A Hawaii certificate of good standing confirms that a limited liability company (LLC) or corporation was founded lawfully and is being properly maintained.
In our Certificate of Good Standing Hawaii tutorial, we will go over the qualifications for good standing as well as how to get one in Hawaii.
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In Hawaii, how can I get a Certificate of Good Standing?
Request your Hawaii certificate of good standing from the Department of Commerce & Consumer Affairs.
There are two major processes involved in obtaining your certificate of good standing:
1. Maintain your LLC’s compliance
2. Request a certificate of good standing.
What exactly is a good standing certificate? A certificate of good standing is a state document that confirms your company was created lawfully and has been properly maintained.
Step 1: Ensure that your Hawaii business is in compliance.
To qualify for a Hawaii certificate of good standing, your company must meet the following state compliance requirements:
Permits and Licenses
To run a company in Hawaii, you must adhere to federal, state, and municipal licensing requirements. Regulations such as health permits and construction permits are examples of this.
The State of Hawaii website has further information on state licensing requirements.
State levies
Depending on your company activity, you may be required to register for several types of Hawaii state tax. This includes withholding tax as well as Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax.
There is no state sales tax in Hawaii. Businesses must instead pay a General Excise Tax (GET).
Reports on a Year
Every Hawaii LLC and company is required to submit an annual report. This report confirms the company’s fundamental facts, such as its primary office location and registered agent.
The report may be submitted to the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs online, via mail, email, fax, or in person. The filing cost is $12.50 for electronic submissions and $15 for hard copy filings.
Step 2: Request a Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing.
If your company stays in good standing with the state, you may apply for a Hawaii certificate of good standing from the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs. This is something that can be done online.
Is a Certificate of Good Standing required in Hawaii?
While you don’t always need a certificate of good standing to run a business in Hawaii, there are a few situations where you might. These are some examples:
Purchasing commercial insurance
Applying for commercial loans
Establishing a business checking account
Getting a business license in another state