Foreign registration · Form CF-1

Montana Corporation Foreign Registration in West Virginia

To do business in West Virginia, a corporation formed in Montana registers there on Form CF-1, with $101 in state fees. West Virginia may ask for Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division from your Montana records, then serve as your agent for service of process there for year one.

What Montana and West Virginia each ask for

	Montana formed here	West Virginia registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form CF-1, Application for Certificate of Authority
State fee	$5	$101 at order (filing fee $100 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with West Virginia
Paid expedite		next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25, 2-hour $250, 1-hour $500
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	West Virginia Secretary of State, Business & Licensing Division
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.wv.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report, no fee, every year	Annual Report, $25, every two years
Due	April 15	July 1 each year
Late yearly filing	$15 late fee	$50 late fee
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our West Virginia agent for service of process

How Montana companies register with West Virginia

We prepare and file Form CF-1
It names us as your West Virginia agent for service of process, with your Montana name and formation date. If West Virginia wants the Montana certificate, it is ordered first. Once West Virginia approves it, the Montana company can do business there.

Your Montana name and West Virginia's rules

If West Virginia's records show it taken, you can use an alternate name for the Montana company. We search West Virginia's records for Montana's name on file before anything is filed.

Agents: West Virginia and Montana

West Virginia calls it an agent for service of process; Montana says registered agent. West Virginia papers come to us; Montana's agent is unchanged.

Yearly filings: West Virginia and Montana

Montana wants the Annual Report every year (no fee); West Virginia wants the Annual Report every two years ($25). Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Montana to West Virginia

An LLC formed in Montana files Form LLF-1 with West Virginia ($151 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($5)). After that come Montana's Annual Report ($20) and West Virginia's Annual Report ($25). See the LLC filing.

The other way: West Virginia into Montana

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

Questions Montana owners ask about West Virginia

Does my Montana company need to register in West Virginia?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the West Virginia registration cost?

$300 at checkout; West Virginia may also want Montana's Certificate of Existence, at extra cost.

How long does the West Virginia registration take?

West Virginia's standard processing takes 5 to 10 business days at no extra cost, plus time for Montana's certificate if West Virginia asks for it. Paid expedite: next-day $25, same-day (in person) $25.

What are the yearly costs for Montana and West Virginia?

Our agent for service of process renewal ($149 a year), Montana's report (no fee) and West Virginia's report ($25, every two years).

Does West Virginia require a registered agent?

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

Will West Virginia accept my Montana name?

Yes, if no company there has it; if one does, it uses an alternate name there and keeps its Montana name at home.

Can I form a new West Virginia corporation instead?

Yes, but Montana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files West Virginia's Annual Report ($25), and the original keeps Montana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from West Virginia later?

Montana companies leave by filing a withdrawal application; until then, West Virginia's report stays due alongside Montana's filings.

Official sources

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