Fill out the Washington LLC certificate form online. You must use a professional service if you do not wish to pay the $75 filing fee.
The process requires filling out the following documents:
• Form WF3 – Application for Filing
• Form WF4 – Declaration of Information
• Form WF5 – Agreement Regarding Fees
• Form WF6 – Taxpayer Identification Number
• Form WF7 – Certification of Service
• Form WF8 – Certificate of Good Standing
You must print the completed forms and mail them with the required filing fee ($75) to the Secretary of State.
Table of Contents
A Washington Certificate of Formation is what, exactly?
A certificate of formation is a document used to form an LLC. This article explains what it is, how it works, and why it is necessary.
Washington LLCs’ Certificate of Formation filing
Forming an LLC in Washington requires several steps. One of those steps is filing the certificate of formation with the Secretary of State. To do this, you must register your company name, choose your legal entity type, file the certificate of formation, and pay the fee. If you want to avoid paying the fee, you can either do it yourself or hire a service provider to help you out.
Two main options available to people looking to form an LLC in Washington: doing it themselves or hiring a service provider to handle the process. Doing it yourself costs $25 per year, while hiring a service provider costs $100 per year. Depending on what you plan to use your LLC for, one might work better than the other. Here we explain how to go about creating an LLC in Washington.
Step #1 – Register Your Company Name
The first step in forming an LLC in Washington is registering your company name. You cannot start working with your LLC until you have registered it. In order to do this, you must complete the following forms:
• Filer Information – This form asks for information such as your full name, address, phone number, email address, and social security number. Once you submit this form, you will receive a confirmation email.
• Business License Application – This form is used to apply for a business license. You must provide proof of your identity and residency in order to obtain a business license.
• Certificate of Incorporation – This form serves as the application for your certificate of incorporation. You must provide a copy of your articles of organization and copies of your federal tax returns for the previous three years.
A Washington state LLC will cost around $1000-$10000 depending on how many members are added.
Washington State LLC Approval:
Online vs. Mailing Application”
The Washington state LLC filing process is much simpler compared to other states. However, it still requires some work. If you plan to register your LLC online, you must complete a W9 form. This form is used to identify and verify your personal information. In addition, you must provide proof of your identity and address. Once completed, you must upload a copy of your ID and the original signature. Then, you can pay $30 to apply for LLC status. Afterward, you must wait up to 10 days for the Washington Secretary of State to review your documents and approve or deny your application.
If you prefer to use a mailing application, you must send your LLC paperwork to the Washington Secretary of State. A fee of $50 is required to submit the request via mail. You must include a check or money order payable to the Washington secretary of state. Your LLC will receive a response within 15 working days.
There are several benefits to registering your LLC online. First, you do not need to print out and sign copies of your documents. Second, you save money because there is no postage involved. Third, you can easily update your information whenever needed. Finally, you can access your LLC information anytime, anywhere.
An Initial Report is required within 90 days after the date you filed your Articles of Organization. You must file it electronically through our web site. If you are filing the initial report online, make sure you complete every step correctly.
The fee for filing the initial report is $50 per person. We cannot accept checks or credit cards.
Make sure you read the instructions carefully.
Step 1:Check to see whether your Washington Certificate of Formation has to be modified.
The first step in determining whether you need to update your Washington Certificate of Formation is to determine if it is up to date. Contact the Secretary of State’s Office if you are unsure about how old your filing is. They will tell you if the information is current and what steps you need to take next.
If you do need to update your Washington LLC, there are three ways to go about it:
2: Identity what to change in your Washington Certificate of Formation
You must file an amended certificate of formation to keep your Washington LLC state complaint. This is because the original certificate of formation does not include information about the entity’s name, the address where it is registered, or the registration date. You also need to file an amendment if there are changes to the articles of organization, such as adding members, changing the number of authorized shares, or making any other amendments.
Our amendment filing service can help draft and fill out the correct paperwork to make sure your business stays compliant.
Step 3: Assemble the data necessary to submit your Washington amendment
Before filing your Washington LLC Amendment form, you must gather all the necessary information to complete it. To do this, make sure to collect the following documents:
1. Your original Certificate of Formation;
2. A copy of the Articles of Organization;
3. Any amendments to the articles of organization;
4. Copies of any agreements related to the LLC;
5. Copies of any operating agreement(s);
6. All federal tax returns filed since the LLC began operations;
7. Any previous state filings;
8. Any current state filings;
9. Proof of payment of franchise fees;
10. Proof of payment of annual registration fee; and
11. Proof of payment of any local taxes.
Your Washington LLC Amendment won’t be accepted if you don’t provide this information.
Step 4: Collect data for your Washington amendment filing
Once you’ve filed your Washington Limited Liability Company (LLC), you’ll want to check your Certificate of Formation (CCFS) site to make sure you haven’t missed anything. If you’re filing online, you’ll just need to fill out the form and submit. If you’re filing by mail, you’ll need to print out the PDF version of the form and send it along with some supporting documents.
The next step is to amend your LLC’s name. This is done by filling out the “Amended Name Change Form.” You’ll need to provide proof of identity, address, phone number, email address, date of birth, and signature. After submitting the form, you’ll receive a confirmation via email.
You’ll also want to update your LLC’s registered agent information. To do this, go to the same link above and enter your current registered agent information. You’ll receive another confirmation via email.
Finally, you’ll want to set up your LLC’s bank account. Go to the same link above, enter your bank info, and select the option to add your LLC to your existing checking account.
After completing each step, you’ll be ready to start operating under your new name.
Frequently Asked Questions
How Long Does it Take to Obtain a Certificate of Existence in Washington?
The Corporations Division processes applications for Certificates of Existence online. You must complete the application form and upload copies of the documents required by the state. Once we receive your completed application form, we will review your documentation and notify you whether your application meets our requirements. We do not accept faxes or emails.
Suppose you are applying for a Certificate of Existence because you want to incorporate a limited liability corporation (LLC). In that case, you must submit either a copy of the articles of organization filed with the Secretary of State or a certified copy of the LLC operating agreement. For information about filing Articles of Organization, see the Corporation Division’s website.
Do all States Require Certificates of Existence?
Washington does not have a specific requirement for a Certificate of Good Standing. However, most states will ask you to provide one. If the state requires it, you must file a form called Form W-9 with the secretary of state. This form asks for certain information about the person filing the document, including name, address, social security number, date of birth, and employer, If at any point shortly you decide to stop doing business with your LLC, make sure to dissolve it officially. Failure to do so promptly can lead to serious consequences, including tax liabilities and fines. Two broad steps involve dissolving an LLC: close your business tax accounts and file the articles of dissolution.
The IRS requires you to keep records for three years following the date of dissolution. In addition, filing the articles of dissolution is a requirement under state law. You must file within 30 days of the end of the year you dissolved the LLC.
To dissolve your LLC, you must provide proof of its existence. You can use one of several methods to prove up your LLC. For example, you could submit copies of documents such as the operating agreement, certificate of formation, or articles of organization. Alternatively, you could include a statement signed by each LLC member stating that he or she no longer wishes to be a part of the LLC.
How to Dissolve an LLC in Washington
If you decide to stop doing business with your LLC at any point shortly, make sure to dissolve it officially. This is because failure to do so in a prompt manner can lead to serious consequences, including tax liabilities and fines. Two broad steps involve dissolving an LLC: close your business tax accounts and file the articles of dissolution.
The IRS requires you to keep records for three years following the date of dissolution. In addition, filing the articles of dissolution is a requirement under state law. You must file within 30 days of the end of the year you dissolved the LLC.
To dissolve your LLC, you must provide proof of its existence. You can use one of several methods to prove up your LLC. For example, you could submit copies of documents such as the operating agreement, certificate of formation, or articles of organization. Alternatively, you could include a statement signed by each LLC member stating that he or she no longer wishes to be a part of the LLC.
James Rourke is a business and legal writer. He has written extensively on subjects such as contract law, company law, and intellectual property. His work has been featured in publications such as The Times, The Guardian, and Forbes. When he’s not writing, James enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.
