Pennsylvania Certificate of Authority · Fees
Pennsylvania certificate of authority fees, entity by entity
The Department of State charges $250 for the filing that works as Pennsylvania's certificate of authority, and no entity type pays more or less than another. Preparing and filing it through us is $199 on top, shown on its own line at checkout.
What each entity pays to get authority and to keep it
| Entity | To register | Each year | Other charges that can apply |
|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | $250 | $7 report | None at registration |
| Corporation, for profit | $250 | $7 report | Cost of two newspaper notices, paid to the papers |
| Nonprofit | $250 | $0 report | Cost of two newspaper notices, paid to the papers |
| LP | $250 | $7 report | None at registration |
| LLP | $250 | $7 report | $470 per general partner for the certificate of annual registration |
| Restricted professional LLC | $250 | $7 report | $700 per licensed Pennsylvania member for the certificate of annual registration |
The notice charge is a newspaper's price and not the state's.
If you need to change something
An amended registration is priced at $250 on the fee schedule,. An entity that merges into, converts to or domesticates as a Pennsylvania entity leaves the foreign register automatically, with no filing and no fee.
If you need paper
The Department charges $40 for a foreign entity's certificate of registration, $15 plus $3 per page for plain copies, $55 plus $3 per page for certified copies, and $15 for a record search that lists the file date and address along with the number and name.
If you need it quickly
Speed is sold in three tiers, each added to the filing fee: $100 for same-day handling of requests in by 10:00 a.m., $300 for three-hour handling of requests in by 2:00 p.m., and $1,000 for one-hour handling of requests in by 4:00 p.m. Payment is by card, check, money order or deposit account. Requests sent by mail do not qualify.
Worked totals
| Case | State total | The sum |
|---|---|---|
| Any entity, registration only | $250 | $250 |
| Registration with same-day handling | $350 | $250 + $100 |
| Registration with three-hour handling | $550 | $250 + $300 |
| Registration with one-hour handling | $1,250 | $250 + $1,000 |
| LLC or corporation after its first annual report | $257 | $250 + $7 |
| Registration plus a certificate of registration | $290 | $250 + $40 |
| Registration, then one amendment | $500 | $250 + $250 |
| Registration and three years of reports | $271 | $250 + $7 + $7 + $7 |
| Delaware LLC, first year in both states | $657 | $250 + $7 + $400 |
| Wyoming LLC, first year in both states | $317 | $250 + $7 + $60 |
How to pay the Department
Ordinary filings go with a check or money order payable to the Pennsylvania Department of State. Cash and credit cards are refused for them. The check carries the account holder's pre-printed details, a signature and a date no more than six months back. A card is accepted only against an expedited service. All Department fees are nonrefundable, accepted filing or not.
Exemption for veteran and reservist owners
Veteran-owned and reservist-owned small businesses can claim an exemption from some business filing fees under a 2016 law, using the box on the statement and attaching proof of the owner's status. Ask us about it when you order.
The cost of keeping authority
The yearly report is $7, or $0 for a nonprofit. The Department notes that outside services charge many times the state fee for a filing the owner can make online in minutes. Partnerships and professional companies add the certificate of annual registration each year.
What we charge
Our preparation charge, $199, covers the work from questionnaire to filing: the statement, the docketing statement, the name check for your entity type, the registered office entry and the submission. It does not include the state's fee, a provider's fee or newspaper charges for a corporation. See the page on filing without us if you want to weigh the two routes.
Registered agent: first year included, then $149 a year
$199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Fee questions
Do nonprofits pay less?
Registration is $250 for them too. Only the yearly report differs, at $0.
Where does the fee go?
With the statement, as a check or money order payable to the Pennsylvania Department of State.
Can I be refunded if I withdraw the order?
State fees are nonrefundable once paid.
What is the highest ordinary state total?
$1,250 with one-hour handling, before any amendment or certificate.
Does the card option cover the registration fee?
Only when you buy an expedited service.
Fees at a glance
Get Pennsylvania authority
+ $250 state fee
- Your Foreign Registration Statement, drafted from a short questionnaire
- The docketing statement filed alongside it
- A Pennsylvania registered office entry, ours or one you hold
- The filed copy sent back to you
- Renewal: after the first year, the agent service renews at $149 a year
$199
Pennsylvania
Get authority to operateThe $250 goes to the Department of State and appears on its own line. $199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Official sources
- Pennsylvania Department of State, fees and payments
- DSCB:15-412, Foreign Registration Statement, with instructions
- Pennsylvania Department of State, foreign associations
- Pennsylvania Department of State, annual reports
- Pennsylvania Department of State, commercial registered office providers
- Pennsylvania Department of State, certificates of annual registration
- 15 Pa.C.S. 416, withdrawal deemed on certain transactions
- Delaware Division of Corporations fee schedule (PDF)
- Delaware Division of Corporations, LLC/LP/GP annual tax
- Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division fee schedule
Need to operate in Pennsylvania?
Tell us the entity type and we prepare the filing.