Wyoming Foreign Corporation Registration
Own an out-of-state corporation and want to start doing business in Wyoming? You’ll have to register your business as a Wyoming Foreign Corporation by filing an Application for Certificate of Authority (plus a Certificate of Good Standing from your corp’s home state) with the WY Secretary of State.
Here’s what you need to know:
- What is a Wyoming Foreign Corporation?
- Do I Need to Register My Corporation in WY?
- How Our Foreign Registration Service Works
- How to Register Your Own Foreign Corp
- Foreign Corp Registration FAQs
Want to make sure your filing is done right so you can begin operations in WY as quickly as possible? With our Foreign Registration Service, you can trust your filing will be completed accurately, and you’ll get a full year of Wyoming registered agent service. Plus, you get free use of our Wyoming business address, access to additional services, and more benefits!
WY Foreign Corporation Registration
- $129 + state fees
What’s Included:
- Timely Application for Certificate of Authority filing
- A year of Registered Agent Service
- Free use of our Wyoming business address to increase your privacy
- Enrollment in Compliance Service to help protect your business
- Secure online account, accessible from anywhere
- Legal document scans and immediate uploads
- 3 free regular mail scans
- Free library of business documents & resources
- Lifetime customer service from local WY filing experts
- Access to additional filings (EIN, DBA) and services
What is a Wyoming Foreign Corporation?
A foreign corporation is any corporation that was formed outside of the state of Wyoming. This includes corporations formed in other US states and in other countries. (A corporation formed in Wyoming is referred to as a domestic corporation.)
When you register your out-of-state corporation in Wyoming, it’s called a Wyoming Foreign Corporation.
Expand Across State Lines
Doing business in multiple states is common, but forming a new business in each state where you operate would be a logistical nightmare.
Registering your foreign corporation to do business in other states is a much more streamlined and practical approach.
Get Authorized to Operate in WY
In order to transact business legally in Wyoming with a foreign corporation, you must register with the Secretary of State using a process called foreign qualification.
To complete the process, you need to designate a Wyoming registered agent and file an Application for Certificate of Authority ($150). As part of your application, you’ll need to obtain and attach a Certificate of Good Standing issued by your home state.
Do I Need to Register My Foreign Corp?
Wyoming requires that all foreign companies transacting business in WY register with the state. But what is the definition of “transacting business”?
It can be a little confusing.
Like many other states, Wyoming only defines what is NOT considered transacting business within the state.
Here’s what we can tell you, based on what is generally considered “doing business” across the country (speak with an attorney for a definitive answer):
- You probably don’t need to register if you only:
- Hold meetings in WY
- Own property in WY
- Have bank accounts in WY
- Sell through independent contractors in WY
- Going to court in WY (for example, maintaining, defending, or settling a lawsuit)
- You probably do need to register with state if you:
- Have a physical presence in WY, such as an office, store, or even employees
- Have capital invested within the state
- Conduct regular business within the state
How Our WY Foreign Corp Registration Service Works
Reach new heights when you start doing business in Wyoming!
We’ll act as your local registered agent and file your registration paperwork.
1
Sign up for Foreign Registration Service
Provide us with basic information about your corporation when you sign up, and we’ll do the rest. We’ll even get a Certificate of Good Standing for your corporation from your home jurisdiction (fees vary by state).
Plus, you’ll get free use of our Wyoming business address!
Foreign Registration Service costs $129 + state fees. You’ll get a full year of Wyoming Registered Agent service instantly, and we’ll file your Application for Certificate of Authority (with your Certificate of Good Standing).
2
Start doing business in WY
Once your Application for Certificate of Authority is accepted by the WY SOS, you’ll upload your confirmation to your online account. You’ll get a notification and can view it immediately.
Then you’re ready to do business!
3
We keep you in compliance
Enrollment in our Compliance Service is included with Foreign Registration Service. Compliance Service helps ensure that you never suffer negative consequences from missing an Annual Report filing.
We’ll email you a reminder prior to your Periodic Report due date, and then we’ll file on your behalf ahead of the deadline ($100 + the state fee, charged only at filing). This will protect your foreign corp from falling into non-compliance for failing to file.
Prefer to file yourself? Simply cancel the service in your online account.
4
Re-up your RA Service
Foreign Registration Service includes a full year of our Wyoming registered agent service.
When your year is almost up, we’ll remind you about continuing your service. If you’d like to, you can renew your Registered Agent Service for $29 the following year (and each year after that).
How to Register Your Own Foreign Corp
Are you the DIY type? We’ll show you how to register your foreign corporation in Wyoming.
1. Appoint a Wyoming Registered Agent
The first step to registering your foreign corporation in Wyoming is getting a registered agent that is physically located in Wyoming. Having a Wyoming registered agent makes it easier for the state to deliver critical legal documents to your company.
You’ll need to list your WY registered agent on your Application for Certificate of Authority, so designate your registered agent before submitting your Application. If you don’t have a Wyoming registered agent, the SOS will reject your filing.
Who should I choose as my WY registered agent?
You can appoint an employee or a business associate, such as a lawyer, to serve as your WY registered agent, as long as that person is located within the state.
However, because individuals may move or simply may not be very prompt about forwarding documents, many companies opt to use a registered agent service based in Wyoming. Using a service is typically more reliable and convenient.
2. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing From Your Home State
As part of your application, you’re required to attach a Certificate of Good Standing from your home jurisdiction, issued no more than 60 days before the date you submit your filing.
You can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing from the state agency in charge of business registrations in your state (usually this is the Secretary of State’s office). Fees for certificates vary from state to state.
3. File an Application for Certificate of Authority
With a Wyoming registered agent and a Certificate of Good Standing from your home jurisdiction, you’re ready to file your Application for Certificate of Authority.
You’ll need to disclose the following on your Application:
- Your Corporation’s Name
- Jurisdiction of Formation
- Date of incorporation
- Period of duration (if you intend to dissolve your corp on a certain date, put that here)
- Mailing address
- Principal business address (must be a physical street address)
- Registered agent name and address
- The date your corporation will begin doing business in Wyoming
- Certification of registered agent consent
- Signature of the person authorized to file your Application
- Consent to appoint by registered agent
- Your Certificate of Good Standing from your home state
After the state confirms that your Application has been accepted, you can start doing business in Wyoming!
4. File Your Periodic Report Each Year
All business entities registered in Wyoming, domestic and foreign, must file a yearly Annual Report to keep their information up-to-date with the state. If your report is overdue by more than 60 days, the state may revoke your authority to do business in Wyoming.
Due Date
Your Annual Report is due on the first day of your anniversary month (the month you registered to do business in Wyoming). So, if you registered your corporation on December 11th, you need to submit your Annual Report by December 1st starting the following year.
Filing Fee (License Tax)
The filing fee, called the License Tax, is $60 for foreign corporations with less than $300,000 in assets located in Wyoming.
If you have more than $300,000 in assets in Wyoming, you’ll be required to pay two-tenths of one million on the dollar ($.0002) of your corp’s total value of assets located in Wyoming. Not good with math? You’re in luck: the Wyoming Online Business Services portal has a fee calculator.
You can complete your filing online through the SOS Business Center’s Online Services portal or print a copy of your Annual Report from the portal to file by mail or in person.
Decided against registering a foreign corp? Find out how to form a domestic Wyoming Corporation instead.
Wyoming Foreign Corp FAQs
Have questions about foreign registration? We’ve got some answers.
What’s the cost to register a foreign corp in Wyoming?
The fee to file an Application for Certificate of Authority with the WY SOS is $150.
Do I need to file an Annual Report for my foreign corp?
Like all other business entities in Wyoming, foreign corporations are required to file an Annual Report every year so that the state’s information about your corporation remains current.
How does our Compliance Service work?
We include enrollment in Compliance Service with Foreign Corp Registration Service to help you remain in compliance (and in business) with zero effort.
We’ll send you an email notification about 3 months before your report due date and let you know that we’ll be filing on behalf of your foreign corporation soon. Then we’ll file your report ahead of the deadline ($100 plus the state fee, charged only at filing) so you never miss it. You won’t have to do anything to stay in compliance.
If you’d rather file your own report, just cancel the service in your account.
Does my corporation need to pay taxes in Wyoming?
We recommend consulting a tax professional for specific and accurate information regarding taxes for your foreign corporation.