Tennessee

Foreign registration · Form SS-4431

Montana Corporation Foreign Registration in Tennessee

To do business in Tennessee, a corporation formed in Montana registers there on Form SS-4431, with $600 in state fees. Tennessee also wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations from your Montana records, then serve as your registered agent there for year one.

Montana vs Tennessee: the paperwork

	Montana formed here	Tennessee registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form SS-4431, Application for Certificate of Authority For-Profit Corporation
State fee	$5	$600 at order
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with Tennessee
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.tn.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Must be current
Yearly filing	Annual Report, no fee, every year	Annual Report, $20, every year
Due	April 15
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our Tennessee registered agent

How Montana companies register with Tennessee

Order the Montana certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($5) is ordered from Montana separately; it is not part of our Tennessee order. Tennessee wants the Montana certificate current, so it is ordered close to the filing date.
We prepare and file Form SS-4431
It names us as your Tennessee registered agent, with your Montana name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once Montana's certificate is in hand, Tennessee's filing goes in. After approval, your Montana corporation is registered with Tennessee.

First-year cost, Montana to Tennessee

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$600
Certificate of Existence, paid to Montana	$5
Our service, with a year of Tennessee registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Montana certificate included	$804

Will your Montana name work for Tennessee?

Tennessee can hold a name for $20 before you file.

Your Tennessee agent and the Montana one

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

Staying in good standing in Montana and Tennessee

Each year your corporation files Montana's Annual Report (no fee) and Tennessee's Annual Report ($20). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Montana plus Tennessee comes to $169 a year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Montana to Tennessee

An LLC formed in Montana files Form SS-4233 with Tennessee ($300 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($5)). After that come Montana's Annual Report ($20) and Tennessee's Annual Report ($300). See the LLC filing.

Registering a Tennessee company in Montana

A corporation formed in Tennessee that registers with Montana files Montana's registration (no form number) with $70 in state fees. See that filing.

Common questions: Montana to Tennessee

Does my Montana company need to register in Tennessee?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

Yes: Tennessee issues one to Montana corporations once the form is approved.

How much does the Tennessee registration cost?

$799 at checkout plus $5 to Montana for the Certificate of Existence, $804 in all (checkout is $600 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Montana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Tennessee wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), current at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Montana and Tennessee?

$169 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, nothing to Montana and $20 to Tennessee for the yearly reports.

Does Tennessee require a registered agent?

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

Can I form a new Tennessee corporation instead?

Yes, but Montana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Tennessee's Annual Report ($20), and the original keeps Montana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from Tennessee later?

Montana companies leave by filing an Application for Certificate of Withdrawal or Cancellation (Foreign Entity); until then, Tennessee's report stays due alongside Montana's filings.

Official sources

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