In Short: How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Nebraska
Nebraska issues a Certificate of Good Standing through the Secretary of State, Business Services Division. Find your LLC or corporation in the Secretary of State corporate search and buy the electronic certificate for $6.50, which you view and print immediately, or the paper certificate with the State Seal for $10.00, mailed by USPS within 2 to 3 business days. LLCs and corporations pay the same fee.
- Official name: Certificate of Good Standing (the electronic version is also called the Online Certificate of Good Standing or Letter of Good Standing)
- Issued by: Nebraska Secretary of State, Business Services Division (Corporate office)
- Fee: $6.50 for the electronic certificate; $10.00 for the paper certificate with State Seal and Secretary of State signature
- How to order: Online through the Nebraska Secretary of State corporate search, or by phone
- Turnaround: Electronic certificate: immediate. Paper certificate: mailed by USPS within 2 to 3 business days
- Free status check: Search your entity free in the same corporate search before you pay
- What keeps you in good standing: File the Biennial Report (LLCs) or Biennial Occupation Tax Report (corporations) on time and keep a registered agent on record
Nebraska banks, lenders and out-of-state filing offices ask for proof that your entity is active on the Secretary of State’s records. Nebraska makes this fast: the electronic version arrives the moment you pay. This page covers the two Nebraska certificate options, the biennial filings that keep you eligible, and how to fix a lapsed status. For other states, see our guide on how to get a certificate of good standing.
What a Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing Is
A Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing is an official statement from the Nebraska Secretary of State that your LLC or corporation exists on the state’s records and is current on the filings the Business Services Division tracks. It confirms the entity has not been administratively dissolved (domestic) or revoked (foreign) for a missed biennial report or a lapsed registered agent.
You need one when a third party wants independent proof that your business is active in Nebraska:
- Banks opening a business account or adding a signer
- Other states, when you register your Nebraska LLC as a foreign entity there
- Lenders and investors running due diligence on a loan or funding round
- Payment processors and marketplaces verifying a merchant account
- Buyers in an asset or membership interest sale
- Licensing agencies issuing professional or trade licenses
Electronic Certificate vs Paper Certificate
Nebraska sells two versions. The electronic certificate costs $6.50 and is available to view and print immediately. Each one carries a Verification ID, and anyone who receives it can confirm it is genuine on the Secretary of State’s certificate validation page. The paper Certificate of Good Standing costs $10.00 and bears the State Seal and the Secretary of State’s signature. Order the paper version when the recipient asks for a sealed, signed original.
How to Order a Certificate of Good Standing in Nebraska
Nebraska sells certificates through its online corporate search. There is no form to fill out and no account to create.
- Open the Nebraska Secretary of State corporate search.
- Search for your LLC or corporation by name and open its record.
- Confirm the status shown on the record. A dissolved or revoked entity does not qualify for a certificate.
- Choose the electronic Online Certificate of Good Standing ($6.50) or the paper Certificate of Good Standing ($10.00).
- Pay by credit card.
- Print or save the electronic certificate right away, or wait for the paper certificate to arrive by USPS within 2 to 3 business days.
The Secretary of State’s Corporate office also takes certificate orders by phone. Nebraska does not list a mail or walk-in route for certificates on its FAQ page, so the online search is the direct path.
Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing Fees and Processing Time
| Method | Fee | Turnaround |
|---|---|---|
| Electronic certificate, ordered online (LLC or corporation) | $6.50 | Immediate |
| Paper certificate with State Seal, ordered online (LLC or corporation) | $10.00 | Mailed by standard USPS within 2 to 3 business days |
| Phone order | Not published by the state | Not published by the state |
Nebraska charges the same certificate fee to LLCs and corporations. The two prices reflect the format, not the entity type: you pay $3.50 more for the State Seal and a mailed original.
How to Check Nebraska Good Standing Status for Free
Before you pay, look up your entity in the Nebraska Secretary of State corporate search. The record shows the entity’s current status, and searching costs nothing. If the status is anything other than active, fix the underlying filing first; a certificate order will not change the status. You can also use our Nebraska business entity search guide for step-by-step search help.
How a Nebraska LLC Stays in Good Standing
Nebraska runs on a two-year reporting cycle, and LLCs and corporations file in different years.
- LLCs: file the Biennial Report by April 1 of each odd-numbered year. The report is delinquent after June 16. The Secretary of State’s LLC reinstatement instructions list the biennial fee at $30.00.
- Business corporations: file the Biennial Occupation Tax Report by March 1 of each even-numbered year. The report is delinquent after April 15. Check the tax amount on the Secretary of State’s annual and biennial reporting page.
- Registered agent: every Nebraska entity must keep a registered agent on record. Losing the agent is a separate ground for dissolution or revocation.
- Corporate existence: an entity whose stated period of existence expires also loses good standing.
Watch for third-party mailers. The Secretary of State has issued a media release warning that third-party mailers confuse businesses filing their biennial reports. File directly with the Secretary of State. To compare these rules with other states, see our breakdown of annual report filing requirements by state.
What to Do If Your Nebraska Business Is Not in Good Standing
A missed biennial report or a lapsed registered agent leads to administrative dissolution for a domestic entity or revocation for a foreign one. Nebraska does not accept reinstatement online. Follow these steps:
- Look up the entity in the corporate search to confirm its status and the reports it is missing.
- Complete the reinstatement application from the Secretary of State’s reinstatement information page.
- Attach every past-due report and fee. For a domestic LLC, that means the $30 reinstatement fee plus the $30 biennial fee for each missed report.
- Submit the package by mail or in person. Online filing is not available for reinstatement.
- Once the record shows the entity as active, order a new Certificate of Good Standing.
Timing matters. An LLC inactive for more than five years pays a $500 late reinstatement fee. For the general process across states, see how to reinstate an administratively dissolved LLC.
Nebraska Tax Good Standing vs Secretary of State Certificate
The Secretary of State certificate covers corporate status only. Tax status comes from a different agency: the Nebraska Department of Revenue. Its Form 36, Certificate of Tax Clearance or Confirmation of Current Tax Liabilities Application, produces one of two letters:
- A tax status letter confirming your current tax liabilities
- A tax clearance letter for a contemplated sale of the business
Tax clearance requests carry a $25 nonrefundable fee, paid by check or money order. Buyers and lenders in a sale ask for the Department of Revenue letter; banks and other states ask for the Secretary of State certificate.
Using a Nebraska Certificate in Another State
When your Nebraska LLC expands into another state, that state’s filing office asks for proof of good standing from Nebraska before it issues authority to do business. Order the certificate right before you file so it reflects your current status. If the receiving state wants a sealed original, order the $10.00 paper certificate instead of the electronic one. For the difference between the two documents involved, see certificate of good standing vs certificate of authority.
$0 formation fee plus the state filing fee. Registered agent free for the first year.
Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing FAQs
How much does a Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing cost?
The electronic certificate costs $6.50 and the paper certificate with the State Seal costs $10.00. LLCs and corporations pay the same fee. Order either one through the Secretary of State corporate search.
How long does a Nebraska Certificate of Good Standing take?
The electronic certificate is available to view and print immediately after payment. The paper certificate is mailed by standard USPS within 2 to 3 business days.
Is the Nebraska online certificate an official document?
Yes. Each electronic certificate carries a Verification ID that anyone can confirm on the Secretary of State’s validation page. If the recipient needs a sealed and signed original, order the $10.00 paper certificate.
When is the Nebraska LLC biennial report due?
Nebraska LLCs file the Biennial Report by April 1 of each odd-numbered year, and it becomes delinquent after June 16. The state lists the biennial fee at $30.00.
Can I reinstate a dissolved Nebraska LLC online?
No. Nebraska accepts reinstatement applications by mail or in person only. A domestic LLC pays a $30 reinstatement fee plus $30 for each missed biennial report, and an LLC inactive for more than five years pays a $500 late reinstatement fee.
Fees verified against official Nebraska sources in October 2026. State fees change; confirm the current amount on the Nebraska Secretary of State site before you order.
