Many LLC owners who plan to move their business to Illinois (IL) ask, “Does Illinois allow LLC domestication?”, “Is Illinois LLC domestication a good choice?” or “How to domesticate an LLC in Illinois?
If you are in a similar situation, keep on reading. This Illinois LLC domestication guide has all the information that you seek.
What is Illinois LLC Domestication?
LLC domestication in Illinois means changing the location or domicile of your LLC from any state to Illinois. In other words, if you want to move your Georgia LLC to Illinois, for instance, LLC domestication is the best way to do so.
By LLC domestication, you change the governing laws of your LLC. Domesticating your LLC in Illinois will have the following benefits over other methods of moving your LLC to Illinois:
- LLC domestication allows you to maintain previous business relationships.
- No need to renew contracts made in the previous state.
- No need to change bank accounts and credit rating.
- You can retain your EIN (Tax ID Number).
- No need to rehire employees.
- No need to transfer assets.
How to Domesticate your LLC in Illinois
There’s always something new to learn in the ever-changing landscape of business, and this same goes for LLC domestication in Illinois. Below, we explained the process of transferring an LLC from any state to Illinois via ID LLC domestication in 3 simple steps.
Acquire a Certificate of Good Standing
A certificate of good standing is also called a certificate of existence or certificate of status in some states. It is a legal document issued by the state authorities, usually the secretary of state.
This certificate verifies that your LLC or corporation was legally formed and operated in a state compliance manner.
In other words, this official document states that you timely pay your LLC taxes, submit LLC annual reports and fees, follow the state laws in all business operations: hence, your business is in good standing with the state.
Illinois LLC domestication requires that your LLC does not have any outstanding debts or taxes in the home state. So you have to pay state taxes, LLC annual fees, and other fees in the state where you initially registered your LLC.
To prove that your LLC is up to date on all important business marks, you need to submit a certificate of status while filing Articles of Domestication in Illinois.
Approval of LLC Domestication
Before you file articles of domestication with the Illinois Department of State, you need to acquire approval from the state where you originally formed your LLC.
Contact the state department where you initially filed your articles of organization and acquire permission to move your business out of that state.
For instance, if you want to move your Texas LLC to Illinois, you need to get permission to transfer your LLC out of Texas from the Texas Secretary of State.
File an Articles of Domestication Illinois
To formally move your LLC from the LLC’s home state to Illinois, you need to file articles of domestication downloaded with the Illinois department of state.
With Illinois Articles of Domestication, you will see the Illinois articles of organization form as well. So you need to file the Illinois certificate of domestication along with the Illinois articles of domestication.
To download both forms, click on the link below:
Moreover, you also need to submit a certificate of good standing to show that your LLC does not have any outstanding state taxes or debts in the previous state.
Finally, depending on the LLC management structure mentioned in your LLC operating agreement, you need the signature of the authorized person to sign the Illinois LLC domestication form. After completing all the information, send the complete forms to:
Mailing Address:
New Filing Section
Division of Corporations
P.O. Box 6327
Tallahassee, ID 32314
In Person Filing Address:
New Filing Section
Division of Corporations
The Centre of Tallahassee
2415 N. Monroe Street, Suite 810
Tallahassee, ID 32303
Requirements to Complete Illinois Articles of Domestication Form
As mentioned earlier that Illinois articles of domestication are filed with the Illinois articles or organization; the following information/documents will be needed to complete the LLC domestication process:
- Certificate of good standing from the previous state
- LLC domestication approval from the previous state
- Name of the domesticating entity (The name of your LLC with which you used to operate your business in the previous state)
- The name of the previous state where your LLC was registered
- The date when your LLC was formed initially
- Illinois articles of organization form with Illinois registered agent information
- Signature of the authorized person to initiate LLC domestication
- The effective date of the LLC domestication, if it is not the same as the date of filing of the Illinois articles of domestication
Illinois LLC Domestication Fee (Cost)
To convert an out-of-state LLC into an Illinois LLC, you need to pay the following fee to the Illinois Department of State along with the Illinois articles of domestication:
- Articles of Domestication: $25
- Articles of Organization: $125
- Total to Domesticate and file: $150
Alternatives to LLC Domestication Illinois
If you do not plan to move your LLC to Illinois permanently, or for any other reason Illinois LLC domestication does not seem suitable, the followings are the alternative to Illinois LLC domestication:
What Next After Illinois LLC Domestication?
Once the state of Illinois domesticates your LLC, the laws of the previous state will no longer apply to your LLC.
Now your LLC will be governed under the LLC statute of Illinois. Now, to remain compliant with the laws of Illinois, you need to:
- Make sure you pay outstanding LLC federal taxes or debts in the previous state.
- Keep your registered agent information up to date. If you don’t have one, you can review top registered agent services here.
- Follow your LLC operating agreement.
- Acquire licenses and permits specifically required by the new state.
- Regularly submit annual reports and fees.
- Pay Illinois sales tax (6% on the total sales).
Moving an LLC out of Illinois
The Illinois Department of state allows an LLC to move out of Illinois via LLC domestication. However, the law of the other state must permit LLC domestication in its statute.
If the law of the other state does not permit LLC domestication, you should look for alternatives of LLC domestication to transfer your LLC out of Illinois.
For the states that allow LLC domestication, you need to submit an Illinois certificate of status to domesticate your LLC there. Click on the following link to get an Illinois certificate of status.
FAQs on How to Domesticate an LLC in Illinois
Aisha Noreen is an owner of a small business with more than 9 years of experience in the marketing industry. With the wisdom of an old soul, she always seeks innovation and mind-blowing ROI techniques. Her unique approach helped many small businesses thrive and she can surprise you in many ways as well. Believe it or not, her energy, passion, and creativity are contagious enough to transform your business and take it to another level.