How to reinstate a Wisconsin Corporation

How to reinstate a Wisconsin Corporation:

It is really easy to reinstate your domestic Wisconsin corporation, but first you have to contact the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions: Division of Corporate and Consumer Services (DFI) to request an application for reinstatement from. Use of the DFI reinstatement form is mandatory and it is not available on the DFI website. Then you just file the original Certificate of Reinstatement form, one exact copy, and one current annual report with the DFI.

Checks for corporate reinstatement and annual report fees should be payable to the Department of Financial Institutions. The DIF accepts delivery of documents by mail, by commercial delivery, or in person.

Department of Financial Institutions
Division of Corporate and Consumer Services
Corporate Section
Mailing Address:
PO Box 7846
Madison WI 53707
Express Mail Address:
345 W. Washington Avenue 3rd Floor
Madison WI 53703
Phone: 608-261-7577
Fax: 608-267-6813

How much will it cost to reinstate a Wisconsin Corporation?

The filing fee for a certificate to reinstate your Wisconsin corporation is $100.
You also have to pay all past due annual report fees you owe. The filing fee for annual reports is $40.
Expedited filing is an additional $25.

How long does it take the state to process the filing?

It takes the DFI about 5 business days to process most documents.
Expedited filings are completed by the close of business the next business day after filing. If you want to expedite processing, make sure you mark documents “for expedited processing.”

How long does your Wisconsin Corporation have to be inactive with the state before you wouldn’t have any fees, and would just have to start over with a new Wisconsin Corporation?

Since there is no limit on the reinstatement period for domestic Wisconsin Corporations, you could reinstate at any time, even after missing several annual reports.

But remember, there is no name protection for administratively dissolved Wisconsin corporations so if you wait to reinstate, you may lose your name. If someone takes your name while you’re in dissolved status, you will have to file a name change amendment at the time of reinstatement.

Can you change your Wisconsin registered agent at the same time on the Wisconsin reinstatement?

No. You can’t change your Wisconsin registered agent on the reinstatement application. Since you will have to file an annual report to be reinstated, make the change of Wisconsin registered agent on the annual report form.

Can you change your principal address at the same time on the Wisconsin reinstatement form?

No. The only way to change your principal address is on the annual report.

Can you change your officers and directors at the same time on the Wisconsin reinstatement form?

No. There is not a place on the reinstatement form to change officer/director information. At the time of reinstatement you will file a current annual report and that is an acceptable way to change your officers and directors.

How many annual reports can you miss before you can’t revive your Wisconsin Corporation?

There is no limit on the Wisconsin corporation reinstatement period. This means you can reinstate a corporation no matter how many annual reports it has missed.

DFI forms: