Register Your Montana Foreign Corporation

Your corporation’s name is registered in its home state, but now you need to register the name in Montana as well. This means you’ll need to do two things:

• Comply with Montana corporate naming regulations by looking over MT Code § 35-14-401.
• Check with Montana’s Business Search website to see if anyone is using your desired corporate name.

If your desired name is not available, you can get a Montana DBA to operate under a name closer to your original corporate name.

As your business expands to a new state, now might be a good time to apply for a federal trademark. This way you’ll be able to ensure your corporate name is available in all fifty states.

If you’re going to operate a foreign corporation in Montana, you’ll need a Montana registered agent. A registered agent is the person or company designated to receive service of process (lawsuits, summons, subpoenas, court documents, etc…) and other official mail on behalf of your business.

You can be your own registered agent, but remember, acting as your own registered agent means listing your name and address on Montana’s public record. If you’d prefer to keep your name and address away from the public eye, make the smart choice and hire Northwest to be your registered agent.

As you go through the process of registering your foreign corporation to do business in Montana, it’s a good idea to take charge of your business identity now rather than later. Your business identity is the way your business appears to potential customers. With Northwest you can register a domain, build a business website, and get real deal Montana business address and phone number all with one click.

To register a foreign corporation in Montana, you’ll need to follow state law (MT Code § 35-14-1503) and file a Foreign Registration Statement for a Foreign Profit Corporation with the Montana Secretary of State.

To successfully register your foreign corporation in Montana you’ll need the following information about your corporation:

• Business name
• State, country, or tribal land where foreign corporation was originally formed
• Date of incorporation
• Address of the foreign corporation’s principal office
• Name and address of the foreign corporation’s registered agent and registered office
• Names and business addresses of the corporation’s directors and principal officers
• Brief description of the nature of the business to be conducted in Montana
• An e-signed statement that the foreign corporation has complied with corporate laws in its home jurisdiction
• Contact information for signer (email and daytime phone number)

Note: It costs $70 for normal processing (7-10 business days). If you want your Montana foreign corporation to be registered right away, you can pay an additional $20 for 24-hour processing or an additional $100 for 1-hour processing.

Once processed by Montana’s Secretary of State, you’ll receive notice of your corporation’s Certificate of Authority by email. You will also be able to access a digital copy of the official filing in your online SOS account.

You’re almost home, but don’t forget about your annual corporate maintenance and taxes. Montana has no sales tax, but your corporation will need to pay income taxes.

Income Tax: Montana has a flat 6.75% corporate income tax rate. You can find more information on how and when to file your Montana corporate taxes at Montana’s Department of Revenue.

Annual Report: Your Montana annual report is due April 15th. For 2024, Montana has waived the annual report fee for all businesses. This means your annual report will be free to file. However, if you miss the April 15th deadline, a $15 penalty will be charged.