Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois

How Do I Get a Certificate of Good Standing in Illinois?

Contact the Illinois Secretary of State, Department of Business Services at (217) 524-8008 or visit https://www.ilsos.gov/. Your LLC must be current on annual reports and all fees under 805 ILCS 180/50-1 to qualify. Request the certificate by phone, mail, or in person at 501 S. Second St., Rm. 350, Springfield, IL 62756 or 69 W. Washington St., Ste. 1240, Chicago, IL 60602.

Eligibility Requirements

Your LLC must be in good standing to receive a certificate. This means:

Your annual report is filed and current (805 ILCS 180/50-1)
All annual report fees ($75.00) are paid
No outstanding penalties or delinquency fees exist
Your LLC has not been administratively dissolved or revoked

If your LLC is delinquent, file the overdue annual report and pay the $100 late penalty (if within 60 days of the due date) before requesting a certificate (805 ILCS 180/50-5).

Verify Your Status First

Use the Illinois Secretary of State's Business Entity Search at https://apps.ilsos.gov/businessentitysearch/ to confirm your LLC is active and current. This tool shows whether your LLC is in good standing or delinquent.

If Your LLC Was Dissolved

If your LLC was administratively dissolved due to missed annual reports, file a reinstatement application, pay the $200 reinstatement fee, and settle all delinquent annual report fees and penalties (805 ILCS 180/50-5). Once reinstated and in good standing, you can request a certificate.

Next Steps

Search your LLC's status using the business entity search tool
File any overdue annual reports if needed
Contact the Secretary of State to request your certificate
Provide your LLC's legal name and file number

The Secretary of State typically issues certificates within 5–10 business days. Certificates are often required for bank accounts, loans, contracts, and regulatory compliance.

This is general information, not legal advice.