In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Mississippi
A Mississippi Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division, which labels it a Certificate of Good Standing/Existence. Order it online through the Secretary of State’s business services portal: search your LLC or corporation, select the certificate and pay. The Secretary of State states that online processing costs $25 and is immediate. The Secretary of State has warned new businesses about ongoing certificate of existence scams.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing (the Secretary of State uses the combined label “Certificates of Good Standing/Existence”)
- Issued by: Mississippi Secretary of State, Business Services Division
- Fee: $25 online for LLCs and corporations
- How to order: Online through the Secretary of State’s business services portal
- Turnaround: Immediate on payment
- Free status check: Search the same Secretary of State business services portal at no cost
- What keeps you in good standing: Annual report by April 15 ($0 for a domestic LLC, $25 for a profit corporation) and a registered agent on record
The Mississippi Secretary of State has warned new businesses about ongoing certificate of existence scams. The real certificate comes from the Secretary of State, costs $25 online and is ready immediately. This guide shows how to order it, how to keep a Mississippi LLC in good standing, and when you need a Department of Revenue tax clearance letter instead. For other states, see how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Mississippi Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Mississippi Certificate of Good Standing is the Secretary of State’s official confirmation that an LLC or corporation is registered with the Business Services Division and in good standing on its records. The Secretary of State groups it with the certificate of existence under one label, “Certificates of Good Standing/Existence,” so either name refers to the same order.
Who asks for one:
- Banks opening an account for a Mississippi LLC or corporation
- Other states’ filing offices, when a Mississippi entity registers there as a foreign entity
- Lenders and SBA loan underwriters
- Payment processors and marketplaces verifying a seller
- Buyers in the sale of a business
- State licensing boards and local permit offices
Order it only from the Secretary of State. The Secretary of State’s warning about certificate of existence scams is also the official source for the $25 online fee.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Mississippi
The Secretary of State’s order documents page points to the online portal. Mississippi certificate orders run online only.
- Open the Mississippi Secretary of State business services portal.
- Search for your LLC or corporation by business name.
- Open the entity record and confirm the status before you pay.
- Select Certificate of Good Standing/Existence.
- Pay the $25 fee.
- Download and save the certificate, which is available immediately.
The Secretary of State’s business FAQs cover common portal questions. If a bank or another state wants the certificate sent to them, download it and forward the file.
Mississippi Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
The $25 figure comes from the Secretary of State’s own statement: “Online processing costs $25 and is immediate.” The current Services and Fees Schedule (revised October 2024) does not list a certificate fee, so confirm the amount at checkout.
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online, LLC | $25 | Immediate |
| Online, corporation | $25 | Immediate |
The official pages list online ordering only. Order through the Secretary of State’s portal and nowhere else.
How to Check Mississippi Good Standing Status for Free
Searching the Secretary of State business services portal is free. Look up the entity by name to see its status before you order a certificate. If the annual report is overdue, file it first.
Our Mississippi business entity search guide explains how to read the search results.
How a Mississippi LLC Stays in Good Standing
Every Mississippi corporation and LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State by April 15 each year. Under the Services and Fees Schedule (revised October 2024), the fee is $0 for a domestic LLC and $25 for a profit corporation. A Mississippi LLC pays nothing to file, but it still has to file: unfiled reports lead to administrative dissolution.
- File the annual report through the business services portal by April 15.
- Domestic LLCs pay $0; profit corporations pay $25.
- Keep a registered agent with a Mississippi address on record, and update the Secretary of State when it changes.
- Corporations: stay current with the Department of Revenue, because reinstatement requires a tax clearance letter.
See how Mississippi compares with other states in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Mississippi Business Is Not in Good Standing
A Mississippi LLC or corporation that is administratively dissolved for unfiled annual reports can reinstate with the Secretary of State:
- Search the portal to confirm the entity’s status.
- File the missing annual reports.
- Request a tax clearance letter from the Department of Revenue. All corporations and certain LLCs must attach it to the reinstatement.
- File the reinstatement with the Secretary of State and pay the $50 fee for a Mississippi LLC or profit corporation.
- Order a new Certificate of Good Standing online once the record shows the entity in good standing.
Our guide on how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC covers the general process.
Mississippi Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State’s certificate covers the entity’s registration and annual reports. The Mississippi Department of Revenue issues a separate Tax Clearance Letter, which certifies that a corporation has no outstanding tax liability with the state.
Request the Tax Clearance Letter through TAP, the Department of Revenue’s online portal, or by mail. It is required to reinstate any corporation and certain LLCs, and a buyer or lender can ask for it during a sale or loan. Instructions are on the Department of Revenue tax clearance letter page.
Which one to order depends on the question being asked. A bank, payment processor or another state’s filing office wants to know that the entity exists and is current with the Secretary of State, so send the $25 Certificate of Good Standing. A buyer reviewing tax exposure, or the Secretary of State during a reinstatement, wants to know that no Mississippi tax is owed, so request the Tax Clearance Letter. Some transactions call for both documents.
Using a Mississippi Certificate in Another State
When a Mississippi LLC or corporation registers in another state, that state’s filing office asks for a current certificate of good standing from Mississippi. Since the online certificate is ready immediately, order it right before you submit the other state’s application. For how the two documents relate, read certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Mississippi Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much is a Certificate of Good Standing in Mississippi?
The Secretary of State states that online processing costs $25 and is immediate. The fee is the same for LLCs and corporations. Order it only through the Secretary of State’s portal.
Is a Mississippi certificate of existence the same as a certificate of good standing?
Yes. The Secretary of State uses the combined label “Certificates of Good Standing/Existence” for one certificate. Order it online through the Secretary of State’s portal.
How fast can I get a Mississippi Certificate of Good Standing?
Online orders are immediate. You download the certificate as soon as payment goes through.
When is the Mississippi annual report due?
Annual reports for corporations and LLCs are due April 15 each year. A domestic LLC pays $0 and a profit corporation pays $25. Unfiled reports lead to administrative dissolution.
What is a Mississippi Tax Clearance Letter?
It is a Department of Revenue letter certifying that a corporation has no outstanding tax liability. You request it through TAP or by mail. All corporations and certain LLCs need it to reinstate after administrative dissolution.
Fees verified against official Mississippi sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Mississippi Secretary of State site before you order.
