Idaho Foreign Registration · Corporations
Registering a foreign corporation in Idaho
A foreign business corporation registers in Idaho on the Foreign Registration Statement, the same form an LLC uses, at a base fee of $100. A foreign nonprofit corporation pays $100. The corporation ticks its own box in item 3, names an officer or director as its governor, and attaches a certificate of existence or good standing under 90 days old. Preparing and filing it for you costs $199.
Corporation summary
- Filed by
- A for-profit or nonprofit corporation formed elsewhere
- Form
- Foreign Registration Statement
- Base fee
- $100 for a business corporation, $100 for a nonprofit
- Paper total
- $120
- Attach
- A current certificate of existence or good standing, not certified articles
- Governor
- An officer or director
- Sent to
- The same Boise address as for an LLC
The items, for a corporation
| Item | Corporation note |
|---|---|
| 1 | The corporate name, as on the certificate |
| 2 | An alternate name only if the Idaho record conflicts or the true name lacks a corporate ending |
| 3 | Tick business corporation or nonprofit corporation |
| 4 | The state of incorporation |
| 5 to 7 | Principal office, home-state office if required, and correspondence address |
| 8 | The Idaho registered agent |
| 9 | At least one officer or director |
Corporate names and endings
A corporate name must include corporation, incorporated, company, limited or an abbreviation of one of them, and where the true name lacks such a word, the word is added in item 2 (Idaho Code 30-21-506(a) and 30-21-301). Idaho also requires the name to be distinguishable from existing ones (see Section 30-21-301). A corporation registered under an alternate name does business under it, as described in the guide.
Item 3 and the governor
Item 3 offers business corporation and nonprofit corporation as separate boxes. Item 9 asks for the governor, which for a corporation the instructions define as an officer or director. List one at minimum with a mailing address, and have the signer state their capacity, for example president or director.
The certificate for corporations
The forms page makes a point of corporations here: foreign corporations and foreign limited partnerships must submit a certificate of existence or good standing from the home state. The statement wants the certificate's date to fall within 90 days of the filing, and certified articles are not taken in its place. Idaho refuses certified articles in that role, and it takes the certificate itself.
What a corporation pays
The base fee is $100 for a business corporation and $100 for a nonprofit, and paper adds the $20 manual processing fee. Expedited service is $40 more and same day $100 more. After registration the annual report has no fee.
Registered corporations and the Code
Registration does not let a foreign corporation do anything an Idaho corporation of the closest type could not do (Idaho Code 30-21-501(c)). The home state's law still governs its internal affairs and its shareholders' liability (see Section 30-21-501). A foreign professional corporation, for example one providing legal or medical services, is also subject to Idaho law and the ethics code of its profession.
After registering
The corporation files the free annual report each year in its registration month, keeps a registered agent with a street address in Idaho, and reports any change of agent name or address within thirty days. If it later leaves, it files the withdrawal, signed by a governor.
What the statement leaves out
The statement does not ask for the corporation's shares, stated capital, full board or purpose clause. It asks for one governor, an agent and two addresses.
Nonprofits
A foreign nonprofit corporation uses the same statement and ticks nonprofit corporation in item 3. The base fee is $100, the certificate rule is the same, and the governor is an officer or director. Registration with the Secretary of State is separate from any tax-exempt status.
Changes later
A corporation that renames itself, reincorporates or moves its principal office files the Amendment of Foreign Registration Statement at $30, and a change of name or jurisdiction comes with a fresh certificate. A new agent or agent address goes on the change-of-agent form, which has no base fee.
Filing for a corporation through us
Share the corporation's details
Name, state of incorporation, offices, an officer or director and the agent.
We request the certificate
Existence or good standing, dated within 90 days.
We complete the statement
Business corporation or nonprofit box ticked.
An officer or director signs
Name and capacity typed.
We file
The base fee is $100.
Registered agent: first year included, then $149 a year
$199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Corporation questions
Does a nonprofit file the same statement?
Yes, ticking nonprofit corporation in item 3. The base fee is $100.
Can I send my certified articles instead of a certificate?
No. Idaho refuses certified articles in that role and wants the certificate itself.
Who signs for a corporation?
An officer or director, with a typed name and the capacity in which they sign.
Our fee and Idaho's
Register in Idaho
Idaho$199
+ $100 Idaho fee
- Your Foreign Registration Statement, drafted from the details you give us
- A certificate of existence (certificate of good standing) from the home state, requested and dated for the filing
- An Idaho registered agent with a street address: ours, or the one you already use
- Online filing with the Secretary of State, so no paper surcharge applies
- Renewal: after the first year, the agent service renews at $149 a year
Our fee and Idaho's fee show as separate lines, and checkout gives the exact total before you pay. $199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Sources
- Idaho Secretary of State, business forms and fees
- Idaho Code 30-21-214, fees
- Idaho Secretary of State, business FAQ
- Idaho Code 30-21-503, foreign registration statement
- Idaho Foreign Registration Statement form and instructions
- Idaho Code 30-21-301, permitted names
- Idaho Code 30-21-501, governing law of foreign entities
- Idaho Amendment of Foreign Registration Statement form
Opening for business in Idaho?
Tell us what kind of entity you run and its home state. We handle the statement, the certificate and the agent.