Register Your New Jersey Foreign Corporation
A New Jersey foreign corporation is a corporation that has registered to do business in New Jersey but was originally formed in another state. To register a foreign corporation in New Jersey, you'll need to file an Application for Certificate of Authority with New Jersey’s Secretary of State, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. It costs $125 to register as a foreign corporation in New Jersey.
Our guide below shows you how to register your foreign corporation in New Jersey. Don’t feel like handling extra paperwork? Hire Northwest, and we’ll file for you.
Ready to Register A Foreign Corporation?
GET STARTEDHow to Register as a Foreign Corporation in New Jersey
Doing business out-of-state means doing business outside the state in which your business was originally incorporated. The process to register an out-of-state business in another state is called foreign qualification.
The good news is that your domestic (home-state) corporation already has an EIN and corporate bylaws, which means you’ll have fewer hoops to jump through to register your foreign corporation in New Jersey. Here’s how it’s done.
1. Name Your New Jersey Corporation
To start, you’ll need to make sure your corporate name is available for use in New Jersey. Use our free business name search to make sure no other business is using your corporate name. But that’s not all. Your corporation’s name must also comply with New Jersey’s business name regulations.
Interested in expanding your corporation to more states? Now is probably a good time to file for a federal trademark.
2. Designate a Registered Agent
All corporations that do business in New Jersey must appoint a registered agent. Your New Jersey registered agent must have a physical address in the state and be available during regular business hours (9am to 5pm) to accept service of process (lawsuits, summons, subpoenas, and other legal notices).
Northwest has offices in every state (including DC and Puerto Rico), which means as your business grows, we can grow with you.
3. Start your Business Identity
Your business is viewed by customers as the sum of its parts. Its address, logo, color scheme, social media, even its area code are all part of your corporation’s business identity. It’s the smart move to begin developing your business identity as soon as possible.
Not sure how to start building your business identity? Northwest can help. When you hire us as your registered agent or to register your corporation as a foreign corporation in New Jersey, we’ll hook you up with a domain name, custom website with a unique domain, a local phone number, and up to ten business email addresses, all free for 90 days (your domain is free for the first year).
4. Obtain a Certificate of Good Standing
New Jersey requires that, along with your Application for Certificate of Authority, you include a certificate of good standing (sometimes called a certificate of existence) from your corporation’s home state. In most states you can visit the Secretary of State website, pay a small fee, and receive your certificate the same day.
Note: New Jersey won’t accept certificates that are older than 30 days.
5. Submit Your New Jersey Application for Certificate of Authority
To officially register your foreign corporation in New Jersey, you must file your Application for Certificate of Authority with the New Jersey Department of the Treasury, Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services.
Here’s the information you’ll need to have ready:
- Name of your corporation
- State or jurisdiction where you initially incorporated
- Date you initially started your corporation
- Business purpose/activity
- Primary business address (this can be the address of your corporation in its home state)
- Name and address of your New Jersey registered agent
- Name and signature of the person filing your certificate
New Jersey accepts filings by mail, in person, and online. The filing fee is $125 (+ a $3.50 credit card fee).
Mail:
New Jersey Department of Treasury
Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services
PO Box 308
Trenton, NJ 08646-0308
In Person:
33 West State Street 5th Floor
Trenton, NJ 08608-1214
6. Receive New Jersey Certificate of Authority
Online filings are processed in about one business day. Paper filings take about 2-3 weeks to be processed (add time for mailing). If filing online, you’ll be able to print your Certificate of Authority and keep it for your files. All other filing types will have their certificate returned by mail.
7. File New Jersey Reports & Taxes
All New Jersey corporations file an annual report each year, and are subject to state taxes, including the Corporate Business Tax. Here’s what that looks like.
New Jersey Corporate Business Tax: New Jersey has a graduated Corporate Business Tax. The following rates are based on your corporation’s entire net income (but only applied to your taxable income). The minimum payment is $500.
- 6.5%: $0 to $50,000
- 7.5%: $50,001 to $100,000
- 9.0%: over $100,000
New Jersey Annual Report: The New Jersey Annual Report is required to be filed each year with the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services. The report essentially keeps the state up to date on any changes to your corporation. The Annual Report costs $75 (add $3.50 for credit card fees), and is due by the end of your registration anniversary month. So if you incorporated in June, then your report is due by June 30th each year.
Northwest Can Register Your New Jersey Foreign Corporation
Not every business owner has the time to organize and file a bunch of paperwork. That’s where we come in! At Northwest, our foreign qualification package is just $225 + state fees.
Here’s what you get:
- Foreign Registration. We’ll file your paperwork and let you know when it’s approved.
- Registered Agent Service. We’ll be your New Jersey registered agent. Our name and address will go on all foreign qualification documents allowable, keeping your private information under wraps!
- Building Your Business Identity. Get a custom website, domain name, a professional business email address, top-notch phone service, and mail forwarding, free for 90 days.
- Annual Report Reminders. We’ll send you a reminder about your New Jersey annual report 90 days before it’s due, and you can have us file for you ($100), or you can file on your own.
New Jersey Foreign Corporation FAQs
To change your New Jersey foreign corporation registration, submit an Request for Change of Registration Information along with a $75 filing fee.
To withdraw your foreign corporation in New Jersey, submit an Certificate of Withdrawal. It costs $120 to file.
As listed on the official New Jersey Business website, you are conducting business in New Jersey if you have:
- a local New Jersey office
- employees or independent contractors that service New Jersey clients
- property, such as a warehouse
- company-operated delivery/pick-up vehicles
- licensing agreements with New Jersey businesses
Want to know more? Check out What Exactly Does “Doing Business” in Another State Mean?
No.
Your Certificate of Authority application must be signed by an officer, member of the board, or someone else involved with the corporation.
Heck yes! Our foreign qualification package costs $225 + state fees.