Doing It Yourself
Helpful Hints
Illinois Registered Agent provides you with the tools to form your own company, change your registered agent or qualify your business in Illinois. If the reference materials provided herein do not answer your questions relating to the form contents, and the logistics of these filings, ask us, we may be able to shed some light on the subject for you.
Helpful Hints for Do-it-Yourselfer's:
- Always check with the state to be sure the name you have chosen is available for use.
- Always answer EVERY question on the forms - unless it clearly indicates that item is optional.
- Certified Copies: When the form requests certified copies of the organization documents from your domestic state, the state expects you to deliver new copies of your organizational or incorporation documents (Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation) with any and all amendments that have been filed with your domestic state. These documents are required to be dated within the past 90 days. These copies contain a cover page from the Secretary of State with the State seal and Secretary's signature attesting to the authenticity of of your incorporation / format documents therefore certifying that the attached copies are a complete record of what has been filed up to the current date with that Secretary of State's office. When ordering these types of copies, ask for "certified copies with all amendments."
- Certificate of Good Standing: is a certified statement from the Secretary of State indicating the company has met all tax and compliance requirements by that state and is active and in good standing in its state of incorporation and/or qualification. These are typically called a good standing certifiicate or a status certificate.
- When changing agents, you must present both the old, and the new agent information on the forms.
- Certain filings need additional filings to preceed or follow the actual filing, such as with a reinstatement. To reinstate a company that has been administratively dissolved for failure to file an annual report, the annual report must be submitted in tandem with the reinstatement documents.
- You can not change your agent on an annual report. If you are filing the annual report and want to change agents at the same time, you must complete a statement of change of registered agent and file it in tandem with the annual report, leave the listing for the old agent on the Annual Report, and listing the old and new agent on the change of agent form. Payment for the Annual report & franchise taxes and payment for the agent change should be included with your filing.
- You can not change your agent if you are not current with your annual report filings. The annual report must be filed first, agent change 2nd.
- Domestic Entity: A U.S. company doing business in the state in which it is incorporated is considered a domestic entity.
- Foreign Entity: A company that is conducting business in one state when incorporated or chartered in another is considered a foreign entity.
Have other questions? Let our experience with Illinois business formations, Illinois State filing procedures and general corporate maintenance be your navigational tool into the processes of the Illinois Secretary of State. Email us!
