In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Massachusetts
Massachusetts issues a Certificate of Good Standing through the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division. Order it on the Division’s online certificate order form, by fax or by mail, with delivery by email or regular mail. The fee is $25 for an LLC and $12 for a domestic corporation, plus an expedited cost of $6.00 or $3.00 on online and fax orders. The Department of Revenue issues a separate tax Certificate of Good Standing free through MassTaxConnect.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing (Secretary of the Commonwealth); a separate Certificate of Good Standing and/or Tax Compliance comes from the Department of Revenue
- Issued by: Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division
- Fee: LLC $25; domestic corporation $12; online and fax orders add an expedited cost ($6.00 for an LLC, $3.00 for a corporation)
- How to order: Online certificate order form, or by mail; delivery by email or regular mail
- Turnaround: Not published by the Corporations Division; email delivery skips postal time
- Free status check: Corporations Division business entity search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Annual Report on time (LLC $500; corporation $100 online) and keeping a registered agent on record
Massachusetts has two documents called a Certificate of Good Standing, and they answer different questions. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s certificate proves the LLC or corporation exists and is current on its annual reports. The Department of Revenue’s certificate proves the business is current on Massachusetts taxes. This guide covers both, starting with the Corporations Division version most banks and states ask for. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Massachusetts Certificate of Good Standing Is
The Corporations Division’s Certificate of Good Standing confirms that a Massachusetts LLC or corporation is on file with the Secretary of the Commonwealth and is in good standing on the Division’s records. The Division’s fee table states plainly that the corporate version “is not a Tax Good Standing.” For tax status, you need the Department of Revenue certificate covered below.
The Division also sells Legal Existence certificates: an LLC Certificate of Existence for $12, and corporation Legal Existence certificates from $7 to $25. Order the Certificate of Good Standing unless the requester names a Legal Existence certificate.
Who asks for the Secretary of the Commonwealth certificate:
- Banks opening an account or renewing credit for a Massachusetts entity
- Other states, when a Massachusetts LLC or corporation registers there as a foreign entity
- Lenders and SBA loan underwriters
- Payment processors verifying a merchant
- Buyers and their attorneys in a sale or merger
- Licensing agencies and public contracting offices
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Massachusetts
The Corporations Division takes certificate orders through its online certificate order form. Its electronic certificates page explains email delivery.
- Look up the entity’s exact name in the Corporations Division business entity search.
- Open the online certificate order form and enter the entity.
- Choose Certificate of Good Standing as the certificate type.
- Choose email delivery or regular mail.
- Pay the certificate fee plus the expedited cost for online orders.
- Receive the certificate. Emailed certificates carry the state seal and a verification number.
By mail: send a written request naming the entity, the certificate type and the delivery address, with the base fee ($25 for an LLC, $12 for a domestic corporation), to the Corporations Division. By fax: fax orders carry the same expedited cost as online orders.
Massachusetts Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
Online and fax orders add an “expedited cost” based on the order subtotal: $3.00 for $0.01 to $14.99, $3.50 for $15.00 to $24.99, and $6.00 for $25.00 to $84.99. For a single certificate, that means:
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| LLC Certificate of Good Standing, online or fax | $25 plus $6.00 expedited cost ($31.00) | Not published by the state |
| LLC Certificate of Good Standing, mail | $25 | Not published by the state |
| Domestic corporation Good Standing, online or fax | $12 plus $3.00 expedited cost ($15.00) | Not published by the state |
| Domestic corporation Good Standing, mail | $12 | Not published by the state |
| LLC Certificate of Existence (Legal Existence) | $12 (plus $3.00 online or fax) | Not published by the state |
| Corporation Legal Existence certificate | $7 to $25 | Not published by the state |
| DOR Certificate of Good Standing and/or Tax Compliance | Free | 24 to 48 hours after approval online; 4 to 6 weeks on paper |
How to Check Massachusetts Good Standing Status for Free
The Corporations Division business entity search is free. Search by entity name to see the entity’s status before you order. If annual reports are missing, file them first so the certificate reflects good standing.
Our Massachusetts business entity search guide walks through the search screens.
How a Massachusetts LLC Stays in Good Standing
Massachusetts LLCs file an Annual Report on or before the anniversary date of the original certificate of organization each year. The fee is $500, per the Division’s limited liability company page. Corporations file an Annual Report within 2.5 months after the end of the fiscal year: $100 if filed electronically, $125 on paper, and $150 if not filed on time, per the domestic corporations page.
- LLCs: file the Annual Report and pay $500 by the anniversary date of organization.
- Corporations: file within 2.5 months after fiscal year end, online for the $100 rate.
- Keep a registered agent with a Massachusetts address on record, and file a change when the agent moves.
- Corporations: stay current on corporate excise with the Department of Revenue, since reinstatement requires a DOR certificate.
The Division administratively dissolves entities with unfiled reports. Compare the Massachusetts schedule with other states in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Massachusetts Business Is Not in Good Standing
The Corporations Division does not issue a Certificate of Good Standing for an administratively dissolved entity. Reinstatement works differently for LLCs and corporations:
- Search the entity to confirm its status and which annual reports are missing.
- LLC: file every owed Annual Report and pay the $100 reinstatement fee.
- Corporation: file the application for reinstatement ($100) with a DOR certificate showing corporate excise is paid, plus all annual reports for the last ten fiscal years.
- Confirm the registered agent on record is current.
- Order a new Certificate of Good Standing once the record shows the entity is active.
See our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC for the general steps.
Massachusetts Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Massachusetts Department of Revenue issues a Certificate of Good Standing and/or Tax Compliance. It confirms the business has filed and paid its Massachusetts taxes. It does not replace the Corporations Division certificate, and the Corporations Division certificate does not prove tax status.
- Request it through MassTaxConnect.
- It is free of charge.
- Online requests are issued 24 to 48 hours after approval. Paper requests take 4 to 6 weeks.
- Corporations need it to reinstate with the Corporations Division.
The Department of Revenue explains eligibility on its Certificate of Good Standing FAQ and in Administrative Procedure 613. Order the DOR certificate when a buyer, licensing board or public contract asks for tax good standing, and the Corporations Division certificate when they ask for proof of existence.
Using a Massachusetts Certificate in Another State
When a Massachusetts LLC or corporation registers in another state, that state asks for a Certificate of Good Standing from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, not the DOR certificate. Choose email delivery to get it fast. For how it fits the other state’s registration, read certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Massachusetts Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much is a Massachusetts Certificate of Good Standing?
The Corporations Division charges $25 for an LLC and $12 for a domestic corporation. Online and fax orders add an expedited cost of $6.00 for the LLC certificate and $3.00 for the corporation certificate. The DOR tax certificate is free.
Can I get a Massachusetts Certificate of Good Standing by email?
Yes. The online order form offers email delivery. Emailed certificates carry the state seal and a verification number.
What is the difference between the Secretary of the Commonwealth and DOR certificates?
The Secretary of the Commonwealth certificate confirms the entity exists and is current with the Corporations Division. The Department of Revenue certificate confirms the business is current on Massachusetts taxes. The Corporations Division states its corporate certificate is not a tax good standing.
How do I get a DOR Certificate of Good Standing in Massachusetts?
Request it through MassTaxConnect. It is free, and it is issued 24 to 48 hours after approval. Paper requests take 4 to 6 weeks.
When is the Massachusetts LLC Annual Report due?
It is due on or before the anniversary date of the LLC’s original certificate of organization each year. The fee is $500. Unfiled reports lead to administrative dissolution.
Fees verified against official Massachusetts sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Secretary of the Commonwealth Corporations Division site before you order.
