In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Washington
Washington’s certificate of good standing is called a Certificate of Existence, issued by the Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division. Order the Express PDF Certificate of Existence in the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) for $20 and download it instantly from your dashboard. Only entities in Active status qualify for the express PDF. Mail orders also cost $20 per certificate, and expedited service costs $100 per entity or $150 for same-day.
- Official name: Certificate of Existence (Short Form or Long Form)
- Issued by: Washington Secretary of State, Corporations and Charities Division
- Fee: $20 for the Express PDF; $20 plus a $20 processing fee through the CCFS certified copies option
- How to order: Online in CCFS, or by mail
- Turnaround: Instant for the Express PDF; 1 to 3 business days by email through the certified copies option
- Free status check: Business search in CCFS
- What keeps you in good standing: Filing the $70 Annual Report by the last day of your formation month
A Washington LLC or corporation needs a Certificate of Existence any time a bank, lender or another state wants proof the company is active. Washington offers several ways to order it, and the cheapest and fastest one only works if your entity is already in Active status. This page shows each option, the fees, and how to keep a Washington company active. For other jurisdictions, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Washington Certificate of Good Standing Is
Washington does not issue a document titled “certificate of good standing.” The Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Division issues a Certificate of Existence, which confirms that your LLC or corporation is registered with the state and active on its records. It is the document to send when anyone asks a Washington company for a certificate of good standing.
The Division offers two versions. The Short Form Certificate of Existence confirms the entity exists and is active. It is the version delivered by the Express PDF option in CCFS. The Long Form Certificate of Existence is the expanded version, for requests that call for it by name. Both cost $20.
Washington companies are asked for a Certificate of Existence by:
- Banks opening a business account or reviewing an existing one
- Other states’ filing offices when the company registers there (foreign qualification)
- Lenders and leasing companies approving credit
- Payment processors and online marketplaces verifying a seller
- Buyers and investors in due diligence
- Licensing agencies issuing professional or contractor licenses
How to Order a Certificate of Existence in Washington
Washington’s online system is the Corporations and Charities Filing System, known as CCFS. It offers two ordering paths.
Express PDF Certificate of Existence (Instant)
- Sign in to CCFS, or create an account.
- Search for your company by business name or Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number.
- Confirm the record shows Active status. The Express PDF is only available to Active entities.
- Select the Express PDF Certificate of Existence (Short Form).
- Pay the $20 total fee.
- Download the PDF from your CCFS dashboard. It is ready instantly.
CCFS Certified Copies/Certificates Option
If you need a document the Express PDF does not cover, use the CCFS “Certified Copies/Certificates” option. It adds a $20 processing fee to the $20 certificate fee, and the Division emails the certificate in 1 to 3 business days.
Mail Orders
The Division accepts mail requests at $20 per certificate. It does not publish a processing time for mail orders. For urgent requests, Washington offers expedited service at $100 per entity, completed in three working days, and same-day service at $150. Details are on the Secretary of State’s certificates and certified copies page.
Washington Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| CCFS Express PDF, Certificate of Existence (Short Form), Active entities only | $20 total | Instant download from dashboard |
| Certificate of Existence (Long Form) | $20 | Depends on the ordering method |
| CCFS Certified Copies/Certificates option | $20 certificate plus $20 processing fee | Emailed in 1 to 3 business days |
| $20 per certificate | Not published by the state | |
| Expedited service | $100 per entity | Three working days |
| Same-day service | $150 | Same day |
LLCs and profit corporations pay the same fees. For a standard request from an Active entity, the Express PDF is the right choice: $20, no wait, and no processing fee. The full fee list is on the Division’s fee schedules and priority services page.
How to Check Washington Good Standing Status for Free
Use the free business search in CCFS. Search by name or UBI number and read the status on the entity record. Active means you can order the Express PDF right away. Delinquent means the Annual Report is overdue, and Administratively Dissolved means the Division has dissolved the company. Check before you order, so you know which route and which fix you need.
For a walkthrough of the search screens, see our Washington business entity search guide.
How a Washington LLC Stays in Good Standing
Washington ties good standing to the Annual Report. It is due by the last day of the month in which your business was formed or registered. A Washington LLC formed in June files by June 30 each year. The fee is $70 for LLCs and profit corporations. File late and the fee becomes $95 with the delinquency fee.
A late report puts the entity in delinquent status, and that status alone blocks the instant Express PDF certificate. If the report stays unfiled, the Secretary of State can administratively dissolve the company. The Division’s annual reports page has the filing details.
Washington also requires every LLC and corporation to keep a registered agent with a physical address in Washington to accept legal papers and state notices. If you live outside Washington, a commercial registered agent keeps that address current and forwards the reminders that keep your Annual Report on time. Compare deadlines across states in our guide to annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Washington Business Is Not in Good Standing
- Delinquent: File the overdue Annual Report in CCFS and pay $95, which includes the delinquency fee. Once the record returns to Active, order the Express PDF.
- Administratively dissolved: File for reinstatement. The reinstatement fee is $140 plus all missed Annual Report fees for an LLC or profit corporation. An LLC that missed two reports pays $140 plus the two missed report fees.
- Confirm: Search the entity in CCFS and confirm Active status before you order the certificate.
Our guide explains how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC and what to prepare before you file.
Washington Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State’s Certificate of Existence covers your company’s registration and Annual Report status. It does not cover taxes.
The Washington Department of Revenue issues a separate document, the Revenue Clearance Certificate. A corporation needs it to dissolve. Apply by emailing the signed application to [email protected], and the Department issues the certificate within ten business days. The application is on the Department of Revenue’s Revenue Clearance Certificate page.
Use the right document for the job. A bank, lender or another state wants the Certificate of Existence. The Revenue Clearance Certificate belongs to the dissolution process.
Using a Washington Certificate in Another State
When a Washington company registers to do business in another state, that state’s filing office asks for a recent Certificate of Existence with the application. If your entity is Active, download the Express PDF on the day you prepare the foreign filing so the certificate is current. The receiving state then issues its own registration, called a certificate of authority in many states. Our guide on certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority explains how the two documents work together.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Washington Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does a Washington certificate of good standing cost?
The Express PDF Certificate of Existence costs $20 in total in CCFS. The Long Form also costs $20. The CCFS certified copies option adds a $20 processing fee, expedited service costs $100 per entity, and same-day service costs $150.
How fast can I get a Washington Certificate of Existence?
The Express PDF downloads instantly from your CCFS dashboard if your entity is Active. The CCFS certified copies option delivers by email in 1 to 3 business days.
Why can’t I order the Express PDF certificate?
The Express PDF is only available to entities in Active status. If your company is delinquent on its Annual Report or administratively dissolved, file the report or reinstate first, then order the certificate.
When is the Washington Annual Report due?
The Annual Report is due by the last day of the month the business was formed or registered. The fee is $70 for LLCs and profit corporations, or $95 with the delinquency fee.
How much does it cost to reinstate a Washington LLC?
Reinstatement costs $140 plus all missed Annual Report fees for an LLC or profit corporation. After reinstatement, confirm Active status in CCFS before ordering a Certificate of Existence.
Fees verified against official Washington sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Washington Secretary of State site before you order.
