Your Indiana Registered Agent provides various services, including the acceptance of formal documents and correspondence from the Indiana SOS, Business Services Division.
Your LLC must have a Registered Agent at all times. You’ll appoint one when you first formally register and start your business. You can also replace your existing Indiana Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new agents.
Indiana Registered Agent Requirements
- Every LLC, both foreign and domestic, must have a Registered Agent with a registered office within the State of Indiana at all times.
- The Registered Agent can be a domestic or foreign (licensed to transact business in the state) artificial legal entity (Corporation, LLC, LP or LLP) or a natural person.
- The registered office must be in the State of Indiana and located at a street address (a P.O. Box only is not acceptable).
- If the Registered Agent is a person, they must live in Indiana.
- If the Registered Agent is a company, they must be authorized to conduct business in Indiana.
- The Registered Agent must be available in person to sign for any correspondence during normal business hours.
Note that the address for your Indiana Registered Agent does not need to be the same as your Indiana LLC business address.
What an Indiana Registered Agent Does
A Registered Agent’s main function in Indiana is to accept official documentation and communications.
This includes:
- Correspondence from the Indiana Secretary of State
- Service of process notices (e.g., if your LLC is sued or required to appear in court)
- Official state and federal government correspondence and notices
- Tax forms and requests to complete permits, company filings and reports
Having a Registered Agent also provides proof to the state that your business exists.
Incfile Provides Free Indiana Registered Agent Service for the First Year
Incfile provides complete Indiana Registered Agent service for any LLC that’s formally formed in the state. Even better, if you form your business through Incfile, your Registered Agent is completely free for the first year and only $119 a year after that.
Incfile is authorized to conduct business in Indiana and can legally act as your Registered Agent. Here’s what our Registered Agent service provides:
An intuitive digital dashboard where you can access, store and retrieve any information we’ve received for your business
An always-available Indiana Registered Agent who can receive correspondence, documents and legal proceedings on your LLC’s behalf
Automatic forwarding of all legal correspondence, documentation and information directly to you
Email notification whenever we receive documents for your business
Appointing a Registered Agent for Your LLC
When you first form your LLC, you must appoint a Registered Agent. You can change it at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.
Assign a Registered Agent When You Form Your LLC
Your business needs to have a Registered Agent as soon as it is formed. You can do this two ways:
When you formally create your business, you’re required to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization.
When you establish your business through Incfile, you’ll get a free year of our Registered Agent service. We’ll also complete your Articles of Organization for you with the information that you provide and file them on your behalf
Assign a Different Registered Agent After Formation
You can also decide to assign someone else to be your Indiana Registered Agent after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.
Once you’ve chosen a new Registered Agent, you can log in to your account with the state of Indiana’s INBIZ online system to file the change online. Once you’ve filed the change, the Secretary of State, Business Services Division, will review and update your records. There is no fee for this service.
When you use our Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete the form on your behalf and then send it to the Indiana Secretary of State, Business Services Division. When we officially become your Registered Agent, we’ll let you know.
Indiana Registered Agent Search
In certain situations, it may be useful to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another LLC in Indiana. You can search the INBIZ business database to discover this information.
If you can’t find the Registered Agent information there, you can request it from the Secretary of State, Business Services Division.
What Happens if You Don’t Have a Registered Agent?
If you don’t assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the Secretary of State, there are several possible ramifications, including:
- Getting sued or served and not knowing about it. You could lose to a default judgment in your absence if your LLC is sued and you don’t respond.
- Falling out of good standing with the Indiana Secretary of State. The state may revoke your right to do business if you don’t respond to certain correspondence (such as a request for your biennial business entity report).
- Losing your status as an LLC in Indiana. A Registered Agent is evidence to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your LLC may be dissolved.
Acting as Your Own Registered Agent
You can choose to be the Registered Agent for your LLC if you have a physical address in Indiana. There can be some drawbacks to this approach:
- The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Indiana. If you’re forming an LLC outside the state, you’ll need to use an in-state Registered Agent.
- Someone must always be available during business hours at the Indiana address to sign for important documents.
- The Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Indiana Secretary of State's website. If you prefer that this specific information remain private, you should use a Registered Agent service.
- If you change your business address or move out of state, you need to file additional documentation with the Secretary of State for the new address. This isn’t necessary if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.
Other Useful Resources
FAQs About Indiana Registered Agents
Yes. Most business entities (including LLCs) in the state are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the Indiana Secretary of State. Find more information above.
You must assign a Registered Agent when your Indiana LLC is first formed with the Secretary of State. You can change your agent afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Incfile, we’ll file all the necessary forms on your behalf. You'll find more information above.
Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above.
Yes. And if you use a company as your Registered Agent, that company must be legally able to conduct business in your state. You'll find more information above.
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