Maine Secretary of State office — contact, fees & licensing
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
Maine'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.
Open Official Maine Division of Corporations Portal ↗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.
LLC — Certificate of Formation
- Fee
- $175
LLC — Annual Report (due June 1)
- Fee
- $85
Foreign LLC — Statement of Foreign Qualification
- Fee
- $250
Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $145
Profit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 1)
- Fee
- $85
Foreign Corporation — Application for Authority to do Business
- Fee
- $250
Foreign LLC or Corporation — Annual Report (due June 1)
- Fee
- $150
Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $40
Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report (due June 1)
- Fee
- $35
Foreign Nonprofit — Application for Authority to Carry on Activities
- Fee
- $45
Name Reservation (LLC or business corporation)
- Fee
- $20
Name Reservation (nonprofit)
- Fee
- $5
Certificate of Existence / Certificate of Fact (LLC or business corporation)
- Fee
- $30
Certificate of Existence / Certificate of Fact (nonprofit)
- Fee
- $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.
UCC filing, notary, and apostille services
Beyond business entity filings, the Secretary of State also runs three other public-facing services:
- UCC search and filing — a free informal debtor-name search is available online; an official search costs $20, plus $5 for certification.
- Notary public commissions — a $50 application fee, paid directly to the Secretary of State.
- Apostilles and authentications — $10 per document.
Source: Maine Secretary of State UCC, notary, and apostille pages (maine.gov/sos).
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
Frequently Asked Questions
How long does it take Maine to process a business filing in 2026?
As of August 2026, the Maine Division of Corporations lists processing time at approximately 40–55 business days, a notable backlog compared to many states. Expedited service may be available for certain filings — confirm directly with the Division before filing.
Is the $210 annual report notice from Maine real?
No — the Maine Secretary of State has repeatedly warned about solicitations offering to file your annual report for a $210 fee. These forms resemble the official report but aren't issued by or affiliated with the Division, which doesn't mail annual report forms and only publishes them online.
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Maine?
A Maine LLC Certificate of Formation costs $175, compared to $145 for a profit corporation and $40 for a nonprofit. These formation fees are on the higher end among New England states.