Indiana Certificate of Existence (Good Standing): How to Order One
Indiana Certificate of Existence (Good Standing): How to Order One
If a bank, lender, or buyer asks for proof that your business is in good standing, they almost always want the Indiana Certificate of Existence. The Indiana Secretary of State issues it, it confirms that your LLC or corporation is active on the state's records, and you can order it online in a few minutes. This guide covers what the document says, whether you need one, the current ordering options and fees, and the one thing that most often puts a business's good standing at risk.
What Indiana calls the document
Indiana calls the document a Certificate of Existence. It is the only status certificate the state issues, so when someone asks for an Indiana certificate of good standing, an Indiana good standing certificate, or an Indiana certificate of existence, they are asking for the same thing. If a lender asks for a "letter of clearance" or a tax clearance, ask them to describe exactly what they need before you order.
Do you need one?
Indiana does not require any business to order a Certificate of Existence on a schedule. You order one when someone outside the business asks for it. The most common reasons are:
- Opening a business bank account
- Applying for a business loan or line of credit
- Closing on a commercial property or a business sale
- Responding to a landlord, licensing board, or other agency request
Ask the bank or lender exactly which document they want and whether it must be dated within a certain window. Their requirement decides what you order. Do not assume the state's document will satisfy them without asking.
What the certificate confirms
The Certificate of Existence states four things:
- The entity's name
- The entity's formation date
- That the most recent Business Entity Report is filed
- That no notice of dissolution or withdrawal has been received
The second and third items are the ones most people overlook. The certificate is only as clean as your filing record, and the report requirement is where most businesses slip.
Why a missed report threatens good standing
Every Indiana LLC and corporation must file a Business Entity Report every other year, by the end of the month in which the business was formed or registered. The first report is due two years after formation. The online fee is $32. A paper filing costs $50.
If the most recent report is not on file, the certificate cannot state that it is filed. A lender or bank reading a certificate that is missing that statement will treat the business as out of compliance. The same risk applies if the business has no registered agent and registered office in Indiana. The state requires an entity to continuously maintain both, and a business cannot serve as its own registered agent.
Before you order anything, check your filing history in the Secretary of State's public business search at bsd.sos.in.gov/publicbusinesssearch. If a report is missing, file it first. Then order the certificate so it reflects the current record.
Three ways to order one
| Method | Cost | Turnaround | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| INBiz online | $21.42 per a 2022 Secretary of State notice. Confirm the fee shown at checkout. | Emailed within minutes, according to the Secretary of State | Most people, and anyone on a deadline |
| $30 for a Certificate of Existence | Not published. Confirm with the Secretary of State. | Filers who cannot use the online system | |
| Third-party service | A premium over the state fee | Varies by provider | Owners who want someone else to handle the filing |
The state fee is the only fee you need to pay to the state. A third-party service files the same request on your behalf and adds its own charge. It can be worth the cost if you are short on time, but it is not required.
Ordering online through INBiz
INBiz is the Secretary of State's online filing portal, at inbiz.in.gov. These are the steps:
- Look up your exact registered name in the public business search so you order against the correct record.
- Go to INBiz and sign in if prompted.
- Open Online Services, choose Orders, then choose Certificate of Existence.
- Select your business and confirm that the name on the order matches the record.
- Check the total at checkout. The Secretary of State's 2022 notice listed the online fee at $21.42, but the amount on the checkout screen is the one you will pay.
- Complete payment. The Secretary of State has said the certificate is emailed within minutes. If it does not arrive, check your spam folder before you reorder.
Ordering by mail
If you cannot order online, use the Secretary of State Information Request Form, which you can find on the agency's business services page at in.gov/sos/business. The form lists the Certificate of Existence at $30 and the Long Form at $30.
Send a check or money order payable to the Indiana Secretary of State, along with the completed form, to:
Indiana Secretary of State
Attn: Certification Clerk
302 West Washington Street, Room E-018
Indianapolis, IN 46204
The state does not publish a mail processing time for this request. Confirm the expected turnaround with the Secretary of State before you mail anything you need by a set date.
The Long Form and other certificates
The Long Form also costs $30 by mail. It includes a list of all documents the business has filed with the state. Choose it when a lender or buyer wants the full filing history instead of a status snapshot.
The same form lists two other options:
- Certificate of Fact, $15. This is a different document from the Certificate of Existence. Confirm with the Secretary of State what it certifies before you order it.
- Due and Diligent Search, $15. The INBiz page says this search takes 10 to 15 business days.
Certified copies of business documents are free through the INBiz public business search. If you only need a copy of a filed document, check there before paying for a certificate.
Indiana tax clearance is a separate request
People often search for an Indiana tax clearance when they need a certificate of good standing, but the two are handled by different agencies. The Certificate of Existence is issued by the Secretary of State and covers the state business record described above. It is not a tax clearance.
This guide does not confirm the current tax clearance process, its requirements, or its fee. Contact the Indiana Department of Revenue at in.gov/dor to confirm how to request a tax clearance and what it costs before you assume a lender's request can be met with the Secretary of State certificate.
Quick checklist before you order
- Confirm your exact legal name and record status in the public business search.
- Confirm the most recent Business Entity Report is filed. If not, file it first.
- Ask the requesting party which document they need: Certificate of Existence, Long Form, or something else.
- Ask whether the document must be dated within a set number of days.
- Check the fee at INBiz checkout, or on the mail form if you are ordering by mail.
- Save the PDF or mailed original and send a copy to the requesting party.
Is it worth paying a service to order it?
For most owners the answer is no. The state fee is low, the online process is short, and the certificate arrives by email. A third-party service makes sense if you are out of state, have a tight deadline you cannot manage yourself, or simply prefer to hand off the task. Compare the service's total charge with the state's fee before you pay, and check that it will order the same Certificate of Existence rather than a different document.
Related state requirements
A Certificate of Existence confirms the state record only. It does not confirm that your business holds the licenses or permits it needs to operate. Indiana does not have a single comprehensive business license. Depending on your industry and location, you may need a profession-specific license from the Indiana Professional Licensing Agency, a Registered Retail Merchant Certificate from the Department of Revenue if you sell taxable goods, or local permits or zoning approval from your city or county. Confirm those requirements with the agency or local government that applies to your business.
Important note
This article is informational content. It is not legal, tax, or accounting advice. Fees, forms, and procedures can change, and the figures above come from official state sources and the fee notices they publish. Confirm the current amount at INBiz checkout and with the agency named in each section before you pay. If you have a loan, closing, or sale that depends on the certificate, or if your entity has a missed filing or a dissolution notice, consult a qualified attorney or CPA before you proceed.