To reinstate an LLC in Georgia, file an application with the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division within five years of the dissolution date and pay $260 in reinstatement fees, plus $50 for each missed annual registration and a $25 late penalty for each delinquent year. You can file online through the eCorp portal or by mail. Once approved, your LLC’s status is restored as if the dissolution never happened.
You Have Five Years to File
Under O.C.G.A. § 14-11-603, an administratively dissolved LLC has exactly five years from the effective date of dissolution to apply for reinstatement.1Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-603 – Judicial and Administrative Dissolution; Reservation of Name Miss that window and the dissolution becomes permanent. Your only option after that is forming a brand-new LLC with fresh articles of organization, which means a new formation date, a new control number, and a break in your company’s legal history. Contracts, licenses, and accounts tied to the original entity won’t automatically carry over.
What Reinstatement Costs
The total depends on how many years you went without filing annual registrations. Three charges make up the bill:
- Reinstatement filing fee: $250, plus a $10 service charge, for $260 total. The amount is the same whether you file online or by mail.2Georgia Secretary of State. Corporations Division Filing Fees
- Delinquent annual registrations: $50 for each missed year.3Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-1101 – Filing Fees and Penalties
- Late filing penalty: $25 for each year the annual registration was late or unfiled.3Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-1101 – Filing Fees and Penalties
A worked example: an LLC dissolved three years ago owes $260 for the reinstatement itself, $150 for the three missed annual registrations, and $75 in late penalties. Total: $485. A five-year dissolution runs about $635. Calculate your total before you start the application so the payment screen doesn’t surprise you.
What to Gather Before You Start
Have the following ready:
- Your LLC’s exact legal name, matching the original articles of organization character for character.
- Your control number, the identifier the Secretary of State assigned at formation. Look it up through the Business Search tool at ecorp.sos.ga.gov.4Georgia Secretary of State. Business Search
- Registered agent information. The agent must have a physical street address in Georgia and be either an individual who lives in the state or a business authorized to operate there.5Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-209 – Registered Office and Registered Agent
- A list of every annual registration you missed while the LLC was dissolved.
Filing Online Through eCorp
Online filing is the fastest route. The steps:6Georgia Secretary of State. How to Guide: Reinstate an Entity
- Go to ecorp.sos.ga.gov and click the Online Services tab.
- Log in, or create an account if you haven’t filed online before.
- From your dashboard, click Reinstate an Entity.
- Enter your control number and confirm the information matches the state’s records.
- Fill in registered agent details and account for each delinquent annual registration.
- Pay the $260 reinstatement fee plus all back registration fees and penalties through the secure payment gateway.
Online reinstatements are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days.7Georgia Secretary of State. Filing Fees and Expedited Processing of Document Filings
Filing by Mail
If you’d rather send paper, print the reinstatement application from the eCorp website, complete every field, and attach a check or money order for the full amount owed. Mail it to:6Georgia Secretary of State. How to Guide: Reinstate an Entity
Corporations Division
2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE
Suite 313, Floyd West Tower
Atlanta, Georgia 30334-1530
Paper filings take roughly 15 business days. Expect longer waits in late December through January and at the end of each calendar quarter (late March, June, and September), when filing volume spikes.7Georgia Secretary of State. Filing Fees and Expedited Processing of Document Filings
If You Need It Faster
The Corporations Division offers two expedited tiers, added on top of the $260 reinstatement fee:2Georgia Secretary of State. Corporations Division Filing Fees
- Two-business-day processing: $120.
- Same-day processing: $275. Your request must arrive by noon on a business day.
Expedited timelines count business days only, so weekends and state holidays don’t apply. Same-day service can be worth the extra cost if you’re closing a deal, signing a lease, or responding to a legal matter.
After the State Approves Your Reinstatement
Once the Corporations Division verifies your application and confirms payment, your LLC’s status changes from dissolved to active. You can confirm the change through the Business Search database.
Under O.C.G.A. § 14-11-603(c), a successful reinstatement takes effect as of the original dissolution date. Georgia law treats the LLC as though the dissolution never happened, which retroactively validates business conducted during the gap.1Justia. Georgia Code 14-11-603 – Judicial and Administrative Dissolution; Reservation of Name
One boundary worth knowing: reinstatement only fixes your status with the Secretary of State. State tax obligations with the Georgia Department of Revenue remain separate. Business licenses, permits, and local registrations that lapsed during the dissolution may need to be renewed on their own. Check with each agency so your LLC is fully compliant, not just on the corporate filing side.