Rhode Island Secretary of State office — contact & fees
Updated August 2026
Quick Answer
The Rhode Island Secretary of State's Business Services Division handles all entity formations, annual reports, amendments, and certificates. The Providence office serves walk-in filers; online filings are processed through the state's business portal. All annual reports follow a fixed February 1 through May 1 filing window — there is no anniversary-based deadline.
Open Official Rhode Island Secretary of State Portal ↗Office contact
- Address
- 148 W. River Street, Providence, RI 02904
- Phone
- (401) 222-3040
- corporations@sos.ri.gov
- Office hours
- Monday – Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
- Online filing portal
- business.sos.ri.gov
- Business Services homepage
- sos.ri.gov — Business Services
Entity formation and filing fees
Rhode Island charges $230 for for-profit corporation formation — notably higher than most states. LLC formation at $150 is in the moderate range. Nonprofit formations are $35. Online filing adds a $2.50 surcharge on annual reports; no surcharge on formation filings. Verify current amounts at sos.ri.gov before filing.
Domestic LLC — Articles of Organization
- Fee
- $150
Domestic LLC — Annual Report (Feb 1–May 1)
- Fee
- $50 + $2.50 online surcharge
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $230
Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report (Feb 1–May 1)
- Fee
- $50 + $2.50 online surcharge
Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation
- Fee
- $35
Name Reservation (online)
- Fee
- $50
Certificate of Good Standing (online)
- Fee
- $22
Certificate of Good Standing (in-person)
- Fee
- $20
Certificate of Good Standing — nonprofit rate (online)
- Fee
- $7
Certificate of Good Standing — nonprofit rate (in-person/mail)
- Fee
- $5
Corporations, benefit corporations, workers' cooperatives, and LLCs also owe a separate $400 minimum annual tax to the RI Division of Taxation — not the Department of State — regardless of profit or business activity level; it is not pro-rated. Annual reports filed after the May 1 deadline incur a $25 late penalty applied June 1, plus an additional $3 if filed online. Domestic Benefit Corporations file on a different schedule — within 120 days of fiscal year end — for a $60 fee.
UCC filing, notary, and apostille services
The Department of State also handles UCC filings, notary commissions, and document authentication:
- UCC search and filing — available through the Department's online UCC system; check the current fee schedule before filing.
- Notary public commissions — an $80 non-refundable application fee for a 4-year commission.
- Apostilles and authentications — $5 per document.
Source: Rhode Island Department of State notary manual (sos.ri.gov).
Key Rhode Island state licensing agencies
Rhode Island Division of Taxation
- What it covers
- Sales and use tax registration, employer withholding, business tax registration
- Website
- tax.ri.gov
Rhode Island Department of Labor and Training
- What it covers
- Unemployment insurance, employer registration, temporary disability insurance
- Website
- dlt.ri.gov
Rhode Island Department of Business Regulation (DBR)
- What it covers
- Professional and occupational licensing — healthcare, real estate, contractors, insurance
- Website
- dbr.ri.gov
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to form a corporation in Rhode Island?
$230 for a for-profit corporation — notably higher than most states. LLC formation is $150, in the moderate range, and nonprofit formation is $35, the lowest of the three.
Does Rhode Island charge a separate annual business tax besides the report fee?
Yes. Corporations, benefit corporations, workers' cooperatives, and LLCs owe a separate $400 minimum annual tax to the RI Division of Taxation, not the Department of State. It applies regardless of profit or activity level and is not pro-rated.
What's the penalty for filing a Rhode Island annual report late?
A $25 late penalty applies starting June 1 for reports filed after the May 1 deadline, plus an additional $3 if the report was filed online.