Registered Agents and Your Georgia Corporation
Your Georgia corporation needs to have a GA Registered Agent. They’re chosen by you and can accept legal notices and other correspondence for your Georgia corporation on your behalf from the Georgia Secretary of State.
- If you choose a person as a Registered Agent, he or she must reside in Georgia
- If you choose a business as a Registered Agent, they must be able to conduct business in Georgia
- Your Registered Agent must have a physical street address (not a P.O. Box)
- They must be available in person to sign for any delivered correspondence during normal business hours
Incorporate your S Corporation or C Corporation through us to get your first year of Registered Agent services for free.
Information on the Georgia Secretary of State and GA Registered Agent Services
Here’s some important information from the Georgia Secretary of State on GA Registered Agent services.
“The registered agent is the “mailbox” for the corporation. The registered agent is the person or entity located in this state designated by the entity to receive any service of process, documents, or other official communication on its behalf. The registered agent may or may not be an owner, shareholder or officer of the entity. Many entities use their attorney or a professional corporate service company for this service. The registered agent’s address must be a street address in Georgia, and the agent must be located at that address. A post office box or “mail drop” may not be used as the registered agent address.”
Services Provided by a Georgia Registered Agent to Your Corporation
Your Georgia Registered Agent carries out several valuable services for your corporation. They accept official communications and documents from the GA Secretary of State on your behalf. This may include:
- Correspondence from the Georgia Division of Corporations, like a notice to file reports and other forms
- Service of process documents (for example, if your Georgia corporation has legal proceedings issued against it)
- Official Georgia and federal government documents, form filings and requests for information (including taxes, permits and company filings)
Why You Might Not Want to Appoint Yourself as Your Own Georgia Registered Agent
You can choose to act as your own GA Registered Agent for your Georgia S Corp or C Corp.
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Georgia. Some people establish corporations outside of Georgia and will need to use a Registered Agent service to provide the address.
- You always need to have someone on hand at your corporation to receive important documents for your business during business hours (typically 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday to Friday).
- The Registered Agent’s name and GA address are part of the public record and available through the Georgia Division of Corporations website. If you would prefer your name and address aren’t published, you might choose a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your Georgia business address or move out of state, you won’t need to file additional documentation with the GA Division of Corporations for the new address of your Registered Agent if using a service. You will need to set up a new Registered Agent service in the new state.
There are more considerations, but this should help you with your decision to use a Registered Agent service.
The Problems Caused When You Don’t Appoint a Georgia Registered Agent Service
What are the issues with not having a GA Registered Agent or not providing that information to the Georgia Secretary of State?
- Getting served or sued and not finding out about it: If your Georgia corporation is sued and you don’t know about it, you could lose to a default judgment in your absence.
- Falling out of good standing with the Georgia Secretary of State: If you don’t respond to certain correspondence (like the request for your Annual Report), certain states may revoke your right to do business.
- Losing your status as a Georgia corporation: A GA Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your Georgia corporation may be dissolved.
Incfile Provides a Free Georgia Corporation Registered Agent Service for the First Year
If you have an S Corporation or C Corporation that’s incorporated in Georgia and you need a GA Registered Agent, we can help. Incfile provides a complete Registered Agent service for any Georgia corporation. If you form your business through Incfile, we’ll act as your Registered Agent free for your first year (normally a $119 annual cost).
We are authorized to conduct business in Georgia and can legally act as your Registered Agent for your GA corporation.
Here’s what you need to know about Incfile’s GA Registered Agent service for corporations:
- The Registered Agent will always be available to accept documents and letters on your behalf
- We automatically notify you whenever we receive correspondence for your business from the Georgia Secretary of State or anyone else
- We scan your correspondence and upload it to a dashboard, so you can review it when convenient
- We forward all correspondence to an address you choose
Form your C Corporation or S Corporation with us today to get your first year of Registered Agent service for free, including easy access to our comprehensive online dashboard.
Useful Resources for Georgia Registered Agent Services
You might find these resources helpful:
The Main Functions of a Georgia Registered AgentChanging Your Georgia Registered AgentWhat a Georgia Registered Agent Does
