A certificate of good standing is a state document that verifies your business was legally formed and has been properly maintained. In Pennsylvania, this document is now called the Subsistence Certificate for Domestic Filing Entities if it is for an entity that was formed in Pennsylvania. It is called a certificate of registration if it is for an entity formed in another state and registered in Pennsylvania as a foreign entity.
How to Obtain Your Subsistence Certificate
You can obtain your subsistence certificate by requesting it from the Department of State. The filing cost is $40. Here are the main steps:
- Keep your LLC compliant by staying up-to-date with state compliance requirements.
- Order your subsistence certificate from the Pennsylvania Secretary of State.
While you don’t need a subsistence certificate to run your LLC or corporation in Pennsylvania, you may need one to open a business bank account. Only business entities that are active can have a good standing status, so a voluntarily terminated business will show “not in good standing” because it is no longer active.
Process for Legal Entities
Here’s the process in three steps:
- Register your company with COID
- Prepare a check or money order for $40 payable to “Department of State”
- Download the request form and submit it along with the payment
A subsistence certificate proves your entity exists and is in compliance with all state requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Are you required to have a certificate of Good Standing in PA?
While LLCs in Pennsylvania are not required to have a subsistence certificate, this document can be very useful for transactions such as completing a real estate purchase or opening a bank account.
How much does a certificate of Good Standing cost in Pennsylvania?
LLCs must pay $40 to obtain a subsistence certificate in Pennsylvania.