Q: Register a Business

Business Registration To Register a Business with the Montana Secretary of State's Office <ol> <li>Visit the online filing portal at <a href="https://biz.sosmt.gov/">https://biz.sosmt.gov/</a></li> <li>Sign into the site with your username and password. (If you don't have an account, simply click the login button and you'll see where you can create one. This is your user profile for the site.)</li> <li>Go to the Forms section in the left side menu.</li> <li>Choose the applicable form.</li> <li>* Choose Domestic forms for a Montana business.</li> </ol> <ul> <li>Choose Foreign forms for a business formed in another state/country that will be doing business in Montana.</li> </ul> <ol> <li>Fill in the form with all required fields, as designated by red asterisks. Scroll down each page of the form to ensure everything required is completed. If pages are missing information, it will be highlighted in red with an “x” on that step; return to that page for edits by clicking on the page name.</li> <li>Submit the form for processing with the fee (payable by credit/debit card or by e-check.)</li> <li>The Secretary of State's office will review it, and once approved, will notify by email with instructions to access the approved documents from the portal.</li> </ol>

Q: How do I find my Articles of Organization?

Access the online filing portal at <a href="https://biz.sosmt.gov/">biz.sosmt.gov</a>, search for your business, click on the business name in the results list, go to the right-side panel at the bottom to view filings, and download the document. Articles and original registration documents are labeled as “Initial Filing.”

Question 1

How do I file my annual report?

Accepted Answer

What is an “annual report?”
Annual reports are required for all limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations (profit and nonprofit). The annual report filed with the Secretary of State’s office ensures your registration remains up to date and confirms that you are an active business in Montana. It is a renewal of your registration information, where you can update the business mailing address, registered agent, shares (if applicable), and principals of record. It is not a tax or earnings report.

The Secretary of State's Office will waive the fee for all annual reports filed between January 1st and April 15th. After April 15th, the fee is $35. Foreign entities must file their annual report by November 1st, while domestic entitites must be filed by December 1st.

If your business information has not changed, file a “no change” annual report using these steps:

Visit our online filing portal at biz.sosmt.gov
“Search” for your business.
Click on the business name in the results list.
On the right-side panel, click the “File Annual Report” button.
Review the information on the report.
To sign, read, and check each declaration box, and fill in all fields marked with a red asterisk. (You may need to scroll down to see all the fields.)
Click “File Online”

If you need to update your business information, file your annual report using these steps:

Visit our online filing portal at [biz.sosmt.go

Question 2

How to Reinstate a Business

Accepted Answer

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To Reinstate a Business:
Montana (domestic) corporations and LLCs are eligible for reinstatement within 5 years of their dissolution date. Out-of-state (foreign) entity types are not eligible to reinstate and must requalify. Most domestic business registrations require a Title 15 Certificate from the MT Department of Revenue to be reinstated. Request the certificate through the Department of Revenue's Transaction Portal. (A certificate is not required for single-member LLCs not taxed as corporations.)
Once you have your Title 15 certificate, please follow the steps below. Note that you must file all missing annual reports AND a reinstatement application to return the registration to an active status.

File your annual reports

Visit the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
Sign in to the site with your username and password. (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
Once signed in, search for the business registration using the “Search” in the left-side menu.
Click on the business name in the results list, and find a panel on the right side of the screen.
Click the “File Annual Report” button, follow the steps, and make the payment ($35) to file each missing annual report.

Complete the reinstatement

When the annual reports are comp

Question 3

What is a registered agent?

Accepted Answer

A registered agent receives legal documents and state notices on behalf of your business. Montana law requires all corporations and LLCs to have a registered agent to ensure reliable delivery of official documents.

When you are filing an LLC, corporate type, or limited partnership, you are legally required to have a registered agent—either type meets the basic requirements, but consider your business’s size, projected growth, and state law before choosing.

A registered agent is a person or company you designate to receive legal documents, official government notices, and important business communications on behalf of your business in Montana. The registered agent must have a physical address in Montana (not a P.O. Box) and be available during business hours to accept documents. This ensures your business stays informed about legal matters and government correspondence in a timely manner, remaining compliant with state regulations.

Question 4

Register a Business

Accepted Answer

Business Registration
To Register a Business with the Montana Secretary of State's Office

Visit the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
Sign into the site with your username and password. (If you don't have an account, simply click the login button and you'll see where you can create one. This is your user profile for the site.)
Go to the Forms section in the left side menu.
Choose the applicable form.
* Choose Domestic forms for a Montana business.

Choose Foreign forms for a business formed in another state/country that will be doing business in Montana.

Fill in the form with all required fields, as designated by red asterisks. Scroll down each page of the form to ensure everything required is completed. If pages are missing information, it will be highlighted in red with an “x” on that step; return to that page for edits by clicking on the page name.
Submit the form for processing with the fee (payable by credit/debit card or by e-check.)
The Secretary of State's office will review it, and once approved, will notify by email with instructions to access the approved documents from the portal.

Question 5

How do I find my Articles of Organization?

Accepted Answer

Access the online filing portal at biz.sosmt.gov, search for your business, click on the business name in the results list, go to the right-side panel at the bottom to view filings, and download the document. Articles and original registration documents are labeled as “Initial Filing.”

Question 6

Request for Business Documents and Certificates

Accepted Answer

Principal Extract & Search Reports
To Request Business Certificates or Certified Copies of Business Documents:

Please access the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
Click “Login” and sign into the site with your username and password. (If you don’t have an account, click the “login” button, then “create an account.”)
Search for the business by name or folder ID.
In search results, click on the business name to open the record.
On the right, click “Request Information.” On the Request Details page, select “Certified Copies of Documents” or the business certificate you would like to request.
* The fee is $10 for all document copies.
Pay with credit/debit card, or e-check.

Obtain Business Principal Extract Report

This will return all principals related to a specific business

Access the online portal here
Search for and select the business name
Click Request Information and follow the steps
Submit payment
Download the report

Obtain Principal Search Report

This will return specific principals associated to any business

Access the online portal here
Click on Forms
Click on the Request Business Information tab
Select Principal Search
Enter the required principal information
Submit payment
Download the report

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