In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Kentucky
Kentucky’s good standing document is the Certificate of Existence, issued by the Kentucky Secretary of State, Business Filings / Records Branch. Anyone can buy one online by searching the business in the Secretary of State’s business search and paying the $10.00 fee online. You can also request it by mail or fax with the request form on the Business Records page. The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time.
- Official name: Certificate of Existence (Certificate of Authorization for foreign entities)
- Issued by: Kentucky Secretary of State, Business Filings / Records Branch
- Fee: $10.00
- How to order: Online through the business search, or by mail or fax with the request form
- Turnaround: Not published by the state
- Free status check: Kentucky Secretary of State business search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Annual Report between January 1 and June 30 and keeping a registered agent
Kentucky calls its good standing document a Certificate of Existence, and anyone can buy one online for $10.00 through the Secretary of State’s business search. This page covers the online order, the mail and fax request, Kentucky’s June 30 Annual Report deadline, the $100 reinstatement, and the Department of Revenue’s separate Letter of Good Standing. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Kentucky Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Kentucky Certificate of Existence is an official statement from the Kentucky Secretary of State that a domestic LLC or corporation exists on the state’s records and is in good standing. Foreign entities registered in Kentucky receive the matching document, a Certificate of Authorization, at the same $10.00 fee. Kentucky uses the terms “good standing” and “bad standing” on its records. An entity falls into bad standing when it misses the Annual Report deadline or when its registered agent resigns and no replacement is appointed.
Kentucky businesses are asked for the Certificate of Existence by:
- Banks opening a business account or adding a signer.
- Other states when a Kentucky LLC registers there as a foreign entity.
- Lenders underwriting a business loan or credit line.
- Payment processors approving merchant services.
- Buyers and investors verifying the company during due diligence.
- Licensing agencies issuing or renewing a license.
The certificate reflects status on its issue date. Order it close to the date the requesting party needs it.
How to Order a Certificate of Existence in Kentucky
Kentucky lets anyone purchase a Certificate of Existence, not only the business owner. The Secretary of State’s Business Records page explains the options.
Online through the business search
- Open the Kentucky Secretary of State business search.
- Search for the LLC or corporation by name and open its profile.
- Check that the profile shows the entity as active and in good standing. If an Annual Report is missing, file it first.
- Select the option to purchase a Certificate of Existence (or Certificate of Authorization for a foreign entity).
- Pay the $10.00 fee online. ACH payment is available for online filings.
- Save the certificate and send it to the bank, state or lender that asked for it.
By mail or fax
The Business Records page links a request form for mail and fax orders. Complete it with the entity name, select the Certificate of Existence, include the $10.00 fee, and send it by mail or fax to the Records Branch. The Secretary of State does not publish a processing time for mail or fax requests, so use the online route when a deadline is close.
Kentucky Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online (business search), Certificate of Existence for an LLC or corporation | $10.00 | Not published by the state |
| Online (business search), Certificate of Authorization for a foreign entity | $10.00 | Not published by the state |
| Mail or fax (request form) | $10.00 | Not published by the state |
The Records Branch fee schedule lists Certificates of Existence or Authorization at $10.00. LLCs and corporations pay the same fee.
How to Check Kentucky Good Standing Status for Free
The Kentucky Secretary of State business search is free to use. Open an entity’s profile to see whether it is active or inactive and in good or bad standing. If the profile shows bad standing, check whether the Annual Report was missed or the registered agent resigned. For a guide to the search screens, read our Kentucky business entity search walkthrough.
The free profile is for checking only. Banks and other states want the purchased Certificate of Existence.
How a Kentucky LLC Stays in Good Standing
Kentucky has two rules that keep an entity in good standing: file the Annual Report each year and keep a registered agent in place. For Kentucky alongside other states, see our guide to annual report filing requirements by state.
Kentucky Annual Report
- Who files: Corporations and LLCs.
- When: Between January 1 and June 30 each year.
- Fee: $15 filing fee.
- If you miss June 30: A domestic entity is administratively dissolved and stays inactive and in bad standing until it reinstates. A foreign entity has its certificate of authority revoked.
The Secretary of State’s Annual Reports page explains how to file. At $15, the report is inexpensive; the cost of missing it is a $100 reinstatement plus delinquent fees.
Registered agent
Kentucky ties good standing directly to the registered agent. If your agent resigns and you do not appoint a replacement, the entity falls into bad standing even with every Annual Report filed. The agent must have a Kentucky address and receives lawsuits and state notices. Owners who live outside Kentucky, or outside the United States, use a commercial registered agent so the role never sits empty.
What to Do If Your Kentucky Business Is Not in Good Standing
The fix depends on why the entity is in bad standing.
- Registered agent resigned: Appoint a new registered agent with the Secretary of State.
- Annual Report missed and entity dissolved: File for reinstatement after administrative dissolution. The fee is $100 for a domestic profit corporation or domestic LLC, plus the delinquent filing fees.
- Tax letter: Kentucky reinstatement involves a Department of Revenue Letter of Good Standing, obtained by contacting the Secretary of State’s Office.
- Once the profile shows good standing, order a new Certificate of Existence for $10.00.
The Records Branch FAQ page answers Kentucky-specific questions. For the general process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Kentucky Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
Kentucky has two documents tied to good standing. The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Existence confirms your entity exists and is current with its Annual Reports and registered agent. The Kentucky Department of Revenue issues a Letter of Good Standing, which Kentucky uses for reinstatement purposes. You obtain it by contacting the Secretary of State’s Office. If a bank or another state asks for proof of good standing, send the Certificate of Existence; the Department of Revenue letter is part of the reinstatement process. Details are on the Kentucky Department of Revenue Letters of Good Standing page.
Using a Kentucky Certificate in Another State
When a Kentucky LLC registers in another state as a foreign LLC, that state asks for proof the LLC is in good standing in Kentucky. The Kentucky Certificate of Existence is that proof, and the other state then issues its own authority to do business there. Kentucky does the same in reverse: a foreign entity registered in Kentucky holds a certificate of authority and gets a Certificate of Authorization as its status document. Read certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority for the difference.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Kentucky Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a certificate of good standing called in Kentucky?
Kentucky calls it a Certificate of Existence for domestic entities and a Certificate of Authorization for foreign entities. The Kentucky Secretary of State issues both.
How much does a Kentucky Certificate of Existence cost?
It costs $10.00. LLCs and corporations pay the same fee, online or by mail or fax.
Who can order a Kentucky Certificate of Existence?
Anyone. Kentucky lets any person purchase a Certificate of Existence online through the Secretary of State’s business search, not only the owner of the business.
When is the Kentucky Annual Report due?
Between January 1 and June 30 each year, with a $15 filing fee. A domestic entity that misses June 30 is administratively dissolved and stays in bad standing until reinstated.
How much does it cost to reinstate a Kentucky LLC?
Reinstatement after administrative dissolution costs $100 for a domestic LLC or domestic profit corporation, plus the delinquent filing fees. Reinstatement also involves a Department of Revenue Letter of Good Standing.
Fees verified against official Kentucky sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Kentucky Secretary of State site before you order.
