Tennessee

Foreign registration · Form 972

Tennessee LLC Foreign Registration in Louisiana

An LLC formed in Tennessee that wants to do business in Louisiana files Form 972, with $190 in state fees. Louisiana also asks for Tennessee's Certificate of Existence ($20), no older than 90 days. We file it with the Secretary of State, Commercial Division using your Tennessee records and act as your registered agent there for the first year.

Tennessee vs Louisiana: the paperwork

	Tennessee formed here	Louisiana registering here
Document	Tennessee Certificate of Existence	Form 972, Application of Foreign Limited Liability Company
State fee	$20	$190 at order (filing fee $185 plus charges collected at filing)
How it is handled	Tennessee: online or by mail	Filed with Louisiana
Paid expedite		24-hour $35, 2 to 4 hour $60
Office	Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business and Charitable Organizations	Louisiana Secretary of State, Commercial Division
Official page	sos.tn.gov	sos.la.gov
Age rule	Dated when issued	Accepted if dated within 90 days
Yearly filing	Annual Report, $300, every year	Annual Report, $35, every year
Due		On or before the anniversary date of registration in Louisiana
Agent	Your Tennessee registered agent	Our Louisiana registered agent

From Tennessee to Louisiana, step by step

Order the Tennessee certificate
The Certificate of Existence ($20) is ordered from Tennessee separately; it is not part of our Louisiana order. Louisiana accepts it within 90 days of Tennessee's issue date, so it is ordered shortly before filing.
We prepare and file Form 972
It lists us as your Louisiana registered agent, next to your Tennessee name and formation date, with the certificate attached. Once Tennessee's certificate is in hand, Louisiana's filing goes in. After approval, your Tennessee LLC is registered with Louisiana.

Louisiana costs for Tennessee companies

Item	Amount
State fees, paid at order	$190
Certificate of Existence, paid to Tennessee	$20
Our service, with a year of Louisiana registered agent service	$199
First-year total, Tennessee certificate included	$409

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

Will your Tennessee name work for Louisiana?

We check your exact Tennessee name against Louisiana's records before filing.

Agents: Louisiana and Tennessee

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

Yearly filings: Louisiana and Tennessee

Each year your LLC files Tennessee's Annual Report ($300) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($35). With our $149 registered agent renewal, Tennessee plus Louisiana comes to $484 a year. Both states' filings stay current side by side.

LLC or corporation, Tennessee to Louisiana

A corporation formed in Tennessee files Form 326 with Louisiana ($160 in state fees). After that come Tennessee's Annual Report ($20) and Louisiana's Annual Report ($30). See the corporation filing.

Registering a Louisiana company in Tennessee

An LLC formed in Louisiana that registers with Tennessee files Form SS-4233 with $300 in state fees, plus the Certificate of Good Standing ($25) dated within 60 days. See that filing.

Common questions: Tennessee to Louisiana

Does my Tennessee company need to register in Louisiana?

Yes, once a Tennessee business operates there; Louisiana law lists 10 activities that do not count on their own.

How much does the Louisiana registration cost?

$389 at checkout plus $20 to Tennessee for the Certificate of Existence, $409 in all (checkout is $190 in state fees plus our $199).

Do I need Tennessee's certificate of good standing?

Yes: Louisiana wants Tennessee's Certificate of Existence ($20), no more than 90 days old at filing.

What are the yearly costs for Tennessee and Louisiana?

$484 a year: our $149 registered agent renewal, $300 to Tennessee and $35 to Louisiana for the yearly reports.

What if I don't register with Louisiana?

A Tennessee company cannot sue in court there until it registers, and Louisiana can add a civil penalty of up to $1,000.

Does Louisiana require a registered agent?

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

Can I form a new Louisiana LLC instead?

Yes, but Tennessee keeps the original, so you run two companies: the new one files Louisiana's Annual Report ($40), and the original keeps Tennessee's Annual Report.

What does a Louisiana company file to register in Tennessee?

It files Form SS-4233 with $300 in state fees, plus Louisiana's good standing certificate.

Official sources

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