In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Arkansas
The Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division, issues the Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing. The certificate costs $25. Ordered online through the Secretary of State’s good standing service, it adds a $3.00 processing fee and a 4% card transaction fee (minimum $1.00), and you can print it immediately. You can also order by mail or in person with the Records Request Form. Paying the annual franchise tax on time keeps you eligible.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing
- Issued by: Arkansas Secretary of State, Business and Commercial Services Division
- Fee: $25.00 for LLCs and corporations; online orders add a $3.00 processing fee and a 4% card fee (minimum $1.00)
- How to order: Online through the Secretary of State good standing service, or by mail or in person with the Records Request Form
- Turnaround: Immediate online; mail and in-person times not published by the state
- Free status check: The Arkansas Secretary of State business entity search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Annual Franchise Tax Report and paying the tax by May 1 each year
In Arkansas, good standing depends on one annual obligation: the franchise tax. Miss it, and the Secretary of State can revoke your company’s authority to do business. This page explains how to order the certificate, what each method costs and how to keep your Arkansas LLC eligible. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What an Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing Is
An Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing is an official statement from the Secretary of State that your LLC or corporation has authority to transact business in Arkansas. It confirms the entity exists on the state’s records and is current with its state obligations, which in Arkansas centers on the annual franchise tax.
Arkansas also issues a Certificate of Existence for $15.00. The Secretary of State describes it as a document showing basic corporate information and current tax status, while the Certificate of Good Standing states that the entity has authority to transact business. When a requester asks for good standing, order the Certificate of Good Standing, not the cheaper Certificate of Existence.
Banks ask for the certificate when you open a business account. Lenders, payment processors, buyers in due diligence, licensing agencies and other states’ filing offices ask for it too, the last when you register your Arkansas entity as a foreign business elsewhere.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Arkansas
The online route is the fastest. Follow these steps:
- Open the Arkansas Secretary of State good standing service.
- Search for your entity by its name or Arkansas filing number and select it.
- Choose the Certificate of Good Standing.
- Pay the $25.00 certificate fee, the $3.00 online processing fee and the 4% card transaction fee (minimum $1.00).
- Print or save the certificate immediately.
Ordering by Mail or In Person
To order by mail or at the Secretary of State’s office, complete the Arkansas Secretary of State Records Request Form. Request the Certificate of Good Standing, give the exact entity name, and include the $25.00 fee. The same form orders certified copies of filed documents at $0.50 per page plus a $5.00 certification fee. The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time for mail or in-person requests, so use the online service when you face a deadline.
Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Good Standing, online (LLC or corporation) | $25.00 plus $3.00 processing and 4% card fee (minimum $1.00) | Purchase and print immediately |
| Certificate of Good Standing, mail (LLC or corporation) | $25.00 | Not published by the state |
| Certificate of Good Standing, in person (LLC or corporation) | $25.00 | Not published by the state |
| Certificate of Existence | $15.00 | Not published by the state |
| Certified copies | $0.50 per page plus $5.00 certification | Not published by the state |
How to Check Arkansas Good Standing Status for Free
The Arkansas Secretary of State business entity search is free. Search by entity name or filing number to see the entity’s current status. If the status shows revoked or dissolved, fix the franchise tax problem before you pay for a certificate. For a walkthrough of the search screens, read our Arkansas business entity search guide.
How an Arkansas LLC Stays in Good Standing
Every Arkansas LLC files an LLC Annual Franchise Tax Report with the Secretary of State. The report covers the prior tax year and is due on or before May 1. Arkansas grants no extensions. The tax for an LLC is $150.00.
A late report triggers a $25.00 penalty plus daily interest. The Secretary of State calculates interest as the tax plus the penalty, multiplied by .000274, multiplied by the number of days late. On a $150.00 tax filed 100 days late, that is $175.00 times .000274 times 100, or $4.80 in interest (rounded) on top of the $175.00.
The Secretary of State names failure to pay the annual franchise tax as the most common cause of revocation and administrative dissolution. Put May 1 on your calendar every year. Your LLC also needs a registered agent with an Arkansas address on file to receive legal papers and state notices. To compare schedules in other states, see our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Arkansas Business Is Not in Good Standing
If the business search shows your entity as revoked or administratively dissolved, start with the annual franchise tax. Take these steps:
- Identify each tax year with a missing Annual Franchise Tax Report.
- File each missing report and pay the $150.00 tax, the $25.00 late penalty and the daily interest for each year.
- Contact the Business and Commercial Services Division to confirm the filing that restores the entity’s status, then check the free search before you order a certificate.
For the general process, read how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Arkansas Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State certificate confirms authority to transact business. A separate document, the Tax Clearance or Certificate of Tax Standing, comes from the Arkansas Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Excise Tax Administration. It confirms the business’s standing with the state’s tax office rather than its authority to transact business. There is no fee. Request it by calling 501-682-7924 or by filing the Tax Information Release Authorization form, as explained on the DFA Tax Clearance or Certificate of Tax Standing page. Order it when a buyer, lender or agency asks for tax clearance specifically.
Using an Arkansas Certificate in Another State
When you register your Arkansas LLC as a foreign entity in another state, that state’s filing office asks for proof that the company is in good standing in Arkansas. Order the certificate online so you have it the same day, and check the receiving state’s age limit on certificates. Learn how the two documents work together in our guide to certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does an Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing cost?
The certificate costs $25.00. Online orders add a $3.00 processing fee and a 4% card transaction fee with a $1.00 minimum.
How long does it take to get an Arkansas Certificate of Good Standing?
Online orders can be purchased and printed immediately. The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time for mail or in-person orders.
What is the difference between an Arkansas Certificate of Existence and a Certificate of Good Standing?
The $15.00 Certificate of Existence shows basic corporate information and current tax status. The $25.00 Certificate of Good Standing states that the entity has authority to transact business, and it is the document to send when someone asks for good standing.
When is the Arkansas LLC franchise tax due?
The LLC Annual Franchise Tax Report and the $150.00 tax are due on or before May 1 for the prior tax year, with no extensions. A late filing adds a $25.00 penalty plus daily interest.
Does Arkansas issue a separate tax good standing certificate?
Yes. The Department of Finance and Administration, Office of Excise Tax Administration, issues a Tax Clearance or Certificate of Tax Standing at no fee. Request it by phone at 501-682-7924 or with the Tax Information Release Authorization form.
Fees verified against official Arkansas sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Arkansas Secretary of State site before you order.
