In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Hawaii
Hawaii issues a Certificate of Good Standing, listed on the fee schedule as the Good Standing Certificate (Certificate of Compliance). The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division issues it. Order it online through Hawaii Business Express by searching your entity. The DCCA fee schedule sets the fee at $5.00 for LLCs and corporations, plus an optional $10.00 expedited review fee. The DCCA does not publish a processing time.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing (Good Standing Certificate, Certificate of Compliance)
- Issued by: Hawaii DCCA, Business Registration Division
- Fee: $5.00, plus $10.00 for expedited review
- How to order: Online through Hawaii Business Express
- Turnaround: Not published by the state
- Free status check: Hawaii Business Express document search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the annual report by the end of your registration quarter each year
Hawaii is one of the states that uses the plain name: the DCCA issues a Certificate of Good Standing, and its fee schedules call the same document a Certificate of Compliance. The fee is $5.00. This page explains how to order it through Hawaii Business Express, how Hawaii’s quarter-based annual report deadline works, and how the DCCA certificate differs from the Department of Taxation’s Tax Clearance Certificate. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing is a statement from the DCCA Business Registration Division that your LLC or corporation is registered in Hawaii and current with its filings. The name “Certificate of Compliance” on the fee schedule reflects what it checks: that the entity has complied with its filing duties, the annual report above all. A Hawaii LLC that misses annual reports for two years can be administratively terminated, and a terminated entity cannot show good standing.
Hawaii businesses are asked for the certificate by:
- Banks opening a business account or approving a credit line.
- Other states when a Hawaii LLC registers to do business on the mainland as a foreign LLC.
- Lenders underwriting a business loan.
- Payment processors setting up merchant services.
- Buyers and investors doing due diligence on the company.
- Licensing agencies processing a license or permit application.
The certificate reflects the entity’s status on the day it is issued. Order it after you know the date the requesting party needs.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Hawaii
The DCCA sells good standing certificates through Hawaii Business Express, the state’s online business records portal. The Business Registration Division also explains the service on its certificate of good standing page.
- Open the Hawaii Business Express document search.
- Search for your business by name and open the correct record.
- Check that the record shows the entity as current. If an annual report is missing, file it first.
- Choose the Certificate of Good Standing from the available documents.
- Pay the $5.00 fee. Add the $10.00 expedited review fee if you need faster handling.
- Save the certificate and send it to the bank, state or lender that asked for it.
The DCCA fee schedule does not list separate online and paper prices for this certificate, and it does not publish a processing time. Confirm the total on the Hawaii Business Express checkout screen before you pay.
Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Hawaii Business Express, LLC | $5.00 | Not published by the state |
| Hawaii Business Express, profit corporation | $5.00 | Not published by the state |
| Expedited review (added to the certificate fee) | $10.00 | Not published by the state |
The same $5.00 filing fee and $10.00 expedited review fee appear on the DCCA fee schedules for both domestic LLCs and domestic profit corporations.
How to Check Hawaii Good Standing Status for Free
Searching a business in the Hawaii Business Express document search is free. The search result shows the entity’s record with the DCCA, including its status and its annual report filings. Use it to confirm the entity is current before you pay for the certificate, and to spot a missing annual report before it turns into a termination. A bank or another state will still want the certificate itself, not a printout of the search page.
How a Hawaii LLC Stays in Good Standing
Hawaii ties the annual report deadline to the calendar quarter in which the entity registered, rather than to a single statewide date. See how that compares with other states in our guide to annual report filing requirements by state.
Hawaii annual report deadline
| Registered between | Annual report due by |
|---|---|
| January 1 and March 31 | March 31 |
| April 1 and June 30 | June 30 |
| July 1 and September 30 | September 30 |
| October 1 and December 31 | December 31 |
Hawaii annual report fees and penalties
- LLC annual report: $15.00, or $12.50 when filed online.
- Corporation annual report: $15.00.
- Online late fee: $10.00 for each year of delinquency.
- Penalty: The DCCA notes a penalty of up to $100 for each thirty-day period of delinquency.
- Termination: The director can administratively terminate a domestic LLC that has not filed its annual report for two years.
Registered agent
A Hawaii LLC must keep a registered agent with a Hawaii address on file with the DCCA. The agent receives lawsuits and official notices for the business. Owners who live on the mainland or abroad use a commercial registered agent so that annual report notices and legal papers reach them without delay.
What to Do If Your Hawaii Business Is Not in Good Standing
If the DCCA has terminated your Hawaii entity for unfiled annual reports, you can restore it with an Application for Reinstatement. Reinstatement is available to domestic entities only.
- Look up the entity on Hawaii Business Express and list the annual reports that are missing.
- File the Application for Reinstatement with the Business Registration Division. The filing fee is $25.00 for LLCs and profit corporations.
- Add the $25.00 expedited review fee if you need faster handling.
- Bring the annual reports current and pay the related fees and late fees.
- Once the record shows the entity as current, order a new Certificate of Good Standing.
Our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC covers the process in more detail. The Business Registration Division FAQ page answers Hawaii-specific filing questions.
Hawaii Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
In Hawaii, the DCCA handles business registration, and its Certificate of Good Standing covers registration and annual reports only. Tax compliance is a separate document. The Hawaii Department of Taxation issues a Tax Clearance Certificate, requested with Form A-6, Tax Clearance Application. You can apply through Hawaii Tax Online, in person, by fax or by mail, and the Department charges no fee. Request the tax clearance when a party asks for proof that your Hawaii taxes are current; give banks and other states the DCCA certificate. Details are on the Hawaii Department of Taxation tax clearance page.
Using a Hawaii Certificate in Another State
When a Hawaii LLC registers in another state as a foreign LLC, that state asks for proof that the LLC is current in Hawaii. The DCCA Certificate of Good Standing is that proof, and the other state then issues its own authority to do business there. The difference between the two documents is covered in certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority. Check how recent the other state wants the certificate to be before you order.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
Who issues a certificate of good standing in Hawaii?
The Hawaii Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs (DCCA), Business Registration Division issues it. You order it online through Hawaii Business Express. Its fee schedule lists it as the Good Standing Certificate (Certificate of Compliance).
How much does a Hawaii Certificate of Good Standing cost?
The DCCA fee schedule sets the fee at $5.00 for LLCs and profit corporations. An optional expedited review fee of $10.00 can be added. Confirm the total at checkout on Hawaii Business Express.
When is a Hawaii annual report due?
The deadline depends on the quarter your entity registered in. Entities registered January 1 to March 31 file by March 31, April 1 to June 30 by June 30, July 1 to September 30 by September 30, and October 1 to December 31 by December 31.
What happens if a Hawaii LLC misses its annual report?
Online filers pay a $10.00 late fee for each year of delinquency. If the LLC goes two years without filing, the director can administratively terminate it. A terminated domestic LLC can file an Application for Reinstatement for $25.00.
Is a Hawaii Tax Clearance Certificate the same as a Certificate of Good Standing?
No. The Certificate of Good Standing comes from the DCCA and covers business registration. The Tax Clearance Certificate comes from the Department of Taxation, is requested with Form A-6 and carries no fee.
Fees verified against official Hawaii sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Hawaii DCCA Business Registration Division site before you order.
