To check an LLC’s status, go to the Secretary of State website in the state where the company was formed, open the business entity search tool, and look up the LLC by its state-assigned filing number or exact legal name. Every state offers this search for free, it takes about two minutes, and the result page will tell you whether the company is active, delinquent, dissolved, or something in between.
That’s the whole mechanic. The rest of the work is knowing what to type into the search box, which state to search, and how to read the status label the database shows you.
What You Need Before You Search
The fastest lookup uses the entity’s state-assigned identification number, sometimes called a filing number or control number. It returns a single exact result and skips the problem of similarly named companies. For your own LLC, this number appears on the Articles of Organization, annual report confirmations, and prior statements of information. Tax filings and professional license documents sometimes include it as well.
If you don’t have the number, you can search by name, but you need the exact legal name including the formal designator the state required at formation (“LLC,” “L.L.C.,” or whichever form was used). Punctuation and spacing matter because each state requires a distinguishable entity name on file.
One common trap: searching by a trade name or “doing business as” (DBA) name instead of the legal name. Some state databases include assumed names in their search, but many do not. If you only know a brand name, check the state’s DBA or assumed name registry first to find the underlying legal entity name, then run the status search with that.
Which State’s Database to Search
LLCs are creatures of state law. There is no federal LLC registry, so you have to search the specific state where the company was formed. In most states this is the Secretary of State. A few use a different agency name, such as a Department of Corporations, Division of Companies, or Department of Assessments and Taxation, but they hold the same records: formation documents, annual reports, and status changes.
Use the official government site. Look for a “.gov” domain and skip third-party aggregators that charge for publicly available information. If a contract or piece of business correspondence doesn’t make the formation state obvious, that detail is usually printed alongside the company name.
Foreign registration is worth understanding before you search. An LLC formed in Delaware but operating in Texas has to register as a “foreign” LLC in Texas, which means it can appear in both states’ databases. The formation state holds the primary record and the complete filing history. The other state’s record only confirms the LLC is authorized to do business there. Pick the database that matches what you need to know.
Running the Search
On the state portal, open the business entity search tool. You’ll typically see two options: search by entity name or search by identification number. If you have the number, one click gets you to the record. Name searches usually offer filters such as “exact match,” “begins with,” or “contains” to narrow results when several entities share similar names.
Pick the right result from the list and you’ll land on a detail page, often called “Entity Detail,” “Business Summary,” or “Filing History.” That page is the status check. It generally shows:
- Current status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, or another label)
- Formation date
- Registered agent name and address
- Principal office address
- Filing history, including annual reports, amendments, and any dissolution or reinstatement filings
The registered agent line deserves a look of its own. Every state requires an LLC to maintain a registered agent to receive lawsuits and government notices. If the agent has resigned or the listing is clearly outdated, the LLC is probably out of compliance even if the status still reads active, and a missing agent can eventually trigger administrative dissolution.
The information on these free pages is provided as is. It’s reliable for checking status, but it isn’t a certified record. If you need something official for a bank, court, or transaction, that’s a separate product covered below.
What the Status Labels Mean
The exact wording varies by state, but the labels fall into a predictable set.
- Active (or In Good Standing): the LLC has met all filing requirements and paid its fees. It’s authorized to do business and retains its liability protections. This is the result you want.
- Delinquent (or Not in Good Standing): the LLC has missed a filing deadline or owes fees. The company still exists, and most states give a grace period to cure the deficiency before escalating.
- Inactive: the LLC has been flagged for non-compliance, typically for missing annual reports. In some states this is a step between delinquent and dissolved, and the company can usually return to active status by filing what’s missing and paying the fees.
- Forfeited: used in some states, including Maryland and Texas, to indicate the state has revoked the LLC’s right to do business for non-compliance. Forfeiture is not the same as dissolution. The entity still exists on paper but has lost its authority to operate until it fixes the problem.
- Dissolved (Voluntary): the members chose to close the LLC and filed Articles of Dissolution. The entity no longer exists as an active business.
- Administratively Dissolved: the state terminated the LLC’s existence for sustained non-compliance, usually missing annual reports, failing to maintain a registered agent, or unpaid fees. The state pulled the plug rather than the owners.
Anything other than “Active” carries real consequences. A dissolved LLC generally loses the ability to file lawsuits, enter enforceable contracts, or claim liability protection for its members. If you’re vetting a vendor or business partner and the status is anything but active, treat it as a red flag worth resolving before you sign.
When a Free Search Isn’t Enough
The free database gives you a snapshot for your own information. A Certificate of Good Standing, sometimes called a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Fact depending on the state, is an official certified document the state issues confirming the LLC is compliant as of a specific date. It’s what you hand to someone else as proof.
You’ll usually need one when:
- Opening a business bank account, since many banks require it to verify the LLC is real and active
- Applying for financing, where lenders and investors request it as part of due diligence
- Registering in another state, because foreign qualification generally requires a certificate from the home state
- Closing a major contract where the other side requires it for vendor qualification
Fees vary. Some states issue digital certificates for free, others charge from a few dollars up to around $50 or more, with expedited processing costing extra. You order the certificate through the same Secretary of State portal you used to run the free search.
Federal Tax Standing Is a Separate Check
A state status check only covers state filing compliance. It tells you nothing about federal taxes. The two are tracked independently, so an LLC can be in good standing with the state while owing the IRS, or current with the IRS while delinquent with the state.
The IRS offers a Business Tax Account that lets authorized users view tax records and compliance reports. As of early 2026, the tool is available for LLCs that file as S corporations (Form 1120-S) or partnerships (Form 1065), but it isn’t yet available for single-member LLCs filing on Schedule C or Schedule F. A designated official with full access can pull compliance reports or request a certificate for federal contract awards through the account.1Internal Revenue Service. Business Tax Account
If you’re checking someone else’s federal tax standing rather than your own, options are limited. You can ask the LLC to provide a tax compliance letter or IRS determination letter directly. The IRS’s public Tax Exempt Organization Search covers nonprofits only, not standard LLCs.
If the Status Isn’t Active
If you ran the check on your own LLC and the status is delinquent, inactive, forfeited, or administratively dissolved, the cure depends on how far things have slipped.
For a delinquent or inactive LLC, you typically file the missing annual reports, pay the outstanding fees along with any late penalties, and wait for the state to update the record. Most states process online corrections within a few business days. Paper filings can take weeks.
For an administratively dissolved LLC, reinstatement is more involved. The general sequence:
- File an application for reinstatement with the Secretary of State
- Submit all missed annual reports for each year the LLC was out of compliance
- Obtain tax clearance from the state’s Department of Revenue, which many states require to confirm no outstanding tax debts
- Pay reinstatement fees and back penalties, which add up when multiple years of reports are overdue
Most states cap how long you have to reinstate. A common window is two to five years from the date of administrative dissolution. After that, some states won’t allow reinstatement at all, and you’d have to form a new LLC. The original company name may also become available for someone else to register during the lapse, so waiting carries a real risk of losing it for good.
Total reinstatement cost varies widely. Expect the reinstatement application fee plus the per-year fee for each missed annual report plus late penalties, which can run from under $100 to several hundred dollars depending on the state and the number of years involved.