Register a Foreign Corporation in South Dakota

Free Guide to Registering a Foreign Corporation in South Dakota

What does it cost to register a foreign corporation in South Dakota?

$750 for online processing and $765 for paper submissions.

How long does it take for the state to process the South Dakota Certificate of Authority?

Online processing: South Dakota typically processes online applications in 1 business day.
Mailed filings: South Dakota will review and approve your paperwork in 3-5 business days, but you’ll need to factor in additional time for mailing.

How will I get verification of qualification back from South Dakota?

You will receive a verification certificate by mail or in person.

What forms do I file with South Dakota to qualify my out of State Corporation?

The Application for Certificate of Authority form (in duplicate if you file by mail), and original Certificate of Existence, and the filing fee is required.

What do I need from my home state?

A Certificate of Existence is required.

Will I need an South Dakota registered agent for my corporation?

Yes, when you hire Northwest as your SD registered agent, it’s a flat rate yearly price of $125 a year. You’ll have an online account that tracks your report due dates, which states you’re registered in, when your yearly service with us is up, and any documents we receive locally for you are uploaded into your account immediately for complete viewing. If or when you get served with a lawsuit, we can email up to 4 people and your attorney at the same time for real time complete viewing of a lawsuit. You’ll receive annual report reminders. It’s the same price every year, and there are no weird fees or cancellation fees.

You’ll also see all the pre-populated forms and specific filing instructions on the thank you page, in your online account, and they are emailed to you immediately upon signing up for 1 year of registered agent service.

Does the South Dakota registered agent need to sign the filing?

No.

How can I file the South Dakota Certificate of Authority?

By mail or in person.

What is the state agency that accepts the out of state registration?

South Dakota Secretary of State
500 E. Capitol Ave.
Pierre, SD 57501
Phone: (605)773-4845

Do the signatures on the South Dakota corporation application need to be original?

Yes.

Who has to sign the foreign corporation filing?

An authorized officer of the foreign SD corporation must sign the form.

Are there any weird things about registering in South Dakota?

When listing a Commercial Registered Agent, you will need to state their CRA # on the form. This number can be obtained from the Commercial Registered Agent.

County filing or publication is not necessary, unless specifically required by the county in which your registered agent resides.

Are there ongoing South Dakota annual report and/or initial reporting requirements?

Annual reports in South Dakota are due on your anniversary month, on the last day of that month.

What are your fees?

You’ll need to have an South Dakota registered agent. We charge $125 a year to act as your registered agent in South Dakota. It’s a flat rate, once a year fee, and includes more than other registered agents. Here’s a little more about our registered agent service registered agent service.

We charge a $100 one-time filing service fee if you would like us to obtain the certificates needed from your home state, and register your company in any state you choose. We have offices in every state and can act as your registered agent and make your filings for you in any state. If you would like to register with multiple states at once, we can usually drop our filing service fee down.

Additional Resources:

Taxes in South Dakota
How to Withdraw a Foreign Corporation in South Dakota
State by State Foreign Corporation Requirements