‹ Massachusetts Filing Guide · All Good-Standing Guides

How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Massachusetts

Massachusetts calls it the Certificate of Good Standing (Corporations Division) and charges $25. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Good Standing (Corporations Division)
State fee
$25
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Issuance depends on payment method: same or next business day for card, cash, money order or bank check placed before 7pm
Issuing office
Massachusetts SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The Massachusetts 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 Massachusetts portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $25 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 Massachusetts

Massachusetts issues TWO different good standing certificates depending on the purpose. The Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division issues a Certificate of Good Standing / Legal Existence at $25 for LLCs ($12 for corporations) - ordered at corp.sec.state.ma.us. This confirms the entity is registered and has filed its annual reports. The Department of Revenue (DOR) issues a separate Certificate of Good Standing and/or Tax Compliance via MassTaxConnect - this confirms tax compliance and is often required for licensing, loans, or selling the business. For most foreign qualification purposes, the Corporations Division certificate is sufficient. Massachusetts LLC annual reports are $520 per year filed online ($500 flat on paper), the highest in the country.

Processing and expedited tiers: Issuance depends on payment method: same or next business day for card, cash, money order or bank check placed before 7pm; three business days for electronic check; ten business days for a paper check. Delivery is by post.

Important to know about Massachusetts

  • Massachusetts has TWO separate Good Standing certificates: one from the Secretary of the Commonwealth (Corporations Division, $25 for LLCs, confirms entity exists and annual reports filed) and one from the Department of Revenue (tax compliance, free via MassTaxConnect). Know which one the receiving party requires.
  • The Massachusetts LLC annual report is $520 online, $500 by paper - the highest in the country. Missing the anniversary deadline leads to administrative dissolution. All annual reports must be current before a Certificate of Good Standing will issue.
  • Massachusetts does not issue LLC good standing certificates electronically. Only Domestic LLC - Legal Existence and Foreign LLC - Registration can be emailed. A good standing certificate is posted, and ordering it online or by fax adds a $6 expedite charge to the $25 fee for $31 total. Mail and in person are $25 with no surcharge.
  • The DOR Certificate of Good Standing (tax compliance) is issued by mail within 24-48 hours of approval through MassTaxConnect. All Massachusetts taxes must be filed and fully paid under Chapter 62C.
  • Common confusion: the corporate fee is $12 but the LLC fee is $25. Some third-party guides quote only the corporate fee.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing from Massachusetts is what the new state asks for when your Massachusetts LLC registers to do business there. Pick the state you are expanding into to see its exact filing, fee, and process.

Find your state-to-state guide · Registering an out-of-state LLC into Massachusetts instead?

Related guides

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