Foreign registration · Form 635_0010

Montana LLC Foreign Registration in Iowa

An LLC formed in Montana that wants to do business in Iowa files Form 635_0010, with $100 in state fees. Iowa also wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), dated within 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Business Services using your Montana records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

Montana and Iowa side by side

	Montana formed here	Iowa registering here
Document	Montana Certificate of Existence	Form 635_0010, Limited Liability Company Foreign Registration Statement
State fee	$5	$100 at order
How it is handled	Montana: online	Filed with Iowa
Paid expedite		5-business-day $15, 2-business-day $50
Office	Montana Secretary of State, Business Services	Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services
Official page	biz.sosmt.gov	sos.iowa.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $20, every year	Biennial Report, $30, every two years
Due	April 15	April 1 of odd-numbered years
Agent	Your Montana registered agent	Our Iowa registered agent

From Montana to Iowa, step by step

Order the Montana certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($5) is ordered from Montana separately; it is not part of our Iowa order. Iowa accepts it within 90 days of Montana's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 635_0010
It names us as your Iowa registered agent, with your Montana name and formation date and the certificate attached. Once Montana's certificate is in hand, Iowa's filing goes in. Once Iowa approves it, the Montana company can do business there.

Iowa costs for Montana companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$100
Certificate of Existence, paid to Montana	$5
Our service, with a year of Iowa registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Montana certificate included	$304

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

Your Montana name and Iowa's rules

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

Your Iowa agent and the Montana one

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

Yearly filings: Iowa and Montana

Montana wants the Annual Report every year ($20); Iowa wants the Biennial Report every two years ($30). The new registration does not replace any home-state filing.

LLC or corporation, Montana to Iowa

A corporation formed in Montana files Form 635_0110A with Iowa ($100 in state fees, the same). After that come Montana's Annual Report (no fee) and Iowa's Biennial Report ($60). See the corporation filing.

Registering an Iowa company in Montana

An LLC formed in Iowa that registers with Montana files Montana's registration (no form number) with $70 in state fees; no Iowa certificate is needed. See that filing.

Questions Montana owners ask about Iowa

Does my Montana company need to register in Iowa?

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

How much does it cost to register a Montana LLC in Iowa?

$299 at checkout plus $5 to Montana for the Certificate of Existence, $304 in all (checkout is $100 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Montana's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Iowa wants Montana's Certificate of Existence ($5), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Montana and Iowa?

Our registered agent renewal ($149 a year), Montana's report ($20) and Iowa's report ($30, every two years).

What if I don't register with Iowa?

A Montana company cannot sue in court there until it registers.

Does Iowa require a registered agent?

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

Will Iowa 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 Iowa LLC instead?

Yes, but Montana keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Iowa's Biennial Report ($30), and the original keeps Montana's Annual Report.

How do I withdraw from Iowa later?

Montana companies leave by filing a Statement of Withdrawal ($10); until then, Iowa's report stays due alongside Montana's filings.

Official sources

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