West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration To Avoid Legal Penalties
Did you form a corporation in a state other than West Virginia? Depending on the activities of your corporation, you may be required to file for a West Virginia Foreign Corporation registration, also known as a ‘certificate of authority or ‘foreign qualification’ to transact business within the state. If you don’t, you cannot file lawsuits in West Virginia, and the state might impose fines for doing business without registering your corporation.
Corporations that need to apply for a West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration
So how do you know if your corporation needs to apply for a West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration? Let’s take a look at some of the most common scenarios:
- Having employees in the state.
- Long-term business transactions.
- Owning or leasing a warehouse, store, or office in West Virginia.
- Possessing income-producing real estate or personal properties.
Why you should register your Foreign Corporation in West Virginia
If you formed your corporation in another state, your corporation is domestic to that state, and a Foreign Corporation in every other state—including West Virginia. An unregistered corporation doing business in a state other than the original state of formation may be subject to fines, penalties, and lack of legal recourse. West Virginia might even prevent you from continuing to do business in the state. Registering your Foreign Corporation in West Virginia is similar to forming a new corporation, subject to separate state filings, fees, and taxes.
Why West Virginia wants you to register your Foreign Corporation
There are a few good reasons why it is important to the state of West Virginia for you to register your Foreign Corporation:
- Regulatory requirements.
- Collection of State Taxes.
- Annual or biennial filing fees to maintain registration.
- Allows the public in West Virginia basic information on your corporation.
Steps for a West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration
A West Virginia Foreign Corporation registration includes the following steps:
- Collect Foreign Corporation Information and fill Online Form
- Our attorneys will counsel you on all the legal, business, and tax implications
- We’ll put together a Company Kit with all the necessary documents
- Our Firm Prepares and Files West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration based on your needs
- Final Approval by State Authorities
Please note that West Virginia might require you to obtain business licenses even if you possess them in your corporation’s domestic state. Your Foreign Corporation must also be in good standing with your domestic State in order to apply for a Certificate of Authority and register your Foreign Corporation in West Virginia. If you have any questions about the process, call (800) 603-3900 to speak with us immediately or fill out the assistance form on this page and our attorneys will get back to you within 4 business hours.
Maintaining a West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration
The maintenance of a West Virginia Foreign Corporation registration is similar to a domestic corporation formation. It includes the maintenance of annual or biennial filings, reports, taxes, business licenses, registered agents, and good standing—in both your domestic and foreign states.
West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration with Business Formation Lawyers
States require companies to register as a Foreign Corporation to ensure they meet tax and regulatory requirements. If you are unsure whether your corporation’s activities in West Virginia call the need for a Foreign Corporation registration, call our main office at (800) 603-3900 to speak to someone who can help you immediately. Foreign Corporation registration and obtaining the Certificate of Authority is a legal and business formation process; avoid the potential pitfalls of doing it with a non-lawyer formation service or agency.
Spiegel & Utrera, P.A. equips you with a combined 175+ years of legal and business formation experience, knowledge, and affordable, honest service. Our attorneys know what they’re doing and will go above and beyond to make sure that your business is protected and brandishing every potential advantage possible.
Get your West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration and Certificate of Authority
Here’s what you get with us:
- Thorough West Virginia Foreign Corporation Registration
- Complete Corporation Kit – Company Records Book and Seal
- Legal Advice and Business Counsel from our Lawyers
Each Corporation or Limited Liability Company is COMPLETE and
- INCLUDES State Filing Fee, “YES! Includes State Filing Fee”,
- INCLUDES Corporate or Company Seal and Book,
- INCLUDES Certificate or Articles of Incorporation or Organization,
- INCLUDES Company or Corporate Minutes,
- INCLUDES Corporate By-Laws or LLC Regulations,
- INCLUDES Corporate or LLC Ownership Register,
- INCLUDES Banking Resolution,
- INCLUDES Membership or Stock Certificate,
- INCLUDES Preliminary Name Search,
- INCLUDES 110% Lowest Price Guarantee,
Yes, even INCLUDES Attorney’s Fee (No Hidden Attorney Fees).
