The Iowa Secretary of State keeps the state's register of LLCs, corporations and other business entities. The Iowa Code names it as the office where formation papers, reports, name reservations and certificates are filed. The business entity search sits on the Secretary of State's own website.
Iowa does not ask for a yearly report. Instead, companies file a biennial report, and the year depends on the entity type. LLCs report in odd years and corporations in even years, always between January 1 and April 1.
The Iowa biennial report
Your first report is due in the first odd year after an LLC is formed, or the first even year after a corporation is formed. After that you file every two years in the same window. Out-of-state LLCs and corporations follow the same pattern as Iowa ones.
| When it is due | Biennial report is due between January 1 and April 1. LLCs and foreign LLCs file in odd-numbered years, starting the first odd year after the year of formation or registration. Corporations (domestic and foreign) file in even-numbered years, starting the first even year after the year of incorporation or registration. (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
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The corporation fee is written into the law at $60. The LLC fee is left to the Secretary of State to set, so we do not list a number for it. If a report goes unfiled, the company can be administratively dissolved. Getting it back costs $5 for the reinstatement application. Read our guide on filing an annual report for the general steps.
Iowa filing fees
Most Iowa fees come straight from the statutes, which keeps them easy to check. An LLC certificate of organization is $50. Articles of incorporation are also $50. Registering a company from another state costs $100, whether it is an LLC or a corporation.
| Form an LLC | $50 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
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| Form a corporation | $50 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| Register an out-of-state LLC | $100 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| Reserve a name | $10 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| Good standing certificate | $5 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
Rather not file it yourself? Ask our private filing service about forming or reporting in Iowa. State fees are separate.
Online and paper filing fees are the same in the statute. Changing your registered agent has no state fee. If your agent resigns, the resignation takes effect on the 31st day after it is filed, so line up a replacement early. Our page on changing a registered agent walks through the order of steps.
Naming an Iowa LLC or corporation
An LLC name must include "limited liability company" or "limited company", or a short form such as L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. "Limited" may be written "Ltd." and "company" may be "Co." A corporation name needs "corporation", "company" or "limited", another word listed in Iowa Code 490.401, or an abbreviation like corp., inc., co. or ltd.
| LLC name must include | Must contain 'limited liability company' or 'limited company', or the abbreviation L.L.C., LLC, L.C. or LC. 'Limited' may be 'Ltd.' and 'company' may be 'Co.' (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
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| Corporation name must include | Must contain 'corporation', 'incorporated', 'company' or 'limited', or the abbreviation corp., inc., co. or ltd. (or words of like import in another language) (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| Words that are limited | No fixed list. Names may not use words that need approval from another state department or agency unless that approval is filed (LLCs, 489.112(5)). Corporate names may not imply a purpose other than the articles allow (490.401(1)(b)). (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| How different a name must be | Name must be distinguishable on the SOS records from existing entities that are not administratively dissolved (or were dissolved within the last five years), reserved or registered names, registered foreign names and fictitious names. Type words are ignored when comparing: corporation, corp., inc., limited, ltd., LLC, L.L.C., LP, LLP, cooperative and similar. Exceptions: written consent plus an undertaking, or a court judgment. (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| Reservation fee | $10 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
| Reservation lasts | 120 days. Corporate reservation is nonrenewable. (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
Iowa compares names after it removes words like LLC, inc., corp., limited and cooperative. Your name must still differ from active entities, from those dissolved within the last five years, and from reserved, registered and fictitious names. A word that needs approval from another state agency can only be used once that approval is filed. A $10 reservation holds a name for 120 days.
Certificate of existence in Iowa
The Iowa Code calls proof of standing a certificate of existence. For a company from another state that is registered in Iowa, it is a certificate of registration. Both cost $5.
| What the state calls it | Certificate of existence (or registration) (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
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| Fee | $5 (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
A bank, a lender or another state may ask for one before it opens an account or accepts a registration. Our guide to the certificate of good standing explains what the document proves.
Iowa records and status
Iowa law speaks of companies that are administratively dissolved, usually after a missed report. An administratively dissolved company keeps its name on the records for five years, so nobody else can take that name during that time.
Look up the company on the Secretary of State's business search to see its current status. If you plan to buy from, lend to or merge with an Iowa company, check that status first and ask for a fresh certificate of existence.
Contacting the Iowa Secretary of State
| Office | Iowa Secretary of State (legis.iowa.gov, checked ) |
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We could not confirm the office's phone number, address or hours on an official page, so we do not print them here. Use the contact details on the Secretary of State's website before you mail anything. Have the company's exact name and type ready, because Iowa keeps LLC and corporation rules in separate chapters of the Code.
Sources
- www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.122.pdf: office name, name reservation fee, LLC filing fee, foreign LLC fee, certificate fee. Checked .
- www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.112.pdf: LLC name endings, restricted words, name rule. Checked .
- www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/490.401.pdf: corporation name endings. Checked .
- www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.113.pdf: name reservation term. Checked .
- www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/490.122.pdf: corporation filing fee, good standing certificate. Checked .
- www.legis.iowa.gov/docs/code/489.212.pdf: report due date. Checked .