Tennessee Secretary of State - Division of Business Services

Prepare your form online then print and mail.

Mail or online.

$20 + optional $2.25 online filing fee

By the 1st day of the 4th month after the close of your fiscal year. Usually your fiscal year ends on December 31 and so your annual report is due April 1.

Tenn. Code Ann. § 48-66-203

No late fee. You will get a notice of pending dissolution or revocation and then you have 60 days to comply.

• An authorized officer, member, or partner may file.
• Original signatures are not required.
• If you need to change your registered agent, pay an extra $20 fee.

Application for Renewal of Registration of Assumed Name

Mail

$20

Due by the date of registration every 5 years.

The state does not issue a form for mergers.

$100

Use the statutory instructions to create a draft of merger documents, then file these documents along with the required fee.

Application for Registration of Assumed Name

Mail

$20

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships do not need to file a fictitious name. Corporations, LLCs, LLPs, and LPs desiring a second name must file an assumed name before transacting business under that name.

Filings for all entities can be filed through the secretary of state, however, most entities can register at the county level instead.

Registering an assumed name will prevent another individual or business from registering an identical name with the Tennessee Secretary of State due to the "distinguishability" requirement. Use of a name in the marketplace can provide name protection under common and federal trademark law.

• Publication of registration is not required in Tennessee.

Application for Certificate of Authority (ss-4431)

Mail or online.

$600

TN Code § 48-25-101

Certified copies not required.

Certificate of existence dated within 60 days.

Online

$20

Use the online system to find your entity and order a certificate of existence.

The state does not issue a form for mergers.

$100

Use the statutory instructions to create a draft of merger documents, then file these documents along with the required fee.

The state does not issue a form for mergers.

$20

Use the statutory instructions to create a draft of merger documents, then file these documents along with the required fee.

Noncompliance with Tennessee statutory law can result in serious consequences for your business. Failure to maintain a registered agent or registered office for more than two months can result in administrative revocation (administrative dissolution) of your business by the Tennessee Secretary of State, Division of Business Services.