South Carolina

Foreign registration · no form number

South Carolina Corporation Foreign Registration in Montana

A corporation formed in South Carolina that wants to do business in Montana files an online registration (no form number), with $70 in state fees. Montana may ask for South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10). We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Services using your South Carolina records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

What South Carolina and Montana each ask for

	South Carolina formed here	Montana registering here
Document	South Carolina Certificate of Existence	Certificate of Authority (no form number)
State fee	$10	$70 at order
How it is handled	South Carolina: online	Filed online with Montana
Office	South Carolina Secretary of State	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services
Official page	businessfilings.sc.gov	help.sosmt.gov
Yearly filing	Annual Report (Schedule D of Form SC1120 / SC1120S), fee set by the state, every year	Annual Report, no fee, every year
Due	15th day of the 4th month after the close of the tax year	April 15
Agent	Your South Carolina agent for service of process	Our Montana registered agent

How South Carolina companies register with Montana

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

Will your South Carolina name work for Montana?

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

Your Montana agent and the South Carolina one

Montana calls it a registered agent; South Carolina says agent for service of process. Your current agent for service of process stays for South Carolina; ours takes Montana's papers and notices.

Yearly filings: Montana and South Carolina

South Carolina wants the Annual Report (Schedule D of Form SC1120 / SC1120S) every year; Montana wants the Annual Report every year (no fee). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, South Carolina to Montana

An LLC formed in South Carolina files its own registration with Montana ($70 in state fees, the same; no home-state certificate is needed). See the LLC filing.

The other way: Montana into South Carolina

A corporation formed in Montana that registers with South Carolina files Form F0002 with $110 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Existence ($5). See that filing.

Common questions: South Carolina to Montana

Does my South Carolina company need to register in Montana?

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

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the Montana registration cost?

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

What are the yearly costs for South Carolina and Montana?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), South Carolina's report (fee set by the state) and Montana's report (no fee).

Does Montana require a registered agent?

Yes: the South Carolina agent for service of process stays, and ours covers Montana for year one.

Can I form a new Montana corporation instead?

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

What does a Montana company file to register in South Carolina?

It files Form F0002 with $110 in state fees, plus Montana's good standing certificate.

How do I get a South Carolina certificate of good standing?

South Carolina issues the Certificate of Existence online ($10).

Official sources

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