Elevate your business standing in Idaho with a Certificate of Good Standing. Explore our guide for essential insights and step-by-step instructions, helping ensure your company's credibility and access to new opportunities.
scroll for more
Starts at $0 + state fees and only takes 5-10 minutes
Having an Idaho Certificate of Good Standing, also known as a Certificate of Existence, shows that your organization follows all state regulations and that you’re legally permitted to conduct business. It’s not mandatory to request a Certificate of Good Standing to conduct business within the state, but it’s sometimes required for certain transactions.
In this guide, we’ll help you understand the importance of a CGS and how you can obtain one.
An Idaho Certificate of Good Standing (CGS) is proof that your corporation exists in the state of Idaho. It complies with all laws at the state and local levels and is authorized to conduct transactions.
The Idaho CGS contains information such as your business’s legal name, date of formation, and a statement about its “Good Standing” within the state. With the Idaho Secretary of State’s official seal, it may help you apply for loans, renew licenses, meet tax regulations, obtain business insurance, and conduct transactions.
In Idaho, the Secretary of State (SOS) issues a CGS. You can request these certificates under the Business section on their online portal. You’ll need to fill out a request form and pay a $10 fee (as of 2021).
Your business must comply with state laws when requesting a CGS. Non-compliance can result in fines and a rejected request. With the worry free compliance service by ZenBusiness, we can help your business stay in good standing.
An Idaho CGS confirms that your business is a valid entity in the state. It confirms you’ve filed Idaho annual reports before the deadline and that the organization’s paperwork is in order. It confirms franchise tax payments are up to date, and there are no outstanding debts. In essence, it confirms your organization is in good standing in the eyes of the state.
The information contained within an Idaho CGS is as below:
A CGS is an elective document in Idaho, but in some situations having this certificate might ease the process of conducting business transactions.
Let’s look at scenarios where you might need an Idaho Certificate of Good Standing.
If you formed your business in Idaho, it makes it a domestic (in-state) entity. In other states, your business will be regarded as a foreign (out-of-state) entity. If you want to expand operations outside of Idaho and into other states, you’ll need to prove that your business complies with state laws in Idaho.
A CGS confirms that your corporation has duly filed its taxes and doesn’t have any outstanding debts. If you’re looking to secure funds, this piece of information can instill confidence in investors or any other financial institutions you’re dealing with.
For tax purposes, it’s good practice to keep your personal and business finances separate. A business bank account will help you effectively keep track of the cash flow and prevent any mix-ups. Banks might require you to produce a CGS before you can open an account with them.
Insurance can help protect you from damages and liabilities and provide benefits to your employees. Some of the most common types of insurance policies are workers’ compensation and malpractice insurance. General and professional liability insurance are highly recommended, as well as cyber insurance. An insurance provider might ask for a CGS to assess the financial standing of your business. It’s a good idea to talk to a professional and make sure you get the right insurance to cover your bases.
If you want to work with other states and businesses, they might require a CGS to assess your organization’s legal standing. A CGS acts as proof that you’re in compliance with state laws, and this proof could facilitate the process of contract formation.
A CGS confirms the legitimacy of your business. This information can prove useful when selling or transferring part or all of your business. A buyer might want to know beforehand what they’re getting into before making a purchase. A CGS might offer that added bit of security to help them decide.
An Idaho CGS confirms your business as a valid entity in the state. This confirmation may be required in the process of renewing specific state permits and licenses.
A business has to be a registered state entity in Idaho before making a CGS request.
Idaho’s formal business entities include general partnerships, limited partnerships (LP), limited liability partnerships (LLP), limited liability companies (LLC), and corporations. Currently, these are the only for-profit business entities authorized by statute and are the only entities that can obtain an Idaho CGS.
You may order an Idaho CGS from the Idaho Secretary of State. The steps involved in the process are:
Before you request a CGS, you need to make sure your corporation is compliant with state laws. Your business should be a registered entity. All taxes must have been duly paid, and there shouldn’t be any unpaid taxes or debt.
Permits and licenses should be current. Your annual report filings must be up to date. Filing activity needs to be completed before the due date to stay compliant.
If you’re short on time or want professional help to meet your compliance requirements, get in touch with ZenBusiness compliance service for worry-free compliance services.
Visit the online portal of the Idaho Secretary of State as mentioned above. You’ll need to fill out the certificate request form. Details such as requester name and address, entity name, registry number, and delivery need to be updated. You can then make the payment of $10 with your credit card.
The form needs to be downloaded, printed, and sent to the Idaho Secretary of State.
The CGS in Idaho doesn’t come with a set expiration date. The validity depends on the state or entity requesting it. For example, banks might request a CGS obtained in the last 60 days.
Once you receive the Idaho CGS, you can send it to the party requesting to see the certificate.
Compliance may not be simple to keep up with, especially when considering all the other aspects that make a business go round. At ZenBusiness, we understand that your business needs don’t stop after the business has been registered. ZenBusiness can help keep you in good standing with our Worry-Free Compliance service. With this service, we not only help keep your business in compliance, but we can also secure an Idaho CGS for you if you need one; you just pay the state fees. And, if you don’t have worry-free compliance but still need a CGS, our Certificate of Good Standing service can help.
As of 2021, an Idaho CGS requires a $10 fee. If you choose to have the certificate mailed to you, there are additional delivery charges involved. In case of express or overnight delivery, a prepaid airbill has to be provided.
The Idaho Secretary of State will process requests on a first-come, first-serve basis. You can expect your request to be processed in 7 to 10 business days.
Yes. The Idaho Secretary of State can expedite a CGS request. Expedited requests are processed within eight working hours.
A CGS is an elective document in Idaho, although you can benefit from obtaining one. It confirms the existence of your business and can provide authorization to operate in another state. Banks, financial institutions, buyers, or investors might ask to see a CGS before working with you.
Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.
Written by Team ZenBusiness
ZenBusiness has helped people start, run, and grow over 700,000 dream companies. The editorial team at ZenBusiness has over 20 years of collective small business publishing experience and is composed of business formation experts who are dedicated to empowering and educating entrepreneurs about owning a company.
Idaho Business Resources
Get Your Certificate of Good Standing
Ready to Start Your Idaho LLC?
Start Your Idaho LLC