Illinois Registered Agent
What is an Illinois registered agent?
An Illinois registered agent is a person or entity with an in-state address where legal documents can be accepted for businesses they represent. Every Illinois LLC and corporation has to appoint a registered agent in the state according to Illinois Compiled Statutes 180/1-35 and 5/4.25. Illinois registered agents are essential in helping businesses avoid default legal actions and maintain active status by serving as their primary official contact.
What Is an Illinois Registered Agent?
An Illinois registered agent accepts notices, summons, demands, and other legal documents on behalf of a company. This allows businesses to avoid missed responses and actions and keep their good standing in the state. Registered agents receive correspondence from the state by default when appointed during the business formation process and often provide additional services to help businesses succeed like VoIP phone service, business email, and Beneficial Ownership Information report filing.
Requirements for Illinois Registered Agents
Illinois registered agent requirements vary by agent type. The state recognizes two varieties of registered agents:
- An individual who is a resident of Illinois and can provide a physical in-state address
- A domestic or foreign entity registered to do business in Illinois, which also requires a street address (registered office) in Illinois
Both registered agent types should maintain a physical address in the state that’s open during normal business hours to accept service of process and official mail on behalf of the appointing business. P.O. boxes cannot be used for this purpose since the state requires the agent to be physically available at this address for delivery throughout the day.
When you hire Registered Agents Inc to be your registered agent, we’ll list our address as your registered agent address and wherever possible on state filings. This reduces the number of times your address is listed on the public record, protecting your privacy to the fullest extent of the law.
Can an individual be a registered agent in Illinois?
Yes. This is common, but it’s worth noting that you’ll need to be physically present at the in-state registered office address provided to the state to accept documents during business hours. Hiring a registered agent can simplify things by ensuring someone is always available to accept and forward important documents to you.
Do I really need an Illinois registered agent?
Yes. Company formation filings will not be accepted by the state unless they include registered agent details in the required field. Failure to maintain a registered agent in Illinois within 60 days of resignation incurs a $100 penalty and may lead to administrative dissolution of your company for not meeting this statutory requirement.
How Do I Find a Registered Agent in Illinois?
You can search for a business using the Business Entity Search on the Illinois Secretary of State website. Entity listings will provide the name and mailing address of the company’s registered agent on file with the state. This is the best way to contact a business and legally counts as successfully delivering service to the entity in the eyes of the state.
How Do I Change My Registered Agent in Illinois?
You can change your registered agent by filing a Statement of Change of Registered Agent Form LLC-1.36/1.37 for LLCs or Form BCA 5.10/5.20 for corporations with the SOS, either online or by mail.
Is it better to file online or by mail?
Online filings are updated within 24 hours, so the state is legally required to collect a $50 expedited processing fee for these filings. Online payments are also subject to a payment processor fee. This is a great option if you’re in a hurry and don’t mind paying for fast processing, but filings processed via mail don’t incur additional fees.
How much does it cost to change my registered agent?
Online Corporate filings are $75 and include the $50 mandatory expedited filing fee assessed by the state. Payments can be made using a Visa, Mastercard, Discover, or American Express card and may be subject to an online processing fee. Paper filings are $25 for corporations and LLCs, and can be submitted along with a check or money order to the following address:
Secretary of State
Department of Business Services
Limited Liability Division
501 S. Second St., Rm. 351
Springfield, IL 62756
Benefits of Hiring Registered Agent Inc
Registered Agents Inc makes managing your business in Illinois easier by providing a reliable address for delivering sensitive mail documents for your LLC or corporation. Here are a few other key benefits:
Annual report filing
Every Illinois company must file an annual report—we include this filing with our Registered Agent service. This helps ensure that your business stays in good standing with the state.
Speedy document scanning
Once delivered to our address, we process all documents and add them to your secure online account right away. When your documents are processed quickly, you can respond quickly and avoid legal action.
Automatic document notifications
You’ll never miss another notice or legal deadline with our handy email notification system telling you new documents are available. Proper alerts can ensure that you won’t overlook an important due date for upcoming filings.
Easy paper-free filings
We can be hired for most major Illinois filings and can process filings online on your behalf for the easiest experience possible. We handle Illinois filings for a living and have years of experience forming and maintaining businesses in the state.
Common business forms
Our forms library includes the most common forms needed for Illinois filings and general instructions for completing them. You can handle any filing with the right resources, and we’re dedicated to providing this for convenience.
Support you can trust
Our team of representatives is dedicated to eliminating uncertainty and they’re here to guarantee the best experience possible. This includes answering questions about services and filings whenever you call or email.
Our wholesale registered agent service provides the best available service and pricing for your clients, so check it out.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does an Illinois registered agent cost?
Registered agent services in Illinois typically range from $49 to $300 annually. Our premium service costs $200 yearly and includes filing your annual report—you just pay the state fee.
Do I need a registered agent for each series in an Illinois series LLC?
No. You’ll need to appoint a registered agent with your parent company, but each child can be listed under the same registered agent. Typically, this requires only one line of registered agent service but this can vary.
What is the annual fee for companies in Illinois?
Illinois LLCs and corporations pay $75 to file their annual reports. Corporations will also need to file annual franchise taxes which can vary based on calculations of the company’s gross assets and revenue or money earned from shareholders in exchange for stock.
