In Utah, the document commonly called a certificate of good standing is officially the Certificate of Existence, issued by the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. It costs $12, and if you order online you’ll have it by email within minutes.1Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Ordering/Obtaining Copies and Certificates Before you order, make sure that’s the document the requester actually wants, because Utah has two.
Which Utah Good-Standing Document Do You Need
Two different state agencies issue two different documents, and people ask for both using the same phrase.
The Certificate of Existence, from the Division of Corporations and Commercial Code, confirms your entity is registered, has filed its most recent annual report, hasn’t been dissolved, and is current on fees collected through the Division.2Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-10a-128 – Certificates Issued by the Division This is what lenders, landlords, and other states’ filing offices typically mean when they ask for a certificate of good standing.
The Letter of Good Standing, from the Utah State Tax Commission, certifies that your business has filed all required tax returns and paid all taxes, penalties, and interest owed.3Utah State Tax Commission. Tax Clearance There’s no fee, and the Tax Commission processes requests within about ten business days.4Utah State Tax Commission. Letter of Good Standing You’ll need this one less often, but some transactions and licensing boards ask for both, and it’s required when you’re reinstating a dissolved business.
If you’re not sure which one the requester wants, ask. Proof your entity is registered and current with the state is the Certificate of Existence. Proof you’re current on taxes is the Tax Commission letter.
How to Order the Certificate of Existence
First, confirm your entity’s exact legal name and Utah Entity Number using the Division’s online Business Entity Search. That ensures your request pulls the right record.5Utah Department of Commerce. Utah Division of Corporations Searches
The fastest option is the Division’s online Business Registration System. Log in, select “Copies and Certificates,” then choose “Request Certificate of Existence.” After you pay, the system emails you the certificate automatically, usually within minutes.1Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Ordering/Obtaining Copies and Certificates
You can also request the certificate by mail or in person at the Division’s Salt Lake City office. Paper requests take 3 to 10 working days and come back by mail. In-person filers can sometimes leave with the document depending on how busy the office is.1Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Ordering/Obtaining Copies and Certificates
Fees
The certificate itself is $12.1Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Ordering/Obtaining Copies and Certificates Expedited processing is available for an additional $75 per filing, though ordering online gets you the document almost immediately at no extra cost.6Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Fiscal Year 2026 Fee Schedule
What Your Business Needs to Qualify
Your entity can’t be dissolved, expired, revoked, or cancelled. Businesses with a status of “Current” or “Delinquent” can still buy a certificate, but a certificate issued to a delinquent entity will show that status, which usually won’t satisfy whoever asked for it.1Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Ordering/Obtaining Copies and Certificates To actually be in good standing, you need to have your annual report on file and a registered agent in place.
Annual Report
For LLCs, the annual report is due during the entity’s anniversary month (based on the formation date, or the Utah registration date for foreign LLCs).7Utah Legislature. Utah Code 48-3a-212 – Annual Report for Division For corporations, the Division mails a report form, and you must return it by the end of the second calendar month after the mailing.8Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-10a-1607 – Annual Report The filing fee is $18 for both.6Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Fiscal Year 2026 Fee Schedule Missing it is the single most common reason businesses discover they can’t get a clean certificate.
Registered Agent
Every Utah entity must maintain a registered agent with a physical Utah street address. A P.O. box doesn’t satisfy the requirement; filings need an actual street address or rural route box number.9Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-17-202 – Addresses in Filings Going 30 days without one gives the Division grounds to start dissolving your entity.10Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-10a-1420 – Grounds for Administrative Dissolution
Foreign Entities
Out-of-state companies registered to do business in Utah have the same annual report obligations as domestic entities and file through the same online system using a UtahID account.11Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Foreign Business (Profit) Corporation If you stop operating in Utah, file a withdrawal rather than letting the registration lapse. All filing fees are non-refundable.
How Long the Certificate Stays Useful
Utah doesn’t print an expiration date on the Certificate of Existence. It’s a snapshot of your status the day it was issued. Most banks, licensing boards, and state filing offices treat certificates as valid for 60 to 90 days, and foreign qualification filings in other states often require one issued within the last 30 to 60 days. When you’re not sure how old is too old, order a fresh one. At $12 and a few minutes online, it’s rarely worth arguing about.
If You’ve Been Administratively Dissolved
If you can’t get a certificate because the Division has dissolved your entity, you’ll need to reinstate before anything else. The triggers for administrative dissolution of a corporation include failing to pay fees or taxes, failing to file the annual report, going 30 days without a registered agent, and not notifying the Division when an agent changes or resigns.10Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-10a-1420 – Grounds for Administrative Dissolution After dissolution, an LLC may only wind up its affairs, liquidate, or apply for reinstatement.12Utah Legislature. Utah Code 48-3a-708 Continuing to operate a dissolved entity can expose you personally to liability for obligations incurred after dissolution.
What Reinstatement Requires
You’ll need to file an application for reinstatement showing that the grounds for dissolution have been cleared. That means filing every missed annual report, paying all outstanding fees and penalties to the Division, and getting current on any taxes with the State Tax Commission or being on a payment plan.13Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-10a-1422 – Reinstatement Following Administrative Dissolution The Division independently verifies your tax status with the Tax Commission before approving reinstatement, which is one of the times you’ll need the Tax Commission’s Letter of Good Standing.4Utah State Tax Commission. Letter of Good Standing
The reinstatement filing fee is $54 for both corporations and LLCs, on top of the $18 annual report fee for each year you missed, plus any late fees and outstanding taxes.6Utah Division of Corporations and Commercial Code. Fiscal Year 2026 Fee Schedule A corporation keeps its name for five years after dissolution, so if you act within that window you can come back under the same name.13Utah Legislature. Utah Code 16-10a-1422 – Reinstatement Following Administrative Dissolution
LLCs and other non-incorporated entities can reinstate online through the Business Registration portal or by mailing a paper Application for Reinstatement.14Utah Department of Commerce. Reinstate a Business If you aren’t sure whether your entity type is eligible, contact the Division at 801-530-4849 or corpucc@utah.gov before you file. Once reinstatement goes through, you can order the Certificate of Existence the same way anyone else would.