Foreign corporation certificate of authority
Missouri Corporation Certificate of Authority: Form Corp 42
A corporation formed in another state registers with Missouri on Form Corp 42, Application for Certificate of Authority. The $155 filing fee goes to Missouri; our $199 covers preparing and filing it plus the first year of Missouri registered agent service, for $354 at checkout. Missouri also wants a certificate of good standing from the home state, dated within 60 days.
Missouri corporation certificate of authority at a glance
- Filing
- Form Corp 42, Application for Certificate of Authority
- State fee
- $155 filing fee
- Total with us
- $354, first year of Missouri registered agent service included
- Home-state certificate
- Required, dated within 60 days
- Missouri yearly filing
- Corporate Registration Report, $15, every two years
- Filed with
- Missouri Secretary of State, Corporations Division
What Form Corp 42 asks for
For Form Corp 42, Missouri needs:
- The exact name of your corporation as formed
- The state it was formed in and its date of formation
- A Missouri registered agent with a street address there; we fill in ours
- A principal office address
- A certificate of good standing from the home state, no older than 60 days when Missouri receives it
Corporation into Missouri, by home state
The first-year total adds the home state's certificate fee to the $354 checkout total; the certificate is ordered from that state.
| Formed in | Certificate Missouri asks for | First year |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | Certificate of Existence, $25 | $379 |
| Alaska | Certificate of Compliance, $10 | $364 |
| Arizona | Certificate of Good Standing, $10 | $364 |
| Arkansas | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 | $379 |
| California | Certificate of Status, $5 | $359 |
| Colorado | Certificate of Good Standing, free | $354 |
| Connecticut | Certificate of Legal Existence, $80 | $434 |
| Delaware | Certificate of Good Standing, $50 | $404 |
| Florida | Certificate of Status, $8.75 | $362.75 |
| Georgia | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| Hawaii | Good Standing Certificate, $5 | $359 |
| Idaho | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| Illinois | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 | $379 |
| Indiana | Certificate of Existence, $15 | $369 |
| Iowa | Certificate of Existence, $5 | $359 |
| Kansas | Certificate of Good Standing, $7.50 | $361.50 |
| Kentucky | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| Louisiana | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 | $379 |
| Maine | Certificate of Existence, $30 | $384 |
| Maryland | Certificate of Status, $20 | $374 |
| Massachusetts | Certificate of Good Standing, $12 | $366 |
| Michigan | Certificate of Good Standing, $10 | $364 |
| Minnesota | Certificate of Good Standing, $5 | $359 |
| Mississippi | Certificate of Good Standing / Certificate of Existence, $25 | $379 |
| Montana | Certificate of Existence, $5 | $359 |
| Nebraska | Certificate of Good Standing, $6.50 | $360.50 |
| Nevada | Certificate of Existence, $50 | $404 |
| New Hampshire | Certificate of Good Standing, $5 | $359 |
| New Jersey | Standing Certificate, $25 | $379 |
| New Mexico | Certificate of Good Standing and Compliance, $50 | $404 |
| New York | Certificate of Status, $25 | $379 |
| North Carolina | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| North Dakota | Certificate of Good Standing, $20 | $374 |
| Ohio | Certificate of Good Standing, $5 | $359 |
| Oklahoma | Certificate of Good Standing, $20 | $374 |
| Oregon | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| Pennsylvania | Subsistence Certificate, $40 | $394 |
| Rhode Island | Certificate of Status / Certificate of Good Standing, $22 | $376 |
| South Carolina | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| South Dakota | Certificate of Good Standing/Existence, $20 | $374 |
| Tennessee | Certificate of Existence, $20 | $374 |
| Texas | Certificate of Fact - Status, $15 | $369 |
| Utah | Certificate of Existence, $12 | $366 |
| Vermont | Certificate of Good Standing, $25 | $379 |
| Virginia | Certificate of Good Standing, $6 | $360 |
| Washington | Certificate of Existence, $20 | $374 |
| West Virginia | Certificate of Existence, $10 | $364 |
| Wisconsin | Certificate of Status, $10 | $364 |
| Wyoming | Certificate of Good Standing, free | $354 |
When Missouri expects a corporation to register
Missouri law lists 8 activities that do not, on their own, count as doing business in Missouri. An office, staff, or regular sales and contracts there are what typically lead to registration.
If you do business in Missouri without registering
An unregistered corporation doing business there cannot start a lawsuit in Missouri courts until it registers. Its contracts stay valid, and it can still defend a case brought against it. Missouri penalties for unregistered business: a fine of at least $1,000.
Missouri registered agent rule
Missouri requires every registered foreign corporation to keep a registered agent there. Missouri allows an individual who lives in Missouri with a business office at the registered office, a Missouri corporation or nonprofit corporation, or a foreign one authorized in Missouri, each with its business office at the registered office to serve. Switching agents later costs $10. A resigning agent stays responsible for 30 days after filing the resignation. Our $199 includes the first year of Missouri registered agent service, then $149 a year.
Missouri yearly filings
Once registered, your corporation files the Missouri Corporate Registration Report every two years, at $15, due last day of the corporation's anniversary month. The Missouri filing window opens first day of anniversary month and closes last day of anniversary month. Filing it late adds $15.
How long Missouri takes
We file Form Corp 42 with the Missouri Secretary of State.
Leaving Missouri later
If your corporation stops doing business there, it ends the registration by filing an Application for Certificate of Withdrawal. Until that is filed, Missouri's yearly filing stays due.
Missouri foreign corporation questions
Do I have to register my corporation in Missouri?
Yes, if it was formed in another state and does business there. Missouri law lists 8 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 Missouri cost?
$354 at checkout: the $155 filing fee plus our $199, which includes the first year of registered agent service.
Does Missouri need a certificate from my home state?
Yes, a certificate of good standing from the home state, dated within 60 days.
What does it cost each year to stay registered in Missouri?
$149 a year for our registered agent service, plus the Corporate Registration Report ($15, every two years). The home state's own yearly filing stays separate.
What if I don't register with Missouri?
Your corporation cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Missouri can add a fine of at least $1,000.
Do I need a registered agent in Missouri?
Yes. Missouri requires one for every corporation registered there from another state. Ours is included for the first year, then $149 a year.
How do I withdraw from Missouri later?
File an Application for Certificate of Withdrawal with the Missouri Secretary of State.
Can I form a new Missouri corporation instead?
It is possible, but that is a separate company that files Missouri's Corporate Registration Report ($15), while the original keeps its home-state filings. Registering keeps one company in both states.
Is the Missouri filing the same for an LLC?
No: LLCs file Form LLC 4 ($105 in state fees), and corporations file Form Corp 42.
Is this a certificate of authority?
Yes. Missouri issues a certificate of authority once the filing is approved.
Official Missouri sources
- Missouri filing page (sos.mo.gov)
- Missouri Form Corp 42 (sos.mo.gov)
- Missouri: RSMo 351.576, application for certificate of authority
- Missouri Secretary of State, schedule of fees and charges
- Missouri: RSMo 351.572, authority to transact business required (foreign corporation)
- Missouri: RSMo 351.574, consequences of transacting business without authority
- Missouri: RSMo 351.586, registered office and agent of a foreign corporation
- Missouri Form Corp 59, change of registered agent or office