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How to Get a Certificate of Good Standing in South Dakota

South Dakota calls it the Certificate of Good Standing and charges $20. Here is how to order it and what must be current first.

At a glance

Document name
Certificate of Good Standing
State fee
$20
Online ordering
Yes
Typical turnaround
Online: filed electronically only ($20). Mail/in-person not accepted for this filing. Expedite $50
Issuing office
South Dakota SOS ↗

How to order it

  1. Clear any past-due filings first. The South Dakota SOS will not issue a certificate while you have unpaid tax or an unfiled report. The state-specific requirements are in the points below.
  2. Order it online. Search your LLC in the South Dakota portal, request the certificate, and download it. Link in the table above.
  3. Pay the $20 fee. Pay by card at checkout. A small card surcharge usually applies.
  4. Use it inside the recipient's window. The certificate has no state expiration, but banks and other states usually want one dated within the last 30 to 90 days. Order it close to when you need it.
Full ordering details for South Dakota

South Dakota requires electronic filing for the Certificate of Good Standing/Existence; there is no paper filing path. Order through the SD SOS Business Services portal using the Business ID. Also known as Certificate of Existence.

Processing and expedited tiers: Online: filed electronically only ($20). Mail/in-person not accepted for this filing. Expedite $50

Important to know about South Dakota

  • SD annual report ($50 online / $65 mail for LLCs, due by the first day of the second month after formation anniversary month) must be current. First annual report due the year after formation.
  • South Dakota certificates contain a raised seal on paper copies. The online PDF is accepted in most states but not all - verify the destination state requirements before ordering.
  • Foreign LLC qualification INTO South Dakota costs $750, one of the highest in the country. This does not affect the Certificate of Good Standing fee but is a common surprise for out-of-state entities expanding into SD.

Ordering this to register in another state?

A certificate of good standing is what a new state asks for when you register your South Dakota LLC to do business there. Start with the guide for where you are expanding.

South Dakota foreign LLC guide · Foreign qualification by state

Related guides

This page provides general information based on publicly available South Dakota Secretary of State requirements. It is not legal advice. Names, fees, and procedures can change. Verify with the South Dakota SOS before ordering.