To complete an Alabama LLC name change, file a Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation with the Secretary of State and attach a Name Reservation Certificate for the new name. Base fees total $125, and online filings are usually processed within one business day. After the state records the amendment, you’ll need to notify the IRS, update your Alabama tax accounts, and refresh your bank, licenses, and contracts.
Reserve the New Name First
Alabama will not process the amendment without a Name Reservation Certificate attached to it.1Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 10A-1-4.02 – Place of Filing and Filing Duties So this step comes first, not last.
Check availability through the Secretary of State’s online Business Entity Search at no cost. The name has to be distinguishable from every other entity name already on file, and it must include “Limited Liability Company,” “LLC,” or “L.L.C.” Once you’ve confirmed availability, file a Name Reservation Request. The base fee is $25, or $28 filed online through the Alabama.gov portal.2Alabama Secretary of State. Business Entities Division Fee Schedule The online route returns the certificate immediately. Your reservation lasts one year.
Get Internal Approval
Your operating agreement controls how a name change is approved, usually by a vote or written consent of the members. If the agreement is silent on amendments, the default rules under Alabama’s Business and Nonprofit Entities Code apply.
Document the approval. When you file, the signer certifies that the change was approved in the manner required by Title 10A and the entity’s governing documents.3Alabama Secretary of State. Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Amendment Keep the minutes or written consent on file. It’s also worth amending the operating agreement itself so your internal document matches the state record.
File the Certificate of Amendment
The filing is the Certificate of Amendment to the Certificate of Formation under Alabama Code 10A-5A-2.02.4Alabama Legislature. Alabama Code 10A-5A-2.02 – Amendment or Restatement of Certificate of Formation You’ll provide the LLC’s current name, the date the original Certificate of Formation was filed, the Alabama Entity ID, and the exact new name.3Alabama Secretary of State. Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Amendment An authorized manager or member signs. No notarization is required. Attach the Name Reservation Certificate.
Fees
The base amendment fee is $100.2Alabama Secretary of State. Business Entities Division Fee Schedule Online filers pay a convenience charge of 3% of the filing fee plus $2.3Alabama Secretary of State. Domestic Limited Liability Company Certificate of Amendment With the $28 online name reservation, budget roughly $133 total when filing online.
Processing Time
Online submissions are typically processed within one business day. The new name becomes legally effective when the Secretary of State records the amendment, not when the members approved it. You’ll receive a stamped confirmation as your proof of the change.
Notify the IRS
Your EIN stays the same. The IRS does not issue a new EIN for a name change.5Internal Revenue Service. When to Get a New EIN How you report the new name depends on how the LLC is taxed.
A multi-member LLC filing Form 1065 checks the “Name change” box on Page 1, Line G, Box 3 of the next return.6Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change7Internal Revenue Service. U.S. Return of Partnership Income If you’ve already filed for the current year, send a signed letter from a partner to the IRS address where you filed.
A single-member LLC is a disregarded entity and doesn’t file Form 1065. Write to the IRS address where you file your individual return, and include the business owner’s signature.6Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change
Update Alabama Tax Accounts
Contact the Alabama Department of Revenue by phone or email to update the business name. Your state tax number does not change, because the entity type has not changed.8Alabama Department of Revenue. If I Change the Name of My Business, Will My Tax Number Change? A new number would only apply to a full entity conversion, such as an LLC becoming a corporation.
Update Bank, Licenses, and Contracts
Your bank will want a copy of the stamped Certificate of Amendment before it updates account records, and most banks won’t process transactions under the new name until their file matches. The same applies to credit lines and merchant accounts.
Update local and county business licenses, permits, and any occupational tax certificates. An outdated name on a license can cause trouble at renewal or inspection.
If the LLC owns federal trademark registrations, record the change through the USPTO’s Assignment Center, and file a Section 7 Request if the record doesn’t update automatically.9United States Patent and Trademark Office. Trademark Assignments: Transferring Ownership or Changing Your Information Waiting more than three months to record can weaken your rights against a later purchaser.
Finally, refresh contracts, your website, invoices, and marketing materials. Operating under a name that doesn’t match your state filing creates confusion with vendors and customers and can complicate contract enforcement later.