Oklahoma Foreign Corporation
If your corporation is going to do business in Oklahoma, but incorporated in a different state or jurisdiction, you’ll need to register your business as an Oklahoma foreign corporation. You can do this by filing a Certificate of Qualification of a Foreign Corporation with the Oklahoma Secretary of State and pay the $300 filing fee.
Want an easy way to register a foreign corporation in Oklahoma? At Oklahoma Registered Agent™, we have years of experience registering foreign corporations. When you sign up to register your out-of-state business, we’ll not only prepare and file your forms with the Secretary of State, but use our address on your state paperwork when we can to keep your personal information off public record.
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More of a DIYer? Not a problem! Below you’ll find our guide on how to successfully register your business as a foreign corporation in Oklahoma. There are a couple of steps to take before your foreign corporation is registered:
- Name for your foreign corporation
- Get a Certificate of Good Standing from your home jurisdiction
- Appoint an Oklahoma Registered Agent
- File a Certificate of Qualification
Incorporating in Oklahoma is a different process that requires different state paperwork. If you want to start a new Oklahoma corporation, we’ve written a guide for that, too! Check out our page on how to incorporate in Oklahoma.
Do I have to register as a foreign corporation in Oklahoma?
Your company will need to be registered as a foreign corporation before doing business in Oklahoma. State law doesn’t necessarily define what constitutes “doing business” Oklahoma. However, if you’re planning on hiring employees, selling services or products in the state, or applying for any state permits or licenses, you’ll need to register as a foreign corporation.
How to Register a Foreign Corporation in Oklahoma
In order to do business in Oklahoma, you will need to register your business as a foreign corporation. You can do this by filing a Certificate of Qualification with the Oklahoma Secretary of State’s office. The form costs $300 to file (plus a $12 fee if you pay with a credit card). The state will send you a Certificate of Authority once your application is approved.
1. Choose a Name for your Foreign Corporation
The first thing you’ll want to do is check that your corporation’s name is available to use in Oklahoma. If another business in Oklahoma is already using the name, you’ll need to choose a different one for your business. It’s important to check your name’s availability before submitting your certificate to avoid any delays in your company’s registry.
Use the state’s Name Availability Search to check if your name is available. If it is, you can use it on your application. If it’s already in use you will need to choose a different name for your Oklahoma foreign corporation.
Can I reserve a name for my Oklahoma foreign corporation?
Yes. Oklahoma allows you to reserve a name for up to 60 days. If your corporation’s name is available, but you’re still not ready to submit your certificate, you can file a Corporation Name Reservation form to hold the name until you’re ready. It costs $10 to file.
2. Get a Certificate of Good Standing
The next step before beginning your paperwork is to request a Certificate of Good Standing from your corporation’s home state or jurisdiction. You are required by the state to include a Certificate of Good standing with your filing. If you don’t, your application will not be approved.
A Certificate of Good standing is essentially a document from your corporation’s home state letting the Oklahoma Secretary of State know that your business is still in good standing. The exact steps to getting your certificate depend on where you incorporated, but usually you’ll request a certificate from the Secretary of State’s office or similar authority.
Does my corporation need to get a Certificate of Good Standing to register in Oklahoma?
Yes. Your Certificate of Qualification will not be processed if it does not include a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state or jurisdiction.
What if I can’t get a Certificate of Good Standing?
If you are unable to get a Certificate of Good Standing that probably means that your corporation is not in compliance with its home state requirements. Corporations can be denied a certificate for several reasons: the company in question may not be up-to-date on its taxes, it may have failed to file state-required reports, or the company may have never officially incorporated. Whatever the case is, you will need to get your corporation back in compliance before you do business in Oklahoma.
3. Appoint an Oklahoma Registered Agent
Oklahoma law (§18-1022) requires that all business entities qualified to do business in the Sooner state have an Oklahoma registered agent. You can pay the Secretary of State $100 a year to be your registered agent, or you can appoint a registered agent yourself. Your agent should be a person or company that resides at a physical address in Oklahoma and is present at that address during regular business hours. The purpose of a registered agent is to accept any service of process on behalf of your foreign corporation.
When it comes to choosing a registered agent you have three options: pay the state, appoint a noncommercial registered agent (any Oklahoma resident 18 years or older who is available at the same address all year long to accept your legal mail) or hire a commercial registered agent (like us!)
Oklahoma Registered Agent™ not only helps you meet the state’s registered agent requirement, but we also do everything we can to protect your personal privacy. We’ll list our name and address on your state paperwork so that your personal information stays private, as well as send you reminders when your annual report is due.
$49/yr REGISTERED AGENT
Can I be my own registered agent in Oklahoma?
You can be your own registered agent if you have a physical address in Oklahoma and actually live here. However, if you’re registering a foreign corporation in OK, odds are you’re not a resident. That’s why hiring an Oklahoma registered agent service like us is helpful for foreign business owners.
4. File a Certificate of Qualification
You’ve got a name for your foreign corporation, a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state, and an Oklahoma registered agent. It’s time to start on your Certificate of Qualification form. Once complete, you’ll file this form (Certificate of Good Standing attached) with the Oklahoma Secretary of State and pay the $300 filing fee. You can file online, by fax, in person, or through the mail.
In order to complete the Certificate of Qualification, you will need to provide:
- The name of your corporation
- The state or jurisdiction where it was formed
- The mailing address of your corporation’s principal office
- The name and address of your Oklahoma registered agent
- Your corporation’s business purpose
- The corporation’s assets and liabilities (must be from the last 6 months or less)
- Whether your corporation is for profit or a nonprofit
- Your corporation’s authorized shares
- The maximum amount of capitol your corporation expects to invest in the state during the current fiscal year
- Email address (to contact about filing)
- Authorized signature
The last page of the PDF application allows you to indicate how you would like your Certificate of Authority sent to you: either via email or the mail.
The application also requires you to attach a Certificate of Good Standing Failure to do so may result in your Certificate of Qualification being rejected.
How do I submit my Application for Registration of a Foreign Limited Liability Company?
Oklahoma accepts applications submitted online, by fax, in person, or by mail:
Online through the Secretary of State’s website
A fax sent to (405) 521-3771
In person or by mail:
Oklahoma Secretary of State
421 N.W. 13th, Suite 210
Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73103
How long does it take to register a foreign corporation in Oklahoma?
The time it takes to get your Certificate of Authority is determined by how you submitted your filing and how you chose to have your certificate sent to you.
Applications are usually processed in 2 to 10 business days. Online filings are processed in about 2 business days and mailed or faxed filings are processed within 10 . If you opted for your certificate to be emailed, you will have access to it as soon as your filing is processed. If you requested your certificate through the mail, you will have to wait a little longer due to mailing times.
How much does a foreign corporation cost in Oklahoma?
The cost of registering a foreign corporation in Oklahoma depends on the method you used to submit your application.
| Mail or Fax | $300 |
| Online | $300 plus a $12 credit card processing fee |
| Hand-delivered | $324 |
Oklahoma Foreign Corporation FAQs
How are foreign corporations taxed in Oklahoma?
Both domestic and foreign corporations are required to pay the Oklahoma’s 6% corporate net income tax as well as the Oklahoma Franchise Tax of $1.25 for every $1,000 of assets in Oklahoma.
Is there an annual fee for OK foreign corporations?
Oklahoma requires all corporations, foreign and domestic, to file an Annual Tax Return (see above) and an Annual Certificate every year. The cost of the tax return depends on your company, but the Annual Certificate costs $25 to file and is due with your Annual Tax Return.
How long is my foreign corporation registered in Oklahoma?
As long as you stay in compliance with Oklahoma’s business guidelines, your foreign corporation will be registered until you decide to withdraw it. Rarely does the state withdraw a foreign corporation’s registration, but failure to stay in compliance with the state (i.e. not filing your Annual Certificate or paying taxes) may eventually lead to the state revoking your foreign corporation’s registration.
Oklahoma Registered Agent™ Out-of-State Business Registration Service
Want to register your foreign corporation in Oklahoma, but don’t want to deal with the hassle of all the state paperwork? Our Out-of-State Business Registration Service will take care of it for you. We do more than just file the right forms with the state. You also get:
- A secure, online account: Immediately access all of your important business documents from anywhere, 24/7.
- Oklahoma Registered Agent Service: Free for a whole year.
- Compliance reminders: We’ll remind you when your Annual Certificate is due.
- Other optional state filings: We do more than just register foreign corporations. We can also take care of your BOI report, EIN application, and DBA registry. All of these services are easy to add inside your client portal.
- Lifetime access to our local experts: Our agents are seasoned experts who specialize in both business filings and web support.