 for the Annual Report and $149 for our registered agent service. The home state's own yearly filing stays separate.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

Your corporation cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Do I need a registered agent in Louisiana?

Yes. Louisiana requires one for every corporation registered there from another state. Ours is included for the first year, then $149 a year.

Can I form a new Louisiana corporation instead?

It is possible, but that is a separate company that files Louisiana's Annual Report ($30), while the original keeps its home-state filings. Registering keeps one company in both states.

Is the Louisiana filing the same for an LLC?

No: LLCs file Form 972 ($190 in state fees), and corporations file Form 326.

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes. Louisiana issues a certificate of authority once the filing is approved.

Official Louisiana sources