South Carolina

Foreign registration · no form number

South Carolina Corporation Foreign Registration in South Dakota

A corporation formed in South Carolina that wants to do business in South Dakota files an online registration (no form number), with $750 in state fees. South Dakota also wants South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10). We file it with the Secretary of State using your South Carolina records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

What South Carolina and South Dakota each ask for

	South Carolina formed here	South Dakota registering here
Document	South Carolina Certificate of Existence	Application for Certificate of Authority (Foreign Business Corporation) (no form number)
State fee	$10	$750 at order
How it is handled	South Carolina: online	Filed online with South Dakota
Paid expedite		$50
Office	South Carolina Secretary of State	South Dakota Secretary of State
Official page	businessfilings.sc.gov	sdsos.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Must be current
Yearly filing	Annual Report (Schedule D of Form SC1120 / SC1120S), fee set by the state, every year	Annual Report, fee set by the state, every year
Due	15th day of the 4th month after the close of the tax year	By the first day of the registration anniversary month each year
Agent	Your South Carolina agent for service of process	Our South Dakota registered agent

From South Carolina to South Dakota, step by step

Order the South Carolina certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($10) is ordered from South Carolina separately; it is not part of our South Dakota order. South Dakota wants the South Carolina certificate current, so it is ordered close to the filing date.
We prepare and file the registration
It lists us as your South Dakota registered agent, next to your South Carolina name and formation date, with the certificate attached. The South Carolina certificate comes first; then the South Dakota filing goes in. Once South Dakota approves it, the South Carolina company can do business there.

First-year cost, South Carolina to South Dakota

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$750
Certificate of Existence, paid to South Carolina	$10
Our service, with a year of South Dakota registered agent service	$199
First-year total, South Carolina certificate included	$959

South Dakota's paid expedite is optional and not in the total.

Will your South Carolina name work for South Dakota?

If another South Dakota company uses the South Carolina name, an alternate name is allowed. South Dakota can hold a name for $25 before you file.

Your South Dakota agent and the South Carolina one

South Dakota calls it a registered agent; South Carolina says agent for service of process. South Dakota papers come to us; South Carolina's agent is unchanged.

Yearly filings: South Dakota and South Carolina

South Carolina wants the Annual Report (Schedule D of Form SC1120 / SC1120S) every year; South Dakota wants the Annual Report every year. The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, South Carolina to South Dakota

An LLC formed in South Carolina files its own registration with South Dakota ($750 in state fees, the same, plus the Certificate of Existence ($10)). See the LLC filing.

Registering a South Dakota company in South Carolina

A corporation formed in South Dakota that registers with South Carolina files Form F0002 with $110 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing/Existence ($20). See that filing.

Questions South Carolina owners ask about South Dakota

Does my South Carolina company need to register in South Dakota?

Yes, once a South Carolina business operates there; South Dakota law lists 11 activities that do not count on their own.

Is this a certificate of authority?

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

How much does the South Dakota registration cost?

$949 at checkout plus $10 to South Carolina for the Certificate of Existence, $959 in all (checkout is $750 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need South Carolina's certificate of good standing?

Yes: South Dakota wants South Carolina's Certificate of Existence ($10), current at filing.

How long does the South Dakota registration take?

South Dakota approves online filings immediately, once South Carolina's certificate is in hand. Paid expedite: $50.

What are the yearly costs for South Carolina and South Dakota?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), South Carolina's report (fee set by the state) and South Dakota's report (fee set by the state).

What if I don't register with South Dakota?

A South Carolina company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does South Dakota require a registered agent?

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

Will South Dakota accept my South Carolina name?

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

Can I form a new South Dakota corporation instead?

Yes, but South Carolina keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files South Dakota's Annual Report, and the original keeps South Carolina's yearly report.

Official sources

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