In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Indiana
Indiana’s good standing document is the Certificate of Existence, issued by the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division through INBiz. Log in to an INBiz account, find your LLC or corporation and order the certificate. The Secretary of State lists the fee at $21.42, and INBiz adds a processing fee at checkout of at least $1 and no more than 2.15%. The certificate is emailed after payment and stays available in your INBiz dashboard.
- Official name: Certificate of Existence
- Issued by: Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division (INBiz)
- Fee: $21.42 plus the INBiz processing fee
- How to order: Online through an INBiz account; the Long Form version by mail
- Turnaround: Emailed after payment and downloadable from the INBiz dashboard
- Free status check: Indiana Secretary of State public business search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Business Entity Report every two years by your due month
A bank, lender or another state wants proof your Indiana business is current, and in Indiana that proof is the Certificate of Existence from the Secretary of State. You order it on INBiz, the state’s online business portal, and it arrives by email once you pay. This page explains the INBiz order, the $21.42 fee and checkout processing fee, the biennial Business Entity Report that keeps you in good standing, and Indiana’s reinstatement rules, which require a Department of Revenue clearance first. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What an Indiana Certificate of Good Standing Is
The Indiana Certificate of Existence is an official statement from the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division, that your LLC or corporation exists on the state’s records and is current. The Secretary of State answers the “Certificate of Existence or Good Standing” question in its FAQ on getting a Certificate of Existence or Good Standing, which confirms the two names describe the same need.
Indiana businesses are asked for the certificate by:
- Banks opening a business account or changing authorized signers.
- Other states when an Indiana LLC registers there as a foreign entity.
- Lenders underwriting a loan, a line of credit or equipment financing.
- Payment processors approving merchant services.
- Buyers and investors reviewing the company before a transaction.
- Licensing agencies issuing or renewing a professional or trade license.
The certificate reflects status on the day it is issued. Order it once you know the date the requesting party needs it.
How to Order a Certificate of Existence in Indiana
Indiana sells the standard Certificate of Existence online only, through INBiz.
- Create an INBiz account or log in to your existing one. The order requires an account.
- Open the INBiz Certificate of Existence order page.
- Search for your business by name and select the correct entity.
- Confirm the entity is active. If a Business Entity Report is overdue, file it first.
- Pay the $21.42 fee plus the INBiz processing fee shown at checkout.
- Download the certificate from your email, or from the Documents widget on your INBiz dashboard.
Certificate of Existence Long Form
Indiana also offers a Certificate of Existence Long Form, which you request by mail rather than through the online order. The Secretary of State does not publish a fee or processing time for the Long Form on the pages we verified, so confirm both with the Business Services Division before you mail a request. The INBiz information requests page lists the certificate and copy options.
Certified copies are free
If the requesting party wants certified copies of your filings rather than a certificate, Indiana provides certified copies of business filings for free on INBiz.
Indiana Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online (INBiz), LLC or corporation | $21.42 | Emailed after payment; downloadable from the INBiz dashboard |
| INBiz processing fee | Minimum $1, no more than 2.15% | Charged at checkout |
| Certificate of Existence Long Form (mail) | Not published by the state | Not published by the state |
| Certified copies of filings (INBiz) | Free | Not published by the state |
The $21.42 fee comes from the Secretary of State’s Certificate of Existence alert. Check the final total on the INBiz checkout screen, which also shows the processing fee, before you pay.
How to Check Indiana Good Standing Status for Free
Search any Indiana business at no cost in the Indiana Secretary of State public business search. The record shows the entity’s status and filing history, so you can see whether a Business Entity Report is overdue or the entity has been administratively dissolved before you pay for a certificate. Our Indiana business entity search guide walks through the search screens.
A search result is not a substitute for the certificate. Banks and other states want the Certificate of Existence.
How an Indiana LLC Stays in Good Standing
Indiana uses a biennial Business Entity Report instead of an annual report, and a registered agent must stay on record. Compare Indiana’s schedule with other states in our guide to annual report filing requirements by state.
Indiana Business Entity Report
- Who files: For-profit entities, including LLCs and corporations.
- Schedule: Every other year (biennial).
- When: By the entity’s due month. You can file up to 90 days early.
- Fee: $31 online or $50 by mail.
- If you miss it: The Secretary of State sends at least four reminders, then administratively dissolves the entity when the report is five months overdue.
The Secretary of State’s Business Entity Reports page explains how to find your due month and file.
Registered agent
Every Indiana LLC and corporation must keep a registered agent with an Indiana address on record with the Secretary of State. The agent receives lawsuits and state notices, including the Business Entity Report reminders. If those reminders go to an old address, the five-month clock runs out without you knowing. Owners who live outside Indiana, or outside the United States, use a commercial registered agent to keep notices flowing.
What to Do If Your Indiana Business Is Not in Good Standing
Indiana allows reinstatement within 5 years of administrative dissolution. The process starts with a tax clearance from the Indiana Department of Revenue, before the Secretary of State will act.
- Request a Certificate of Clearance from the Indiana Department of Revenue using Form AD-19 or AD-19(2) and Form ROC-1. Allow at least four weeks.
- Total all Business Entity Report fees owed for the missed periods.
- Add the $30 reinstatement fee.
- Mail the Certificate of Clearance, the fees, and State Forms 4160 and 48725 together to the Secretary of State.
- Once the entity shows as active, order a new Certificate of Existence on INBiz.
The Secretary of State’s reinstatement instructions list each requirement. For the general process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Indiana Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Certificate of Existence comes from the Secretary of State and confirms the entity exists and is current with its Business Entity Reports. Tax standing is a separate matter handled by the Indiana Department of Revenue, which issues tax clearance as official confirmation that no tax is due. For reinstatement, the Department issues a Certificate of Clearance after you file Form AD-19 or AD-19(2) and Form ROC-1, and you should allow at least four weeks. Read the requirements on the Indiana Department of Revenue tax clearance page.
Using an Indiana Certificate in Another State
When an Indiana LLC registers in another state as a foreign LLC, that state asks for proof the LLC is current in Indiana. The Indiana Certificate of Existence provides it, and the other state then issues its own authority to do business there. The two documents are compared in certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority. Ask the other state how recent the certificate must be before you order it on INBiz.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Indiana Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a certificate of good standing called in Indiana?
Indiana calls it a Certificate of Existence. The Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division issues it through INBiz.
How much does an Indiana Certificate of Existence cost?
The Secretary of State lists the fee at $21.42. INBiz adds a processing fee at checkout of at least $1 and no more than 2.15%. Check the total on the checkout screen before you pay.
Do I need an INBiz account to order a Certificate of Existence?
Yes. The online order requires an INBiz account. After payment, the certificate is emailed to you and stays available in the Documents widget on your INBiz dashboard.
When does an Indiana LLC file a Business Entity Report?
Every other year, by the entity’s due month. The fee is $31 online or $50 by mail, and you can file up to 90 days early. The state administratively dissolves an entity whose report is five months overdue.
How do I reinstate a dissolved Indiana LLC?
First get a Certificate of Clearance from the Indiana Department of Revenue. Then mail it to the Secretary of State with all owed Business Entity Report fees, the $30 reinstatement fee, and State Forms 4160 and 48725. Reinstatement is available within 5 years of dissolution.
Fees verified against official Indiana sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Indiana Secretary of State site before you order.
