Arkansas keeps its proof of standing simple. The Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services Division issues a Certificate of Good Standing, and the usual way to get one is an online purchase on ark.org, the state's online services site.
The detail most people miss is the time limit on the download. After you pay, the certificate can be downloaded for two weeks. Come back a month later and the link will no longer work. This page goes through ordering, the franchise tax that decides your standing, and how to fix a problem. See the Arkansas office guide for the rest of the office.
What the Arkansas certificate costs
The online Certificate of Good Standing costs $25. It is sold on the good standing page linked in the table below, which runs on the state's ark.org system.
| What the state calls it | Certificate of Good Standing (sos.arkansas.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| Fee | $25 (ark.org, checked ) |
| Where to order | ark.org/sos/good_standing/index.php (ark.org, checked ) |
The Secretary of State does not list an expedite fee. Its FAQ says most filings are handled within two business days of receipt. Buying online is the route the office points you to for a certificate.
Ordering it online, step by step
- Open the good standing page on ark.org.
- Search for the company by its exact registered name.
- Check that the name, entity type and filing number match your records.
- Pay the $25 fee online.
- Download the certificate at once and save it in two places. The link works for two weeks only.
If the company cannot be found, try a shorter part of the name. The full corporation search on ark.org uses a CAPTCHA, so allow a moment for that step.
The franchise tax report decides your standing
Arkansas does not use an annual report in the usual sense. Every LLC and corporation files a yearly franchise tax report with the Secretary of State, due on or before May 1. An LLC or PLLC pays $150. A corporation with stock pays a minimum of $150, and one without stock pays $300.
A late report costs a $25 penalty plus interest at 10 percent a year from the due date. The total of tax, penalty and interest is capped at two times the tax owed. The Secretary of State warns that unpaid franchise tax can lead to revocation of the company's authority to do business. A company in that position should not expect a clean certificate.
Fixing the record before you buy
The office does not publish a list of status definitions, so look at the record first. If the franchise tax is behind, file the missing reports and pay the tax, penalty and interest. Then search the record again and confirm it has caught up before you spend $25 on a certificate.
If your company was revoked, call Business and Commercial Services and ask what it needs to restore the authority. Have your filing number ready.
Who wants an Arkansas certificate
Banks ask for one when you open a business account or apply for a loan. Other states ask for it when your Arkansas company registers there as a foreign entity. Our guide to the certificate of good standing explains what each of them checks.
Sources
- www.sos.arkansas.gov/business-commercial-services-bcs/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/business-services-faq: good standing certificate. Checked .
- www.ark.org/sos/good_standing/index.php: certificate fee, certificate ordering. Checked .