Maine Secretary of State office — contact, fees, and licensing
Official Resource
Maine Official SOS WebsiteMaine's Division of Corporations, UCC & Commissions within the Secretary of State's office registers all business entities, processes annual reports, and issues certificates for all entity types. Filings are accepted online through the ICRS portal and by paper submitted to the Augusta office. One significant operational note: as of August 2026, the Division is still processing filings in approximately 40–55 business days. Plan formation timelines accordingly — a same-week effective date is not available through standard processing.
Updated August 2026
Office contact
- Address
- 6 E. Chestnut Street, 5th Floor, Augusta, ME 04333
- Phone
- (207) 624-7752
- Phone hours
- Monday – Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
- Entity search and filing portal
- apps3.web.maine.gov — ICRS
- Corporations Division homepage
- maine.gov/sos — Corporations
Scam warning: fake annual report solicitations
The Maine Secretary of State's office has repeatedly warned (most recently October 2025, and previously in December of the prior year) about a recurring scam in which businesses receive misleading solicitations offering to file their annual report for a $210 fee. These forms resemble the official annual report but are not issued by, authorized by, or affiliated with the Maine Department of the Secretary of State — the Division does not mail annual report forms and only publishes them online. The office also warned of a separate scam targeting notaries public and marriage officiants involving fraudulent "overpayment" and refund requests. Anyone with questions about a solicitation should contact the Division directly at cec.corporations@maine.gov or (207) 624-7752 before paying or responding.
Entity formation and filing fees
Maine's formation fees are on the higher end among New England states. LLCs cost $175 to form; corporations cost $145; nonprofits $40. Annual reports of $85 (for LLC and corporation) are also above the regional average, and foreign (out-of-state) entities pay a higher $150 annual report fee and $250 registration fee. Fees below are from the Secretary of State's official business entity forms and fee pages. Verify current amounts before filing.
| Filing | Fee |
|---|---|
| LLC — Certificate of Formation | $175 |
| LLC — Annual Report (due June 1) | $85 |
| Foreign LLC — Statement of Foreign Qualification | $250 |
| Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $145 |
| Profit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 1) | $85 |
| Foreign Corporation — Application for Authority to do Business | $250 |
| Foreign LLC or Corporation — Annual Report (due June 1) | $150 |
| Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation | $40 |
| Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 1) | $35 |
| Foreign Nonprofit — Application for Authority to Carry on Activities | $45 |
| Name Reservation (LLC or business corporation) | $20 |
| Name Reservation (nonprofit) | $5 |
| Certificate of Existence / Certificate of Fact (LLC or business corporation) | $30 |
| Certificate of Existence / Certificate of Fact (nonprofit) | $10 |
Certificate copy fees: $2.00 per page for a plain copy, $5.00 for certification of a document. Expedited processing (to bypass the standard 40–55 business day queue) costs an additional $50 for 24-hour turnaround or $100 for immediate/same-day service.
Key Maine state licensing agencies
Maine Revenue Services
- What it covers
- State tax registration, sales tax, income tax withholding, business tax accounts
- Website
- maine.gov/revenue
Maine Department of Labor
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance registration, workers' compensation, wage and hour compliance
- Website
- maine.gov/labor
Maine Office of Professional and Occupational Regulation (OPOR)
- What it covers
- Licenses for 40+ regulated professions including contractors, healthcare, real estate, and cosmetology
This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Maine Secretary of State's office or any state agency listed above. Contact information and fees verified against official Maine Secretary of State sources, August 2026. Processing times should be confirmed directly with the Division of Corporations before filing. Verify current fees at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.