Arizona Certificate of Good Standing: How to Order It From the ACC and What It Costs
Arizona Certificate of Good Standing: How to Order It From the ACC and What It Costs
An Arizona certificate of good standing is a document from the Arizona Corporation Commission (ACC) confirming that your entity is active on the state's records and owes the Commission nothing. Banks, lenders, other states and licensing offices often ask for one before they proceed. This guide explains who can get one, what it costs, how to order it through the Arizona Business Center, and what to check first so you do not pay for a certificate you cannot receive.
Informational content only, not legal or tax advice. This article describes general Arizona procedures as of October 14, 2026. Rules, fees and agency procedures change. Confirm current figures on the agency pages linked below, and talk to an Arizona business attorney or CPA if your situation is complicated, such as a dissolved entity, a foreign registration problem or unpaid tax debt.
What the certificate is called and who issues it
The ACC Corporations Division issues the certificate, but the name depends on your entity type:
- Domestic LLC (formed in Arizona): certificate of good standing.
- Foreign LLC (formed in another state and registered to transact business in Arizona): certificate of registration.
- Corporation or nonprofit corporation: certificate of good standing.
When someone asks for an Arizona business certificate of good standing, they usually mean one of these documents. Ask the requester which wording they need, because a bank or another state's agency may use its own terms. If your entity is a foreign LLC, the document you need is the certificate of registration, and ordering a certificate of good standing for a domestic LLC will not satisfy the request.
Who qualifies
An LLC qualifies for its certificate only if all three of these are true:
- Its articles of organization are effective.
- It is not dissolved and is not in administrative dissolution proceedings.
- All fees, taxes, interest and penalties it owes to the ACC are paid.
Corporations face the same payment check, with one extra step. Arizona LLCs file no annual report, but for-profit corporations do. If your corporation has an annual report due, file it before you order the certificate. The for-profit annual report fee is $45, and nonprofit corporations pay $10. The report is due in the corporation's anniversary month, on the date the Commission assigns (A.R.S. 10-1622). A corporation may request a written extension of up to six months, but the request must be filed on or before the due date.
An LLC also needs a statutory agent with a valid Arizona address on record at all times. An entity that lets that lapse faces administrative dissolution under A.R.S. 29-3708, and an administratively dissolved entity cannot get a certificate of good standing. Check this before you pay for anything.
What it costs
| Entity and document | Certificate fee | Statute |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic or foreign LLC (certificate of good standing or certificate of registration) | $10 | A.R.S. 29-3213(A)(5) |
| Corporation (certificate of good standing) | $10 | A.R.S. 10-122(A)(18) |
| Nonprofit corporation (certificate of good standing) | $10 | A.R.S. 10-3122(A)(18) |
The $10 is the certificate fee only. Arizona LLCs have no annual report fee and no franchise tax at the Corporation Commission, so an LLC in good standing has no recurring state filing cost. A corporation that owes an annual report adds $45 for a for-profit or $10 for a nonprofit before the certificate can issue.
Expedited handling costs extra. The ACC sets expedited fees separately from the $10 certificate fee, and this guide does not state a dollar amount for them because the current figure is not confirmed here. Check azcc.gov for current expedited fees before you choose that option.
How to order it through the Arizona Business Center
Orders go through the Arizona Business Center (ABC), the ACC's online filing and ordering system, which replaced the older eCorp system. Start at arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov. Use this sequence:
- Look up the entity first. Search the Business Search page at arizonabusinesscenter.azcc.gov/businesssearch. Confirm the exact legal name, entity type and status. If the record shows dissolution, administrative dissolution or any other problem, resolve it before you order. Ordering a certificate for an entity that does not qualify wastes the fee.
- Clear anything owed to the ACC. For a corporation, file the annual report, or file a timely extension request, before ordering. For an LLC, confirm there is nothing outstanding and that the statutory agent is still on record.
- Start the certificate order in ABC. Sign in and choose the certificate option for your entity type. ABC menu labels change, so choose the option that matches your entity type and the document your requester named: good standing for a domestic LLC or corporation, or registration for a foreign LLC.
- Enter the entity information exactly as it appears on the record. A name that differs from the record, even by punctuation or an abbreviation, can cause the order to be rejected or to return the wrong entity.
- Pay the fee and complete the order. The base fee is $10. Add any expedited charge only if you chose expedited handling, and confirm that amount on azcc.gov before paying.
- Check the certificate before you send it. Confirm the entity name, file number, entity type and issue date. Save a copy in your records.
Turnaround and timing
This guide does not state a processing time for certificate orders. The ACC's processing times sheet covers filings such as articles of organization, and those times do not necessarily apply to a certificate order. Check ABC for current delivery expectations when you place the order.
Check the date requirement before you order. A certificate shows the entity's status as of its issue date. If a bank or another state's agency needs a recent certificate, ask how recent it must be, then order close to the date you submit it.
Common reasons people order one
- Banks: Many banks ask for a certificate when opening a business account or approving a loan, to confirm the entity exists and is active.
- Foreign registration: A business based in Arizona that registers to transact business in another state often needs an Arizona certificate to prove its status.
- Licenses: Some licensing boards and agencies require proof that the entity is active before they issue a license.
If you are a foreign LLC applying for a license or registration in another state, the other state's requirements control the exact document and date rules. Ask the agency before you order.
A certificate is not a business license
Many owners assume the certificate is a permit to operate. It is not. It only confirms your entity's status with the ACC. Arizona has no general statewide business license, and the certificate does not authorize you to sell or provide anything.
Most businesses that sell taxable goods or services need a Transaction Privilege Tax (TPT) license from the Arizona Department of Revenue. The TPT license costs $12 per location. Apply through azdor.gov/business/transaction-privilege-tax/tpt-license. The state's main tax site is azdor.gov.
Two more layers often apply:
- City or town licenses: Many Arizona cities and towns require their own business license or TPT license on top of the state license. Counties issue no general business license, so check with the city or town where you operate.
- Professional and trade licenses: Regulated professions need licensing from their own boards. Contractors are licensed through the Registrar of Contractors. Confirm which board or agency applies to your work.
A trade name is a separate filing. If you do business under a name other than the entity's legal name, the trade name is registered with the Arizona Secretary of State, not the ACC. Trade name registration is optional in Arizona. Find the filing at azsos.gov/business/tntm.
LLC owners should also know about the publication rule. An LLC must publish notice unless its statutory agent's county is Maricopa or Pima. Confirm how the rule applies to your entity with the ACC, because it affects the formation steps you need to finish.
On taxes, an LLC's income generally passes through to its members, who pay Arizona's flat 2.5 percent individual income tax. An LLC that elects corporate treatment is taxed under the corporate rules instead. Your tax treatment depends on your facts, so confirm it with a CPA.
When to get professional help
A routine certificate order for an active entity is simple. Get help if the entity is dissolved or in administrative dissolution, if it has unpaid ACC penalties or tax debts, if it is a foreign LLC with a registration problem, or if the requester needs a specific wording or date that you cannot confirm. An Arizona business attorney can advise on reinstatement and dissolution. A CPA can advise on tax liabilities. The Arizona Small Business Development Center Network (AZSBDC) at arizonasbdc.com offers free business advising and can point you to next steps.
Quick checklist
- Confirm the exact document name the requester needs.
- Search the entity at the Business Search page and confirm it is active.
- Confirm the statutory agent is on record (LLCs) and file any due annual report (corporations).
- Order through the Arizona Business Center for $10 plus any expedited charge confirmed on azcc.gov/corporations.
- Check the entity name, file number and issue date before you send the certificate.
- Confirm any city, TPT or professional license separately. A certificate does not replace them.
Reminder: This article is informational content, not legal or tax advice. Confirm fees, deadlines and requirements with the Arizona Corporation Commission, the Arizona Department of Revenue and a qualified Arizona attorney or CPA before you rely on them.