SOS Business Search

Washington Secretary of State office — contact & fees

Updated August 2026

Quick Answer

The Washington Secretary of State's Corporations and Charities Division handles entity formations, annual reports, registered agent changes, and charitable organization registrations. The Tumwater office is open Monday through Thursday; Fridays the office closes at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Online filing through CCFS is available 24/7.

Open Official Washington Secretary of State Portal ↗

Office contact

Street address
243 Israel Road SE, Tumwater, WA 98501
Mailing address
P.O. Box 40234, Olympia, WA 98504-0234
Phone
(360) 725-0377
Office hours
Monday – Thursday, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.; Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time
CCFS portal
ccfs.sos.wa.gov
Corporations & Charities homepage
sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities

Entity formation and filing fees

Washington charges $180 for LLC and for-profit corporation formations. Nonprofits pay $80 for formation, or $40 if gross revenue in the most recent fiscal year was under $500,000. Annual report fees follow the same revenue-tiered structure for nonprofits. Verify current amounts at sos.wa.gov before filing.

Domestic LLC — Certificate of Formation

Fee
$180

Domestic LLC — Annual Report (due last day of anniversary month)

Fee
$70 (+$25 if delinquent)

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee
$180

Domestic For-Profit Corporation — Annual Report

Fee
$70 (+$25 if delinquent)

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Articles of Incorporation

Fee
$80 (standard); $40 (gross revenue <$500,000)

Domestic Nonprofit Corporation — Annual Report

Fee
$60 (standard); $20 (gross revenue <$500,000)

Amendment to Filing (LLC, corporation, or LP)

Fee
$30 ($20 nonprofit)

Voluntary Dissolution/Withdrawal

Fee
No fee

Reinstatement (LLC, corporation, LP)

Fee
$140 + all missed annual report fees

Merger

Fee
$20 per merging entity

Name Reservation (most entities)

Fee
$30

Name Reservation (nonprofit)

Fee
$20

Certificate of Existence (Good Standing)

Fee
$20

Certified copy of filed document

Fee
$10 + copy fees

Expedited processing (3 business days)

Fee
+$100

Same-day expedited processing

Fee
+$150

Registered agent changes and resignations carry no fee. Filing sets exceeding 100 pages incur a $13 surcharge for each additional 50-page increment.

UCC filing, notary, and apostille services

Only apostilles are handled by the Secretary of State here — UCC filings and notary commissions both run through the Department of Licensing instead:

  • UCC search and filing — not the Secretary of State. Free online search through the Department of Licensing's UCC system.
  • Notary public commissions — not the Secretary of State. A $40 application fee through the Department of Licensing ($55 with an electronic notary endorsement).
  • Apostilles and authentications — $15 per document through the Secretary of State, with a standard 7-business-day turnaround.

Source: Washington Secretary of State apostille page (sos.wa.gov) and Department of Licensing UCC/notary pages (dol.wa.gov).

Key Washington state licensing agencies

Washington Department of Revenue

What it covers
Business License (unified), sales and use tax, business and occupation (B&O) tax, employer registration
Website
dor.wa.gov

Washington Employment Security Department (ESD)

What it covers
Unemployment insurance registration, employer accounts, paid family and medical leave
Website
esd.wa.gov

Washington Department of Labor and Industries (L&I)

What it covers
Contractor licensing, workers' compensation, electrical and plumbing permits, safety compliance
Website
lni.wa.gov

Frequently Asked Questions

What are the Washington Secretary of State's office hours for business filings?

The Corporations and Charities Division's Tumwater office is open Monday through Thursday, with Friday hours ending at 3:00 p.m. Pacific Time. Online filing through CCFS is available around the clock.

How much is a Washington LLC annual report, and what if I file it late?

A Washington LLC or corporation annual report costs $70. Filing after the due date while the entity is still in delinquent status adds a $25 delinquency fee, bringing the total to $95.

Is there an extra fee for large filings submitted to the Washington Secretary of State?

Yes. Filing sets that exceed 100 pages incur a $13 surcharge for each additional 50-page increment. Registered agent changes and resignations, by contrast, carry no fee at all.

Compare Other States

Entity search rules, fees, and offices are set state by state. These are the states closest to Washington — useful if you're comparing how a neighboring state runs the same process.

Helpful Guides

What Is a Registered Agent, and Who Can Be One?

Every LLC and corporation is required to name one — here's what the job actually involves and who's eligible.

Certificate of Good Standing: What It Is and How to Get One

A one-page proof that your LLC or corporation is current with the state — what it's for, what it costs, and how to request one.

How to Dissolve an LLC: The State Filing Process, Step by Step

Closing an LLC the right way means more than just walking away — here's the filing sequence every state expects.

LLC vs. Corporation: Which Structure Fits Your Business?

Both are formed with the same state office — the real differences show up in taxes, ownership, and how much paperwork you're signing up for.

Articles of Incorporation vs. Articles of Organization: What's the Difference?

Both documents create a legal business entity with the state — the difference comes down to which type of entity you're forming.

How Much Does It Cost to Start an LLC? Formation Fees by State

State filing fees for forming an LLC range from under $50 to $500 — see the base cost in your state and how it compares to forming a corporation.

LLC Annual Report Fees and Deadlines by State

Every state has its own rules for keeping an LLC in good standing — see your state's report frequency, fee, and due date at a glance.

Business License Search: What It Covers and How to Check

Registering an entity with the state isn't the same as holding a license to operate it — here's where licenses actually come from.

UCC Filing Search: How to Check for Liens on a Business

Uniform Commercial Code filings show which lenders have a claim on a company's assets — here's how to search them and what the results mean.