In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Vermont
A Vermont Certificate of Good Standing is issued by the Vermont Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Order it online through the Online Business Service Center at bizfilings.vermont.gov and pay by credit card. The fee schedule lists $35 for a domestic LLC and $25 for a domestic business corporation. The certificate is available as soon as the request and payment go through, so you can download it the same day.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing (the fee schedule lists the LLC version as a Certificate of Existence)
- Issued by: Vermont Secretary of State, Business Services Division
- Fee: $35 for a domestic LLC, $25 for a domestic business corporation
- How to order: Online at the Online Business Service Center, paid by credit card
- Turnaround: Available immediately after a successful request and payment
- Free status check: Vermont business search
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the Annual Report on time and keeping a Vermont registered agent
Vermont makes this one of the simpler certificates to get: the Secretary of State issues it online and you have it in hand within minutes of paying. The harder part is making sure your company qualifies, because Vermont ties good standing to the Annual Report and to your registered agent. This page covers both, plus the separate tax certificate from the Department of Taxes. For other jurisdictions, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Vermont Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Vermont Certificate of Good Standing is an official statement from the Secretary of State, Business Services Division, that your company exists on the state’s records and is current with its filings. Vermont’s ordering page calls every one of these documents a Certificate of Good Standing. The fee schedule is more specific: it lists an “Application for Certificate of Good Standing” for a domestic business corporation and an “Application for Certificate of Existence” for a domestic LLC. Both serve the same purpose. If the party asking for your certificate uses either name, this is the document they want.
The certificate reflects your company’s status on the day it is issued. A company that has missed its Annual Report or lost its registered agent does not qualify, so check your status first.
Vermont companies get asked for this certificate by:
- Banks opening a business account or renewing a credit line
- Other states’ filing offices when the company registers to do business outside Vermont (foreign qualification)
- Lenders reviewing a loan application
- Payment processors and online marketplaces verifying a merchant
- Buyers and investors running due diligence on an acquisition or investment
- Licensing agencies issuing professional, contractor or trade licenses
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Vermont
Vermont lists one ordering method: the Secretary of State’s Online Business Service Center. Payment is by credit card.
- Go to the Online Business Service Center and sign in. Create an account if you do not have one.
- Search for your company by its registered business name or its Vermont business ID.
- Open the business record and confirm the status shows it as active and current.
- Select the option to request a Certificate of Good Standing.
- Pay the fee by credit card: $35 for a domestic LLC or $25 for a domestic business corporation.
- Download the certificate. Vermont makes it available as soon as the request and payment succeed.
The Secretary of State’s certificates of good standing page explains the process. Vermont’s official sources do not list an expedite fee, and none is needed, since the online certificate is issued right away.
Vermont Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Online, domestic LLC (Certificate of Existence on the fee schedule) | $35 | Available immediately after payment |
| Online, domestic business corporation | $25 | Available immediately after payment |
| Expedite | Not published by the state | Not needed; online orders are immediate |
Note that the LLC fee is higher than the corporation fee in Vermont. An LLC owner who budgets from a corporation fee table will be $10 short at checkout.
How to Check Vermont Good Standing Status for Free
The Vermont business search on the Secretary of State’s filing site is free to use. Enter the business name or ID and open the record. The status field tells you whether the company is active. A company that missed its Annual Report or lost its registered agent shows as terminated or inactive, and the state will not issue a certificate for it until the problem is fixed. Check the record before you pay for a certificate, so you do not pay for a document that shows a problem.
For a guided walkthrough of the search screens, read our Vermont business entity search guide.
How a Vermont LLC Stays in Good Standing
Vermont good standing rests on two things: the Annual Report and the registered agent.
The Vermont Annual Report
Vermont sets the Annual Report deadline by your fiscal year end on record, not by a fixed calendar date. A domestic LLC files within 3 months after its fiscal year end, and the fee is $45. A domestic profit corporation files within 2.5 months after its fiscal year end, and the fee is $60. An LLC with a December 31 fiscal year end files by the end of March. File through the same Online Business Service Center you use to order certificates. Missing the report ends good standing, and the company’s status changes to terminated or inactive.
The Vermont Registered Agent
Vermont also ends good standing when a company fails to maintain a Vermont registered agent. The agent accepts lawsuits and official notices for the company at a Vermont address. If your agent resigns or you move out of state and the listed agent no longer serves, your company falls out of good standing even if every Annual Report is filed. Owners who live outside Vermont use a commercial registered agent to keep this requirement covered. Compare deadlines across states in our guide to annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Vermont Business Is Not in Good Standing
A Vermont company that has been terminated for a missed Annual Report or a missing registered agent can reinstate online.
- Look up the company in the Vermont business search and note its status and business ID.
- Fix the cause. If the registered agent lapsed, appoint a new Vermont registered agent. If Annual Reports are missing, bring them current.
- File the reinstatement through the Online Business Service Center. The fee is $35 for a domestic LLC and $50 for a domestic business corporation.
- Once the status shows active again, order a new Certificate of Good Standing.
The Secretary of State’s reinstatements page has the official rules. For a fuller walkthrough, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Vermont Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
Vermont issues two different documents that both use the words “good standing,” and they answer different questions.
The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Good Standing proves your company is registered and current with its Annual Report and registered agent. It covers your corporate record only.
The Vermont Department of Taxes issues its own Certificate of Good Standing, also called a Certification of Tax Standing. It confirms your company is current with Vermont tax filings and payments. Request it by email, fax or mail. The Department processes requests in 7 to 14 business days, and its page states no fee. Instructions are on the Department of Taxes certificate of good standing page.
Read the request carefully. A bank or another state’s filing office wants the Secretary of State certificate. A state contract, license renewal or buyer reviewing tax liability can want the tax certificate. Order the tax version early, since it takes up to 14 business days.
Using a Vermont Certificate in Another State
When a Vermont company registers to do business in another state, the receiving state asks for a recent Vermont Certificate of Good Standing with the application. Because Vermont issues the certificate online right away, order it on the day you prepare the foreign filing so it is as fresh as possible. The other state then grants its own registration, called a certificate of authority in many states. Our guide on certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority explains the difference.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Vermont Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does a Vermont certificate of good standing cost?
The Vermont fee schedule lists $35 for a domestic LLC and $25 for a domestic business corporation. You pay by credit card when you order online through the Online Business Service Center.
How fast can I get a Vermont Certificate of Good Standing?
The certificate is available immediately once your online request and payment succeed. Vermont does not publish an expedite fee because the online process is already instant.
Can I order a Vermont certificate by mail?
The Secretary of State lists online ordering through the Online Business Service Center as the method, with payment by credit card. Plan to order online.
Why is my Vermont LLC not in good standing?
The two causes are a missed Annual Report and a missing Vermont registered agent. Either one changes the status to terminated or inactive. Reinstatement costs $35 for a domestic LLC and $50 for a domestic business corporation.
Is the Vermont Department of Taxes certificate the same as the Secretary of State certificate?
No. The Secretary of State certificate covers your company’s registration, Annual Report and registered agent. The Department of Taxes certificate covers tax filings and payments, is requested by email, fax or mail, and takes 7 to 14 business days.
Fees verified against official Vermont sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Vermont Secretary of State site before you order.
