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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Kentucky

Kentucky calls it the Certificate of Existence and charges $10. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Existence
State fee
$10
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Online: immediate through FastTrack. Mail/fax: standard SOS turnaround
Issuing office
Kentucky SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Kentucky SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the Kentucky portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $10 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for Kentucky

Kentucky calls this document the Certificate of Existence (for domestic entities) or Certificate of Authorization (for foreign entities). Order online through FastTrack or the Kentucky Business One Stop Portal, or by mail/fax for the same $10 fee. Copies of filed documents are $5 for the first 5 pages plus $0.50 per additional page; certification of those copies adds another fee.

Processing and expedited tiers: Online: immediate through FastTrack. Mail/fax: standard SOS turnaround

Important to know about Kentucky

  • The Kentucky annual report ($15, due June 30) is one of the cheapest in the country but also one of the most commonly missed because of the mid-year deadline. Miss it and the LLC enters "bad standing" and faces a $100 reinstatement penalty.
  • Kentucky has a separate Letter of Good Standing from the Department of Revenue ($10) confirming state tax compliance. The SOS Certificate of Existence does not cover tax status.
  • As of 2026 the Kentucky individual income tax rate is 3.5% (down from 4% in 2025). This applies to LLC members as pass-through income but does not affect Certificate of Existence eligibility.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your Kentucky LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

Kentucky foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available Kentucky Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the Kentucky SOS before ordering.