Rhode Island Secretary of State office — contact & fees
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 ↗This site is an independent, non-government business entity search directory and isn't affiliated with, endorsed by, or operated by any state government or Secretary of State office. Always verify details directly with the official agency before filing or paying any fee.
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.