How To Reinstate A Maine Corporation
Reinstate Or Revive A Maine Corporation:
If your Maine corporation has been administratively dissolved and you would like to continue your business, you will need to reinstate. File an Application for Reinstatement with the Maine Secretary of State, Bureau of Corporations, Elections, and Commissions (SOS). You will have to contact the SOS to request the appropriate reinstatement form. They can also tell you which annual reports you will need to file and the total amount of fees owed. The Maine SOS requires original signatures. You should also include a Filer Contact Cover Letter which is attached to most Maine SOS forms. It is also in your online account immediately when you sign up for registered agent service with Northwest. When you are ready to submit your reinstatement documents and fees, you may do so by mail or in person.
You can request expedited processing by checking the box on the cover letter and including the additional fee. To expedite mailed documents, you will also need to write “Expedited Service” in the lower right hand corner of your envelope. You can also request expedited processing at the SOS Corporations Division filing counter from 9-4 on business days. You can pay the expedite fee in cash or include a separate check, debit or credit card for each request. Checks should be payable to the Maine Secretary of State. You may pay by credit card if you include a Maine SOS Credit Card Payment Voucher with your form.
Mail or deliver reinstatement forms to:
Secretary of State
Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta ME 04333-0101
Phone: 207-624-7752
Fax: 207-287-5874
What is the difference between reviving and reinstating a Maine corporation?
Revival is when the SOS allows a Maine corporation (that was dissolved in any manner) to resume business for a limited time and purpose.
Reinstatement is not limited in time or purpose and occurs after a Maine corporation has been dissolved administratively.
Do you need tax clearance from Maine Revenue Services to reinstate a corporation?
No. You do not need to get tax clearance from Maine Revenue Services to reinstate a Maine corporation.
How much will it cost to revive a Maine Corporation?
You have to file each annual report and fee you missed. The annual report fee is $85. You will also have to pay a $150 reinstatement fee for each annual report you missed. There is a $600 maximum on Maine corporation reinstatement fees.
There is an additional $50 expedite fee for 24 hour processing.
The expedite fee for immediate processing is $100.
How long does it take the state to process the filing?
Normally, it takes the SOS 5-10 business days to process the reinstatement.
The Maine SOS also offers 24 hour or immediate expedited processing options.
How long does your Maine Corporation have to be inactive with the state before you wouldn’t have any fees, and would just have to start over with a new Maine Corporation?
You can reinstate a corporation or LLC in Maine for six years after the date of administrative dissolution. After six years, you would have to start over with a new Maine business entity. A Maine corporation’s name is only protected for three years after administrative dissolution. If it has been longer, you will have to do a name search before reinstating the corporation.
If you decide you do not want to reinstate the corporation, you can start over with a new Maine entity any time you want. The new entity would not be connected to the administratively dissolved corporation.
Can you change the corporate clerk, principal address, officers, etc., on the Maine reinstatement form?
The information you are required to provide at the time of reinstatement varies based on the reason the Maine corporation was administratively dissolved. When you contact the Maine SOS to get the appropriate form, you can determine if it’s possible to change your Maine registered agent or make other changes on the form.
How many annual reports can you miss before you can’t reinstate your Maine Corporation?
An administratively dissolved Maine corporation has six years from the date of dissolution to apply for reinstatement. After the six year period has ended, you would have to start over with a new entity.