How to search Washington business entities online
Updated August 2026
Official Resource
Washington Official SOS WebsiteWashington State business entity records are searchable through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) at ccfs.sos.wa.gov, operated by the Washington Secretary of State. The older domain corporations.wa.gov no longer resolves — the CCFS portal is the current system. No account or CAPTCHA is required for public searching.
What the search covers
The database covers domestic and foreign LLCs, professional LLCs, profit corporations (including social purpose corporations), nonprofit corporations under both RCW 24.03A and RCW 24.06, limited partnerships, LLPs, corporations sole, and registered charitable organizations. Washington's Unified Business Identifier (UBI) number ties entity records here to tax and licensing records at other state agencies.
Search options
CCFS offers four search approaches:
- Business Name — with three match types: Contains, Begins With, and Exact Match
- UBI Number — Washington's Unified Business Identifier, used across state agencies
- Registered Agent Name
- Governor Name — Washington's statutory term for a director, officer, member, or manager with authority over the entity; most states do not offer this in a public portal
The Advanced Business Search adds filters for business status (active, delinquent, administratively dissolved, expired, merged, and more), a formation/registration date range, and — for nonprofits — gross revenue tier, EIN status, and membership or public benefit designations. Document downloads for most filings are free from the entity detail page.
Annual report due date and nonprofit revenue tiers
Annual reports in Washington are due by the last day of the entity's anniversary month — the month the entity was originally registered. An LLC formed in February must file by February 28 (or 29 in leap years) each year. The standard Annual Report fee for corporations and LLCs is $70; a $25 delinquency fee applies when the report is filed after the due date while the entity is still in delinquent status, bringing the total due to $95.
Washington applies a revenue-based fee discount for nonprofits: nonprofit corporations that certify gross revenue under $500,000 in their most recent fiscal year pay $40 for formation (versus $80) and $20 for annual reports (versus $60) — among the lower nonprofit filing costs in the country for small organizations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I search Washington business entities by 'Governor' name?
Yes. Washington's CCFS portal lets you search by Governor name — the state's statutory term for a director, officer, member, or manager with authority over the entity. Most states don't offer an officer or manager name search in their public portal, making this a distinctive Washington feature.
Where do I search Washington business entities now that corporations.wa.gov doesn't work?
The old corporations.wa.gov domain no longer resolves. Washington business entity records are now searched through the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS) at ccfs.sos.wa.gov, and no account or CAPTCHA is required to search.
Can I filter Washington nonprofit search results by revenue?
Yes. The Advanced Business Search in CCFS lets you filter nonprofit results by gross revenue tier, EIN status, and membership or public benefit designation, in addition to standard filters like business status and formation date range.
This guide is informational only and is not affiliated with the Washington Secretary of State's office. Verify current procedures at the official state website. Last verified: August 2026.