Register Your Arizona Foreign Corporation

Since business names are registered on the state level, your current business name may not be available in Arizona. If your current business name is taken by a different Arizona business, you will need to choose a new business name. You can complete a free business name search to make sure the name you want is available before you file anything.

Once you land on an available business name, you will need to file the Application To Register Foreign Corporation Name. This needs to be done before you can register as a foreign corporation. This is $10.

Want to make sure your business name is available nationwide? Consider a federal trademark.

An Arizona statutory agent, or an Arizona registered agent, is a person or company that is responsible for accepting legal mail on behalf of a business. You can be your own registered agent, but only if you are physically present in the state during regular business hours. Need to hire someone? We’ve got registered agent service nationwide, so no matter how far your business expands, we’ve got you covered.

Once your business is legal in the new state, you’ll want to be ready to make sales. Forming your business identity, or the way you present yourself to your potential clients, can prepare customers for your upcoming products and services.

Maybe you’ve never started getting your business out there. Now’s a great chance to start a business website or get a custom business email address.

Maybe you already have a digital presence, but now you want to make it easier for out-of-state people to find you, and start building awareness and a trustworthy reputation in your new territory. Consider getting a phone service that has the local area code or a local business address to use on documents where possible.

Either way, make sure your business has a way to market itself in the new state, especially if you are not opening a brick-and-mortar.

A certificate of good standing is a document given by the government of your business’ home state that ensures you do not have any outstanding paperwork or taxes. This is required to register as a foreign corporation in Arizona. The certificate of good standing needs to be dated within 60 days of Arizona registration.

Additionally, you will need a certified copy of your Articles of Incorporation (and any amendments).

The Application for Authority to Transact Business or Conduct Affairs in Arizona is the document a corporation needs to file to register as a foreign entity in Arizona. It costs $75.

You will need to include your:

• corporation name as it’s registered in your home state
• corporation name to be used in Arizona
• home state
• date of original incorporation
• duration of company
• purpose of company
• character of business (what the business intends to do in Arizona)
• name and address of statutory agent (also called a registered agent)
• names and business addresses of directors
• names and addresses of officers
• shares authorized
• shares issued
• signature of the Chairman of the Director of the Board, an officer of the corporation, or a trustee for the corporation

When your registration is approved, you will be given a stamped copy of your Articles of Incorporation, along with a filing notice. You can have the documents faxed or mailed, or you can pick them up.

All Arizona corporations must publish a notice in a local newspapers within 60 days of registration verification. The exception is if your statutory agent is located in Maricopa or Pima County.

For everyone else, you’ll need to publish a legal notice in one newspaper for three consecutive issues in the county your statutory agent is located.

Want to skip this step? Our office is in Pima County. If you hire us, the Arizona Corporations Commission will publish your corporation for you.

The Arizona Annual Report is due each year on the anniversary date of your registration. So if you register with Arizona on June 1^st, your report will be due every year on June 1^st. It costs $45.

The Arizona corporate net income tax rate is 6.96% with a minimum payment of $50. Arizona also has an average sales tax rate of 7.92%, with 5.6% being state tax. Arizona corporations need to file Form Corporate 120 or the short form, 120A.