In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in South Carolina
South Carolina’s good standing document is the Certificate of Existence, also called a Certificate of Good Standing, issued by the South Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings. Order it online through the Secretary of State’s business filings document request page by searching your entity and paying the $10 fee, which is set by statute. The state does not publish a processing time for online orders.
- Official name: Certificate of Existence (also known as a Certificate of Good Standing); Certificate of Authority for foreign entities
- Issued by: South Carolina Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings
- Fee: $10 for LLCs and corporations
- How to order: Online through the SOS document request page
- Turnaround: Not published by the state
- Free status check: The South Carolina business filings search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing required returns with the SC Department of Revenue; corporations file the annual report (Schedule D) with the corporate tax return
In South Carolina, the Secretary of State issues a Certificate of Existence, which banks and other states accept as a certificate of good standing. The fee is $10, set by statute. This guide explains how to order it, what keeps an LLC or corporation eligible and how it differs from the Department of Revenue’s Certificate of Compliance. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a South Carolina Certificate of Good Standing Is
The South Carolina Certificate of Existence confirms that a domestic LLC or corporation is on file with the Secretary of State and has not been dissolved or forfeited. The Secretary of State also refers to it as a Certificate of Good Standing. For a foreign entity registered in South Carolina, the matching document is a Certificate of Authority, and the fee schedule groups both under “Certificate of Existence or Authority.”
The Division of Business Filings issues the certificate based on the entity’s record. In South Carolina that record depends in part on the Department of Revenue: a corporation that fails to file its returns with the Department of Revenue can be forfeited or administratively dissolved by the Secretary of State.
South Carolina businesses are asked for a Certificate of Existence by:
- Banks: to open or update a business bank account.
- Other states: when the business registers as a foreign entity.
- Lenders: before funding a loan or credit line.
- Payment processors: to approve a merchant account.
- Buyers and investors: to confirm the company exists and is in good order.
- Licensing agencies: for business and professional licenses.
How to Order a Certificate of Existence in South Carolina
South Carolina lists online ordering for the Certificate of Existence. Follow these steps:
- Go to the Secretary of State’s business filings document request page.
- Search for your entity by name.
- Select your LLC or corporation from the results and confirm its status.
- Choose Certificate of Existence (or Certificate of Authority for a foreign entity).
- Pay the $10 fee at checkout.
- Follow the delivery instructions on the confirmation screen and save the certificate.
The Secretary of State explains the online request process on its document request online page. Answers to common questions about entity records are on the business entities FAQ page.
South Carolina Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online, Certificate of Existence (LLC or corporation) | $10 | Not published by the state |
| Online, Certificate of Authority (foreign entity) | $10 | Not published by the state |
| Certificate of No Record or Certificate Under Seal | $20 | Not published by the state |
| Copies of filed documents | $3 first page, $0.50 each additional page | Not published by the state |
The $10 certificate fee is set by South Carolina statute, so it is the same for every LLC and corporation.
How to Check South Carolina Good Standing Status for Free
Search the South Carolina business filings system at no cost. Enter your entity name to open its record and see its current status. If the record shows the entity as forfeited or dissolved, the Secretary of State does not issue a Certificate of Existence until it is reinstated.
A free search result is not a certified document. Banks and other states still require the $10 certificate. Our South Carolina business entity search guide shows how to read each record.
How a South Carolina LLC Stays in Good Standing
South Carolina’s rules depend on how the business is taxed:
- LLCs not taxed as corporations: file no annual report and pay no annual license fee to the state.
- Corporations (and LLCs taxed as corporations): file the annual report, Schedule D, with the South Carolina corporate tax return at the Department of Revenue, with a minimum $25 license fee.
- Due dates for calendar-year filers: C corporations by April 15; S corporations by March 15.
Because the annual report travels with the tax return, a missed return is also a missed annual report. Failure to file returns with the Department of Revenue can lead to forfeiture or administrative dissolution by the Secretary of State. Read the Department of Revenue’s corporate tax FAQs for filing details.
An LLC that files no annual report still needs a registered agent on file with the Secretary of State. With no yearly report, the registered agent is the main channel for state notices and legal papers, so an outdated agent means notices go unread. See how South Carolina compares in our list of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your South Carolina Business Is Not in Good Standing
South Carolina sets different reinstatement windows by entity type. Business corporations can reinstate any time after administrative dissolution. LLCs and nonprofits can reinstate within two years. The steps:
- Search the entity in the business filings system and confirm its dissolution or forfeiture status.
- File every missing return with the South Carolina Department of Revenue and pay what is owed.
- Request a Certificate of Tax Compliance from the Department of Revenue.
- File the Application for Reinstatement with the Secretary of State, with the Certificate of Tax Compliance attached.
- Once the record shows active, order your Certificate of Existence.
If your LLC or nonprofit is past the two-year window, contact the Division of Business Filings before filing anything. For a general walkthrough, read how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
South Carolina Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
South Carolina has two documents that people call good standing:
- Certificate of Existence (Secretary of State): proves the entity exists and is on file. Costs $10.
- Certificate of Compliance (Department of Revenue): a compliance letter confirming the business is current on South Carolina taxes. Costs $60, nonrefundable, and is valid for 30 days.
Request the Department of Revenue certificate through MyDORWAY or on Form C-268. The request a Certificate of Compliance page has the instructions. You need the tax certificate for reinstatement, and a buyer or lender can ask for it alongside the Certificate of Existence.
Using a South Carolina Certificate in Another State
When your South Carolina LLC or corporation registers in another state as a foreign entity, that state asks for a recent Certificate of Existence. Order it shortly before you file the foreign registration so the issue date is current. The other state then issues its own registration. Learn the difference in our guide to certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
South Carolina Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
What is a South Carolina Certificate of Existence?
The Certificate of Existence is South Carolina’s certificate of good standing. The Secretary of State, Division of Business Filings, issues it to confirm that an LLC or corporation is on file and has not been dissolved or forfeited.
How much does a South Carolina Certificate of Existence cost?
The certificate costs $10, a fee set by statute. A Certificate of Authority for a foreign entity also costs $10. A Certificate of No Record or Certificate Under Seal costs $20.
Do South Carolina LLCs file an annual report?
An LLC not taxed as a corporation files no annual report and pays no license fee. An LLC taxed as a corporation files the annual report, Schedule D, with its South Carolina corporate tax return, with a minimum $25 license fee.
What is the South Carolina Department of Revenue Certificate of Compliance?
It is a compliance letter confirming the business is current on South Carolina taxes. It costs $60, is nonrefundable and is valid for 30 days. Request it through MyDORWAY or on Form C-268.
Can a dissolved South Carolina LLC be reinstated?
Yes, within two years of administrative dissolution. The Application for Reinstatement must include a Certificate of Tax Compliance from the Department of Revenue. Business corporations can reinstate any time after dissolution.
Fees verified against official South Carolina sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the South Carolina Secretary of State site before you order.
