A Montana 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 Montana tutorial, we will go over the qualifications for good standing as well as how to get one in Montana.
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How Do I Obtain a Montana Certificate of Good Standing?
Request your certificate of good standing, also known as a certificate of existence in Montana, from the Secretary of State.
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.
Step 1: Ensure that your Montana business is in compliance.
To be eligible for a Montana certificate of existence, your company must meet the following state compliance requirements:
Permits and Licenses
To run a company in Montana, 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 Montana 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 Montana state tax. This might be withholding tax or Unemployment Insurance (UI) tax.
There is no state sales tax in Montana.
Reports on a Year
Every Montana 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.
Each year, the annual report must be submitted electronically with the Secretary of State by April 15. The filing cost is twenty dollars.
Step 2: Request a Montana Certificate of Good Standing.
Once your company is in good standing with the state, you may apply to the Secretary of State for a Montana certificate of existence. This is something that can be done online.
Is a Certificate of Good Standing Required in Montana?
While you don’t always require a certificate of existence to operate a company in Montana, there are a few situations when you may. These are some examples:
Purchasing commercial insurance
Applying for commercial loans
Establishing a business checking account
Getting a business license in another state
