In Florida, like in almost all the other states, you need a registered agent to receive the various official documents, tax forms, and even summons that may be sent to your corporation. It’s a crucial job, which is why it’s mandatory in most states. You can’t start and run a business in Florida without a registered agent.
Who Can Be a Registered Agent in Florida?
Before you replace your current agent, you need to think about the replacement so you enjoy a smooth transition. For the agent you need, several requirements must be met. First of all, they can be any of the following:
- An individual adult (at least 18 years old) who is a resident of Florida
- A business entity (such as a professional registered agent service) based in Florida.
- A foreign registered agent business entity that’s authorized to do business in Florida.
Whether it’s an individual or a business entity, the agent must also have a Florida street address. This means a physical location, in which there will always be someone to receive the official documents for your corporation during business hours. It can’t be just a P.O. box.
Steps to Change Registered Agent
You can change your Registered Agent in Florida through different ways; you can do it online by making the change in your annual report and then submit the report. You can learn to fill the form appropriately by checking the link, and you can know more about updating your business annual report in the State of Florida by checking this link. It costs a sum of 138.75 dollars filing fee to submit the annual report in the State of Florida. Note that it is still the same amount you’ll pay every year even if you don’t wish to change your registered agent. You can pay for the annual report filing fee by Check, Credit Card, and other online methods of payment.
The other way you can change your Registered Agent in the State of Florida is by filing a Registered Agent Change Statement which you’ll have to download, fill, and then submit through the mail or in person. You have to be sure that you’ve downloaded the appropriate form for your business since the state of Florida has the Registered Agent Change Statement for Foreign businesses as well.
You’ll be required to make a payment of 25 dollars alongside the Registered Agent Change Statement you’ll submit, irrespective of if it’s a domestic or a foreign business. If you’ll be sending through the mail, you’ll need to attach a check of 25 dollars made payable to the “Florida Department of State”. You can choose to pay the 25 dollars fee through a money order as well.
Another way to change your Registered Agent in the State of Florida is to file for the Articles of Amendment. Although this process is not advisable, it is important that you know that it is possible to change your registered agent through this means. You’ll be filing for an Article of Amendment to the Articles of Incorporation if you run a corporation. Meanwhile, you’ll need to file for an Article of Amendment to the Articles of Organization if you run an LLC.
Info to Put In
The forms come with guides and tips to help make sure you put in the exact information asked for. Just read the directions carefully and follow them exactly.
Submission Options
You can submit the Registered Agent Change Statement through the mail or in person. However, there’s no option to submit this form online in the State of Florida.
The printed forms and the check for the fee are to be mailed to the address:
Division of Corporations
P.O. Box 6327
Tallahassee, FL 32314.
Or if you’re submitting in-person, the documents and the check can be submitted to the address:
Clifton Building
2661 Executive Center Circle
Tallahassee, FL 32301.
Keep in mind that the State of Florida will take between 3 to 5 days to process the change of your Registered Agent.
Should You Hire a Professional?
This will be a lot easier if you’re planning on sifting to a professional registered agent service. The best ones offer exemplary service at extremely reasonable rates. Often, you’re able to download the needed forms with pre-filled information about the service to save time and effort. Northwest Registered agent is one of the most popular companies for this job.
With professionals, you know for sure the job gets done right. They usually have online storage for all the official documents. When they receive the documents for the corporation, the service will immediately scan them so they can send you the digital copies right away. The documents will also be conveniently stored in the same online location as your other business documents, like your formation documents.
Professionals may even maintain a compliance calendar, warning you way ahead of time when you should file a report or comply with some requirement with a deadline. That means you virtually eliminate the risk that you’ll fail to comply with any sort of compliance requirement. Such a failure may lead to fines and penalties, and perhaps even to the dissolution of your corporation. Reinstating your LLC can be a huge hassle, and it’s like starting the formation process for your LLC all over again.
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So, if you’re going to change your registered agent in Florida, you may as well do yourself a favor and switch to a good registered agent service. With the benefits you get with the low costs, you’re able to focus more on growing your business instead.
