New Jersey DORES business registration — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
New Jersey business entity formation, annual reports, and certificates of standing are all handled by the Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) under the NJ Department of the Treasury. The Secretary of State is a separate office and does not register business entities. In-person service at DORES requires an appointment; a drop-box on the ground floor lobby accepts filings without an appointment on business days.
Open Official New Jersey Division of Revenue & Enterprise Services Portal ↗DORES office contact
- Street address (by appointment)
- 33 West State Street, 5th Floor, Trenton, NJ 08608
- Mailing address
- Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services, P.O. Box 628, Trenton, NJ 08625-0628
- Phone
- (609) 292-9292
- In-person service hours (by appointment)
- Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.
- Contact web form
- nj.gov/treasury/revenue — Contact Form
- Business formation portal
- njportal.com/DOR/BusinessFormation
- Annual reports portal
- njportal.com/dor/annualreports
- Business Records & Standing Certs
- njportal.com/DOR/businessrecords
- DORES homepage
- nj.gov/treasury/revenue
Formation fees dropped from $125 to $100 on July 1, 2026
New Jersey reduced its standard business formation filing fee from $125 to $100, effective July 1, 2026. The change applies to the Certificate of Formation (LLC and LLP), the Certificate of Incorporation (for-profit corporation and LP), and the Certificate of Authority for foreign corporations, LPs, and nonprofits. A separate bill (Assembly No. 5325), introduced June 23, 2026, proposes further formation-fee reductions for certain recognized business types — it had not been enacted as of August 2026, so it does not change the fees below.
Beware of private solicitations for annual report filings
DORES warns that businesses have received internet postings and paper-mail solicitations from private companies offering to prepare or file Articles of Incorporation, LLC filings, and Annual Reports for a fee — the State of New Jersey does not authorize or endorse such solicitations. DORES also offers a free "Mobile Watch" service that sends text, push, or email alerts whenever a change (such as a name or address amendment) is recorded against a business's file, so owners can spot unauthorized filings; sign-up is available at nj.gov/treasury/business.
Entity formation and filing fees
Fees below are from the DORES live Registry Fee Schedule, verified current as of August 2026 — note that formation fees dropped from $125 to $100 effective July 1, 2026 (see above). Expedited service is available at the DORES counter for additional fees. Verify current amounts at nj.gov/treasury/revenue/fees.shtml before filing.
Domestic LLC — Certificate of Formation
- Fee
- $100
Domestic LLC / LLP — Amendment
- Fee
- $100
Domestic LLC — Annual Report
- Fee
- $75
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Certificate of Incorporation
- Fee
- $100
Domestic For-Profit Corporation / LP — Amendment
- Fee
- $75
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report
- Fee
- $75
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Certificate of Incorporation
- Fee
- $50
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Amendment
- Fee
- $75
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report
- Fee
- $30
Foreign Corporation / LP — Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $100
Foreign Nonprofit — Certificate of Authority
- Fee
- $100
Certificate of Standing (short or long form) — Corp/LP
- Fee
- $25
Long-form Standing Certificate — LLC or LLP
- Fee
- $100
Certified copies (per document)
- Fee
- $25
Expedited service — Corp, Nonprofit, LP (per filing, counter)
- Fee
- $15
Expedited service — LLC or LLP (per filing, counter)
- Fee
- $25
2-hour service (per document)
- Fee
- $500
1-hour service (per document)
- Fee
- $1,000
The LLC long-form Standing Certificate costs $100 — notably more than the $25 short/long form certificate used by corporations and LPs. This distinction is specific to LLCs and LLPs.
UCC filing, notary, and apostille services
The Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services (DORES) also handles UCC filings, notary commissions, and document authentication:
- UCC search and filing — free informational search online; a certified search carries a separate fee.
- Notary public commissions — administered by DORES under the Department of the Treasury; applicants must complete a state-approved course and exam before applying.
- Apostilles and authentications — $25 per document, reduced to $5 per document for intercountry adoption cases.
Source: New Jersey Division of Revenue and Enterprise Services UCC and apostille pages (nj.gov/treasury/revenue).
Key New Jersey state licensing agencies
New Jersey Division of Taxation
- What it covers
- NJ-REG business registration, sales tax, income tax withholding, corporate business tax
- Website
- nj.gov/treasury/taxation
New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance, temporary disability, workers' compensation, wage and hour
- Website
- nj.gov/labor
New Jersey Division of Consumer Affairs
- What it covers
- Professional and occupational licensing — contractors, healthcare, real estate, cosmetology
- Website
- njconsumeraffairs.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in New Jersey?
New Jersey's standard formation fee is $100, down from $125 as of July 1, 2026. This applies to the LLC/LLP Certificate of Formation, the corporation/LP Certificate of Incorporation, and foreign Certificates of Authority.
What is New Jersey's Mobile Watch service?
Mobile Watch is a free DORES alert service that texts, pushes, or emails business owners whenever a change — like a name or address amendment — is recorded against their business file, helping catch unauthorized filings from unofficial solicitors.
Why does a New Jersey LLC's standing certificate cost more than a corporation's?
An LLC or LLP long-form Standing Certificate costs $100, while the short- or long-form certificate for corporations and LPs costs just $25 — a pricing distinction specific to LLCs and LLPs.