Tennessee Registered Agents for Your LLC 

The Tennessee Secretary of State requires every TN LLC to have a Registered Agent. Once you have assigned a Tennessee Registered Agent, they can receive official correspondence and documents on behalf of your TN business. Registered Agents can be individuals or other specialized Registered Agent service businesses. 

You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first start your business. You can also replace your existing TN Registered Agent at a later date, provided there is a smooth transition between the old and new Registered Agent service.

Rules for Tennessee Registered Agents

There are certain rules that you must follow when you’re appointing a Tennessee Registered Agent service for your business. They are:

• If the Registered Agent is a person, they must reside in Tennessee

• If the Registered Agent is a business, they must be able to conduct business in Tennessee

• The Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Tennessee, not a P.O. Box

• The TN Registered Agent must be available in person during normal business hours to sign for any correspondence

Note that the TN Registered Agent address does not need to be the same as your Tennessee LLC business address. 

What to Expect From a Tennessee Registered Agent Service

Your Tennessee Registered Agent carries out several valuable services for your business. They accept official communications and documents from the TN Secretary of State on your behalf. This may include:

• Correspondence from the Tennessee Secretary of State, like a notice to file reports and other forms

• Service of process documents (for example, if your Tennessee LLC has legal proceedings issued against it)

• Official Tennessee and federal government documents, form filings and requests for information (including taxes, permits and company filings)

The Incfile Registered Agent Service for Tennessee LLCs

If you have an LLC that’s incorporated in Tennessee and you need a TN Registered Agent, we can help. Incfile provides a complete Registered Agent service for any Tennessee business. 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 Tennessee and can legally act as your Registered Agent. 

Here’s what you need to know about Incfile’s TN Registered Agent service:

• 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 Tennessee 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

Order Incfile’s Tennessee Registered Agent service

How to Appoint a Tennessee Registered Agent for Your LLC

You can appoint a Registered Agent when you first incorporate your Tennessee LLC or at any point after that. Here’s how to go about it.

Appoint a TN Registered Agent Service When You Create Your Tennessee LLC

Your business needs to have a Tennessee Registered Agent Service as soon as it’s formed. You can achieve this through one of the following methods:

File Articles of Organization With the Tennessee Secretary of State

You will need to include details of your Registered Agent in your Articles of Organization. This is the form that you file with the TN Secretary of State to formally create your business.

Incorporate Through Incfile and Get a Free Tennessee Registered Agent 

When you incorporate through us, we complete and file your Articles of Organization based on the information you’ve provided. Additionally, we give you a free Tennessee Registered Agent service for the first year, and we’ll include details of your TN Registered Agent in the form that we file.

Incorporate your business through Incfile

Change Your Tennessee Registered Agent After Your LLC Is Formed

You can also change your TN Registered Agent service after you’ve formed your LLC. There are a couple of ways to achieve this.

Choose a Registered Agent Service and File Online, or Send in a Form to the Tennessee Secretary of State

Once you’ve chosen a new Tennessee Registered Agent, you can complete a Registered Agent Change form that’s available on the TN Secretary of State website. Once you’ve filled it out, send it to the secretary of state so they can update your records.

Sign up for Incfile’s Tennessee Registered Agent Service, and We’ll File the Change on Your Behalf

When you choose to use our TN Registered Agent service, we take care of all the form filling and filing for you. We’ll collect important information about your business, complete a Registered Agent Change form on your behalf and send it to the Tennessee Secretary of State. We’ll let you know once we officially become your Registered Agent. 

Order Incfile’s Tennessee Registered Agent service

Tennessee Registered Agent Search

In some situations, you might want to know the name of the Registered Agent that represents another Tennessee LLC. If you do, you can search the business database of the Tennessee Secretary of State, which will often provide details of a specific business’ Registered Agent.

If the TN Registered Agent isn’t available from the searchable business registry, contact the Tennessee Secretary of State requesting the information.

The Problems Caused When You Don’t Appoint a Tennessee Registered Agent Service

What happens if you choose not to assign or provide details of a Registered Agent to the Tennessee Secretary of State? There are several possible ramifications, including:

• Getting served or sued and not finding out about it: If your LLC 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee LLC: A TN Registered Agent “proves” to the state that your business exists. Without it, you could lose your business entity protections and your Tennessee LLC may be dissolved.

You Can Appoint Yourself as Your Own Tennessee Registered Agent

If you have an address in Tennessee, you can choose to be the Registered Agent for your LLC. We don’t recommend this approach as there can be some drawbacks:

• The TN Registered Agent must have a physical street address in Tennessee. If you’re forming an LLC outside TN, you will need to use an in-state Registered Agent.

• You always need to have someone on hand during business hours at the Tennessee address to sign for important documents.

• The TN Registered Agent’s name and address are part of the public record and available through the Tennessee Secretary of State's website. If you would prefer your name and address aren’t published, you might choose a Registered Agent service.

• If you change your Tennessee business address or move out of state, you would need to file additional documentation with the TN Secretary of State for the new address if you act as your own Registered Agent. This would not be the case if you use a Registered Agent service, making a move or address change much simpler.

FAQs About Tennessee Registered Agents

Do I Need to Appoint a Tennessee Registered Agent?

Yes. All TN LLCs are required to have a Registered Agent. This is mandated by the Tennessee Secretary of State.

When Can I Assign a Tennessee Registered Agent Service?

You can either do it when you incorporate your Tennessee business through paperwork filed with the TN Secretary of State or afterward by filing the correct form. If you form your business through Incfile, we will file all necessary forms on your behalf.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Tennessee?

Yes, but we don’t recommend it for the reasons listed above. If you still want to be your own Registered Agent, you just need to fill in the correct forms and pay a fee to the Tennessee Secretary of State.

Does My TN Registered Agent Need to Have an Address in Tennessee?

Yes. Additionally, if they are a business providing Registered Agent services, they must be legally able to conduct business in your state.

Useful Resources for Tennessee Registered Agent Services

You might find these resources helpful:

• The Main Functions of a Tennessee Registered Agent

• Changing Your Tennessee Registered Agent

• What a Tennessee Registered Agent Does