Register a Utah Foreign LLC
A Utah foreign LLC is an LLC that plans to conduct business in Utah but was formed elsewhere. Foreign LLC registration in Utah requires you to file a Foreign Registration Statement with Utah's Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, and pay a $54 filing fee.
Northwest can register your foreign LLC in Utah for just $225 + state fees. This includes the paperwork, registered agent service for a year, and a free trial of our identity services that take your business online. We’ll give you a custom domain name free for a year, plus 90 days free of our web hosting and security, business phone number and email address, and a local Utah business address. Plus you’ll get forever access to our attorney-drafted legal document templates, personal help from our Corporate Guides®, and Privacy By Default®.
Ready to Register A Foreign LLC in Utah?
GET STARTEDHow to Register a Foreign LLC in Utah
Utah foreign qualification, a fancy term for the process of registering an out-of-state company in Utah, requires business owners to submit a Foreign Registration Statement to the Department of Commerce. Here’s how it works:
1. Appoint a Utah Registered Agent
First of all, you’ll need a Utah Registered Agent. This can be a business or someone you know—but that person must have a physical address in Utah. Registered agents need to be available during standard business hours in order to receive legal notifications for your business.
You can serve as your company’s registered agent if you live in Utah—which is rare for foreign LLC owners. When companies move into new states, many choose to hire a Registered Agent Service.
In addition to freeing you up to run your company, a professional registered agent can help you protect your privacy. A registered agent service allows you to minimize use of your own address in public records by letting you use their address on your registration documents instead.
2. Complete the Foreign Registration Statement
To register your foreign LLC in Utah, you need to complete the state’s Foreign Registration Statement and file it with the Utah Department of Commerce, Division of Corporations & Commercial Code. You will need to provide the following information:
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Exact name of LLC
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Jurisdiction where LLC was formed
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Principal street address of LLC (in home state)
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Name of Registered Agent (plus their address, if non-commercial)
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Name of LLC in Utah (if original name is unavailable)
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The LLC’s purpose (optional)
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Name and business address or each member or manager (optional)
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Name, title and signature of authorized person
If you’re ready to get started, you can Register Your Foreign LLC in Utah now with Northwest.
The processing fee for filing a Foreign Registration Statement in Utah is $54. An additional fee can be paid for rapid processing when filing a paper application.
You can file your Utah Foreign LLC Registration Application online, by mail, in person, or via fax.
Online: Utah OneStop Business Registration
By Mail:
PO Box 146705
Salt Lake City Utah 84114-6705
In Person:
160 East 300 South (or 160 E Broadway)
Salt Lake City Utah 84111
Fax: (801) 530-6438
No. You only need to file a Utah Certificate of Organization if you’re forming a new LLC in Utah.
No. While the state requires foreign corporations to provide proof of existence or good standing, Utah does not require this extra step for foreign LLCs.
3. Launch Your Business Identity
Once your business is up and running in the new state, you’ll want to be able to connect with the new market of consumers. Having a robust and localized digital presence can help build your business’ identity, which in turn will make your business seem more trustworthy and professional, even if you’ve only just started offering services/products. We can help you build a custom website that is securely hosted with an unique domain, plus give you a local business phone number, email, and lease for an address to help establish your business in Utah.
Learn more about how to launch your business identity in a new state.
4. Get Your Foreign Registration Documents
After submitting your Foreign Registration Statement, the Utah Department of Commerce will notify you of receipt and acceptance of your application. For a $5 fee, you can also get a faxed confirmation that your filing went through.
Filing online at the standard $54 rate gets your application processed in 24 hours.
When submitting the application in person, by mail, or by fax, the application will be screened for legal compliance by staff, and processing times can vary. For an extra $75 (a total of $129), your paper application can be ready in 1-2 business days.
Utah Foreign LLC Registration FAQ
You can amend your foreign LLC filing in Utah by filing an Amendment of Foreign Registration and paying the $37 filing fee.
Many states, Utah included, do not clearly define doing business in their state laws because the business landscape is constantly changing.
In general, however, business owners who do the following in Utah will probably need to file for foreign registration:
- Own or lease an office
- Have a registered agent
- Pay wages to a Utah resident
- Sell goods or services
- Apply for a professional license
The list above is not exhaustive, and other activities may require you to register a foreign LLC in Utah as well. Consult a lawyer if you’re unsure.
Activities that do NOT constitute transacting business in Utah include, but are not limited to:
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Settling or defending lawsuits
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Holding board meetings
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Maintaining bank accounts
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Maintaining offices for the transfer of securities
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Selling goods or services through an independent contractor
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Soliciting orders (before they become contracts)
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Conducting isolated, non-repeating transactions completed within 30 days
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Transacting business in interstate commerce
Check out: What Exactly Does “Doing Business” in Another State Mean?
Yes, all foreign LLCs in Utah must file a Utah Annual Report every year following the year they file for foreign registration, by the anniversary of their initial foreign registration filing. If you’re unsure of when your anniversary date is, you can search the Utah Business Database and find out. The filing fee is $18.
You must pay all applicable Utah taxes, just like any Utah LLC. By default, your LLC will be taxed as a pass-through entity, which means your business profits “pass through” the company itself and get reported as income on individual members’ tax returns. An LLC may choose to be taxed as a corporation instead, but to do that you’ll have to file paperwork with the IRS.
For more information on taxes, check out our Utah tax guide.
To withdraw your foreign LLC, you’ll need to file a Certificate of Withdrawal. There is no fee for this filing.
