South Dakota Certificate of Authority › Fees
Every fee on a South Dakota certificate of authority
The Secretary of State charges $750 for a certificate of authority when an LLC or a corporation applies online, and $125 for each of the other three entity types: nonprofits, limited partnerships and LLPs. Our own rate for preparing and filing is $199, shown apart from the state fee at checkout.
State fees by entity type
| Entity | Application online | On paper | Amend | Leave |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| LLC | $750 | $765 | $750 | Quoted when you order |
| Business corporation | $750 | $765 | $250 | $10 |
| Nonprofit corporation | $125 | Quoted when you order | $25 | $5 |
| Limited partnership | $125 | Quoted when you order | Quoted with your order | Quoted at checkout |
| Limited liability partnership | $125 | Quoted when you order | Quoted with your order | Quoted at checkout |
Filing any of these on paper adds $15 when the document could have gone online. A series-capable LLC pays $800 in place of the usual LLC fee.
Yearly and occasional fees
| Item | Fee |
|---|---|
| LLC annual report, online | $55 |
| LLC annual report, paper | $70 |
| Corporation annual report, online | $55 |
| Corporation annual report, paper | $70 |
| Nonprofit annual report | $10 |
| Change of registered agent or address | $10 |
| Name reservation | $25 |
| Faster handling of a filing | $50 |
| Copy of a filed document, per page | $2 |
| Certified copy, plus the page charge | $15 |
Process served on the Secretary of State costs $30 each time, which the party who wins can recover as costs.
Worked totals
| Case | Total to the state | Made up of |
|---|---|---|
| LLC files online | $750 | $750 |
| LLC files by mail | $765 | $750 + $15 |
| LLC, first year with its annual report | $805 | $750 + $55 |
| LLC rushed through | $800 | $750 + $50 |
| LLC that later amends its certificate | $1,500 | $750 + $750 |
| Corporation, first year with its annual report | $805 | $750 + $55 |
| Corporation that applies and withdraws | $760 | $750 + $10 |
| Nonprofit, first year | $135 | $125 + $10 |
| Delaware LLC: first year plus Delaware tax | $1,205 | $750 + $55 + $400 |
| Wyoming LLC: first year plus its minimum | $865 | $750 + $55 + $60 |
The two big numbers
For an LLC or a corporation, two payments dominate: the application at $750 and, the first time you amend the certificate, another $750 for an LLC or $250 for a corporation. Everything else on the schedule is small beside them, so getting the name and entity details right before filing is where the savings are.
What a first year looks like
An LLC that applies online pays the state $750 and later its first annual report, $55, which makes $805. Add the home-state certificate, which your home state prices, and you have the full out-of-pocket for authority.
The mail surcharge
A mailed filing carries $15 extra whenever the same document could have gone through the website. Printing the form from the website and mailing it does not avoid the charge. Because the state handles online filings immediately, paper saves nothing.
What is not on the state schedule
South Dakota's own good standing certificate plays no role in an out-of-state application. The paper that goes with it comes from your home state, which sets the charge: a Delaware certificate of good standing is $50, and a Wyoming one is $0.
Agent filings and copies
An agent's statement of resignation costs $0, while a statement appointing an agent costs $10 and a change of agent or address $10. Copies of anything the state has filed run $2 a page; add $15 for a certified copy.
Reading the totals
An LLC that files online and never amends owes the state $750 once and $55 each year. A corporation owes the same pair. A nonprofit owes $125 once and $10 a year.
Fees some entities never meet
A series LLC pays $800 to apply. Nonprofits: $25 to amend, $5 to withdraw. Corporations that withdraw: $10.
What our rate covers
Our rate, $199, covers the entity check, drafting the application, requesting the home certificate and filing. The do-it-yourself page lists the same steps for owners who file alone.
Registered agent: first year included, then $149 a year
$199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Questions about fees
Is the LLC fee the same as the corporation fee?
Yes, $750 each when filed online.
What do nonprofits pay?
$125 to apply and $10 a year.
Is the annual report a real cost?
Yes. It is $55 online for an LLC.
What does an expedited filing cost?
$50 extra.
How do I see the state fee separately?
Checkout shows it on its own line.
Pricing
Get your South Dakota certificate
+ $750 state filing fee
- An application for your type of entity, drafted from your replies
- The home-state certificate, requested to arrive with the filing
- A South Dakota agent supplied by us, or one you pick
- A copy of the certificate of authority once the state issues it
- Renewal: after the first year, the agent service renews at $149 a year
$199
Request my certificateThe $750 shown is the LLC fee, paid to the Secretary of State and itemised on its own line. Other entities pay their own state fee, listed on the fees page. $199 plus the state fee, including your first year of registered agent service; after that the agent service renews at $149 a year.
Sources
- SDCL 47-34A-212, limited liability company fees
- South Dakota Secretary of State, filing fee schedule
- SDCL 47-1A-122, business corporation fees
- South Dakota Secretary of State, corporations FAQ
- South Dakota Business Services Online, register a business instructions
- SDCL 59-11-3, registered agent filing fees
- SDCL 1-8-12, fee for expedited service
- SDCL 59-11-24 and 59-11-25, annual report contents and timing
- Delaware Division of Corporations fee schedule (PDF)
- Delaware Division of Corporations, LLC/LP/GP annual tax
- Wyoming Secretary of State, Business Division fee schedule
- SDCL 47-34A-1001 to 47-34A-1009, foreign limited liability companies
Ready for your South Dakota certificate?
Name your entity type and we draft the matching application.