Corporations Division: Business Registration FAQs

Accessing CorpOnline

1a. How do I access the CorpOnline website?

To access CorpOnline, first, ensure that you have a single sign-on, Access DC account. Once done, go to CorpOnline to sign in.

For optimal performance, we recommend using the latest versions of Chrome, Firefox, or Microsoft Edge.

1b. What online services are available through CorpOnline?

Through CorpOnline, you can:

1. Register any type of domestic entity, including:

- Limited Liability Company (form DLC-1)

- For-Profit Corporation (form DBU-1)

- For-Profit Professional Corporation (form DPR-1)

- Non-Profit Corporation (form DNP-1)

- Limited Partnership (form DLP-1)

- Limited Liability Partnership (form DLLP-1)

- General Limited Cooperative Association (form DGCA-1)

- Limited Cooperative Association (form DLCA-1)

- Statuary Trust (form DST-1)

2. Register any type of foreign filing entity.

- Foreign Registration Statement (form FN-1)

3. File biennial reports for any domestic or foreign filing entity, including back-reports:

- Two-Year Biennial Report for Domestic and Foreign Filing Entities (form BRA-25)

4. Reserve a name for a domestic entity or register a name for a foreign entity.

- Domestic Name Reservation and Transfer (form GN-3)

- Foreign Name Registration and Renewal (form GN-4)

5. Register a trade name for any filing entity, sole proprietor, or other non-filing entity.

- Trade Name Registration (form TN-1)

6. Request good standing certificates and certified copies.

7. Submit applications of reinstatement for domestic and foreign filing entities.

- Reinstatement of Domestic Filing Entity (form GN-5)

- Reinstatement of Foreign Registration Statement (form FN-6)

8. Submit withdrawal application for all foreign entities.

- Withdrawal of Foreign Registration Statement (form FN-3)

9. Submit dissolution filings for domestic LLCs and nonprofit and for-profit corporations.

- Statement of Dissolution for Domestic Limited Liability Company (form DLC-8)

- Articles of Dissolution of Domestic Nonprofit Corporation (form DNP-6)

- Articles of Dissolution of Domestic For-Profit Corporation (form DBU-7)

10. File amendments for domestic LLC, nonprofit and for-profit corporation registrations.

- Certificate of Amendment for Domestic Limited Liability Company (form DLC-2)

- Articles of Amendment for Domestic Nonprofit Corporation (form DNP-2)

- Articles of Amendment of Domestic For-Profit Corporation (form DBU-2)

11. Amend registration filings for all foreign entities.

- Amendment of Foreign Registration Statement (form FN-2)

12. Search all registered entities with expanded entity information including report history, trade name, registered agent, and governor information.

13. Track your submitted filings, manage rejected filings, and see past approved filings, including evidence/documents issued by Corporations.

1c. I am having issues linking my CorpOnline account to my Access DC account. What do I do now?

If you have already registered for an AccessDC account, please take the following steps to link your CorpOnline account:

1. Sign into Access DC and select the CorpOnline icon from the dashboard

2. Select “Link Existing CorpOnline Account” button (Note: Only one CorpOnline account can be linked to your Access DC account).

3. Enter the User ID and Password for your existing CorpOnline account (NOTE: This is a different username/password than you used for your Access DC account. If you've forgotten your CorpOnline password, click "Forgot Password" to reset it)

4. Click “Link Account”

You'll then have successfully linked your CorpOnline and Access DC accounts. This process only needs to be done once. From now on, once you sign into Access DC, you'll be able to head directly into CorpOnline.

1d. I have paid for my filing, but my filing still appears under 'Pending Services' section. What do I do now?

If a filing appears under the “Pending Services” section, then that filing has not been fully submitted to Corporations Division. Please, click on “edit” to the right of the filing title and navigate to last page where you should select the “submit to back office” button. Please then go back to the “Services Management” tab on the home page to ensure that the filing now appears under the “Received Services” heading. This means it has been submitted to Corporations.

1e. I have paid for my filing, but it did not submit. Now, the system asks for the payment again. Why?

Please, ensure that you are accessing the correct workflow. If you have multiple filings under 'Pending Services', you will need to locate the one that has been paid for and proceed with submitting to Corporations.

1f. I have used one of the online services and submitted my request. What is the next step?

If your filing appears under “Received Services” heading in the “Services Management” tab on the CorpOnline homepage, then it has been received by Corporations Division. Once submitted, it will be reviewed within 5 business days unless the expedited option of 1 or 3 days has been selected and paid for. You will get an approval certificate by email or a rejection letter specifying the reasons for rejection.

1g. My filing has been rejected. I see it under 'Rejected Services' section. What do I need to do to resubmit?

Click on the rejection letter and note the reason for deficiency and staff member’s name. Click on “re-file”, correct the deficiency, and resubmit for final approval. Please, note that system should not charge you again unless you select to upgrade to expedited service.

1h. What are the tabs on the homepage of my CorpOnline account?

Midway down the CorpOnline homepage you will see four tabs.

Tab 1: Business Filings Search Tab - allows you to search any entity that is registered with Corporations Division

Tab 2: Service Management Tab - tracks the progress of the filings you have submitted using your CorpOnline account; it has the following three sections:

A – “Received Filings” - shows filings that have been submitted to the Corp team and are currently under review

B – “Rejected Filings” - shows filings that Corporations have reviewed, rejected, and now need your attention to correct

C – “Pending Filings” - shows filings that you have started but not yet submitted to Corporations

Tab 3: My Filing History Tab- shows all filings that have been successfully submitted and approved with this CorpOnline account

Tab 4: My Subscriptions Tab - this tab allows you to search for any entity and then subscribe to receive notices when any filing is done for it.

1i. I have a Work Order ID number. What is it?

A Work Order ID is created when customer opens one of the workflows (i.e., starts a filing on CorpOnline). Please, check your ‘Services Management' tab to verify whether the filing is submitted. If it shows under 'Received Services' it has been submitted to Corporations. If it shows under ‘Pending Services' it has not yet been submitted to Corporations. If filing is still pending, please, click on “edit”; complete all information and click “submit to back office” on the last page so that filing will appear under “Received Services”.

1j. What is the general turnaround time for corporate filings?

For online filings, Corporations division will process non-expedited filings within 15 business days from the date of submission. There is an option to select an expedited option - $50 for 3-day service and $100 for 1-day service (by end of next business day). Print the confirmation page and record the date of submission.

Registering a Business

2a. If I registered my business outside of the District of Columbia, do I need to register to conduct business in DC?

Yes. An organization registered in another state or country that seeks to transact business in the District of Columbia must register by filing an application for foreign registration (form FN-1). This can be done on our CorpOnline website.

2b. If I incorporate my business in District of Columbia, is that registration valid in other states and countries?

No. Formation of the entity in the District of Columbia allows for that entity to conduct business in the District only. If domestic filing entity wishes to conduct business outside of the District of Columbia, then it shall meet the requirements of each jurisdiction in which it wants to do business. Contact the corporate licensing authority in the appropriate state or country for more information.

2c. What does "Conducting Business" mean in the District of Columbia?

District law defines a "business" as: “Any trade, profession, or activity which provides, or holds itself out to provide, goods or services to the general public or to any portion of the general public, for hire or compensation in the District of Columbia.”

Generally, foreign filing entities (limited liability companies, non-profit and for-profit corporations, limited partnerships, limited liability partnerships, general and limited cooperative association and statutory trusts) do not have to register with Corporations Division if they are engaging in a single or isolated transaction.

In addition, certain categories of activity have been excluded by the District as constituting “business” for the purposes of determining if an entity must register with the District. These exclusions vary depending on the type of business entity.

For the list of exclusions, please refer to the following statute: § 29-105.05. Activities not constituting doing business.

Sample of specific factual scenario:

Will a Corporation or LLC need to register with Corporations division if it owns real estate in the District? In most of the cases, the answer will be no. However, this entity is required to register if real estate is “income producing”.

To discuss a specific case, you may contact Corporations Division at (202) 442-4400, Option 5. Consult an attorney or certified public accountant for professional advice.

2d. How do I form a Limited Liability Company (LLC)?

To form a new LLC complete form DLC-1 Articles of Organization. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and then "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Limited Liability Company (LLC)" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2e. How do I form a Professional Limited Liability Company (PLLC)?

To form a new Professional LLC (PLLC) complete form DLC-1 Articles of Organization. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

When asked to choose a suffix for your PLLC, select "PLLC", "P.L.L.C" or "Professional Limited Liability Company".

At the Miscellaneous Provisions Step, in the "Description" box specify the type of professional service that company will render.

"Professional service” means any type of personal service to the public including the services performed by certified public accountants, attorneys, architects, professional engineers, dentists, optometrists, podiatrists, and other health professionals as defined in section 101(8) of the District of Columbia Health Occupations Revision Act of 1985 (D.C. Official Code § 3-1201.01(8); effective March 25, 1986)”

2f. How do I form a for-profit Corporation?

To form a new for-profit Corporation, complete form DBU-1 Articles of Incorporation. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "For-Profit Corporation" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2g. How do I form a Benefit Corporation?

To form a new Benefit Corporation, complete form DBU-1 Articles of Incorporation. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "For-Profit Corporation" from the list of organization types.

At the Miscellaneous Provisions step, in the "Information Description" box, state that the entity will operate as a benefit corporation and will exist for the purpose of creating general public benefit. You may identify one or more specific public benefits that it is the purpose of the benefit corporation.

Fill in all other required information, provide payment details and submit.

2h. How do I form a Professional Corporation?

To form a new Professional Corporation, complete form DPR-1 Articles of Incorporation. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Professional Corporation" from the list of organization types.

At the Purpose step, in the "Description" box specify the professional service in which the corporation will engage

2i. How do I form a Nonprofit Corporation?

To form a new Nonprofit Corporation complete form DNP-1 Articles of Incorporation. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Nonprofit Corporation" from the list of organization types.

If the nonprofit is intending to receive tax-exempt status from the IRS, include language to this effect in the Miscellaneous Provisions Step, in the "Description" box. See suggested language from the IRS here.

Fill in all other required information, provide payment details and submit.

2j. How do I form a Limited Partnership?

To form a new Limited Partnership, complete form DLP-1 Certificate of Limited Partnership. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Limited Partnership" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2k. How do I form a Limited Liability Partnership?

To form a new Limited Liability Partnership, complete form DLPP-1 Statement of Qualification. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon, select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Limited Liability Partnership" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2l. How do I form a Statutory Trust?

To form a new Statutory Trust, complete form DST-1 Certificate of Trust. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Statutory Trust" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2m. How do I form a General Cooperative Association?

To form a new General Cooperative Association, complete form DGCA-1 Articles of Incorporation. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon, select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "General Cooperative Association" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2n. How do I form a Limited Cooperative Association?

To form a new Limited Cooperative Association, complete form DLCA-1 Articles of Organization. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "No" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select "Limited Cooperative Association" from the list of organization types. Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

2o. How do I register my foreign entity?

To register your foreign entity, complete form FN-1 Foreign Registration Statement. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage select "Register Organization" icon and select "Yes" when asked if you already have an entity registered to do business. Select the organization type you are registering and fill in required information. Note all foreign registrations must upload a good standing certificate from their jurisdiction of formation dated within the last 90 days. Provide payment details and submit.

Maintaining a Corporate Registration

3a. What are the ongoing obligations for registered entities in DC in order to stay in active and good standing status?

Every entity registered with Corporations Divisions needs to file periodic BRA-25 Biennial Report form and maintain a registered agent in order to stay in active and good standing status.

3b. What is a BRA-25 Biennial Report and when is it due?

The BRA-25 Biennial Report is the report all entities must file periodically to maintain their entity's active status with Corporations Division. The report allows an entity to update its address, registered agent information, purpose, and beneficial owner information.

An entity's first Biennial Report is due by April 1^st the very next calendar year after it registers, and by April 1^st every two years there on after.

3c. I have just filed my BRA-25 Biennial Report. How do I know it’s filed?

After filing your report online, you will see a confirmation page that states that the report was successfully submitted and provides filing summary information (entity name, fee amount, etc.) A copy of report is sent to the email address of the CorpOnline user who filed the report. A copy of the report is also available under “My Filing History" tab.

3d. What is the beneficial ownership reporting requirement? How is a beneficial owner defined?

The DC Code, sections § 29–102.01. & § 29–102.11 stipulates that all formation and registration filings, as well as biennial reports, include beneficial ownership information.

The information required includes the names, residence, and business addresses of each person whose aggregate share of direct or indirect, legal, or beneficial ownership of a governance or total distributional interest of the entity:

Exceeds 10 percent; or
Does not exceed 10 percent; provided, that the person:
Controls the financial or operational decisions of such entity; or
Has the ability to direct the day-to-day operations of such entity

3f. What happens if my beneficial ownership information changes from the date of formation/registration and/or last report filing?

If there is not a biennial report on file for this entity, then articles of amendment (for domestic entities) or an amended registration application (for foreign entities) must be filed to reflect new ownership information.

If there is a report on file, then a GN-2 Statement of Correction must be filed to correct the most recent report on file with the updated ownership information.

3f. Is the District’s Beneficial Ownership Requirement different than the federal government/FinCEN’s beneficial ownership information reporting requirement?

Yes.

The District of Columbia has required beneficial ownership reporting for all entities who are formed or registered to do business in the District since January 1, 2020. Now, due to the passing of the Federal Corporate Transparency Act, certain types of entities will also need to report beneficial ownership information to FinCEN as well.

This is a new federal requirement and is separate from DC’s beneficial ownership requirement. Entities supply beneficial ownership information to the District via existing required filings (Articles of Incorporation, BRA-25 Biennial Reports, etc.). Now, many of these entities will need to submit a separate filing, directly to FinCEN.

Please visit our Beneficial Ownership page for more information.

3g. I have searched for my company by using 'Business Filings Search' and my information is not correct; how do I correct it?

The information on file should reflect the most recent corporate filing information that was submitted to Corporations Division (for example, the information from the latest biennial report form BRA-25 on file).

If your entity's information has changed you may file the appropriate form to update the incorrect info (type of filing will depend on what needs updating).

If what is listed on CorpOnline does not reflect what you have most recently provided to Corporations Division, please contact us at 202-442-4432 or [email protected] and provide as many details as possible about the nature of the inaccuracy.

Closing a Business

4a. I am closing my business, what do I need to file?

If your entity is no longer conducting business in DC, it must submit articles of dissolution or similar filing (for domestic entities) or an application of withdrawal (foreign entities).

Please note, an entity must be in active status and good standing to file articles of dissolution/withdrawal.

4b. My entity is a non-profit charitable corporation. Are there any additional steps I need to take when dissolving?

Yes. A charitable corporation is required to provide OAG with advance notice of the corporation’s voluntary dissolution. OAG requests at least one week's advance notice. The notice should be sent to: Section Chief, Public Advocacy Section, Office of the Attorney General, 441 Fourth Street, N.W., Suite 600-S, Washington, DC 20001.

The notice of voluntary dissolution shall state or describe the corporation’s name and charitable purpose, the process by which the dissolution was authorized, the reason(s) for the dissolution, the nature and dollar value of the corporation’s assets, and the proposed disposition of any significant assets.

The notice-of-dissolution requirement is set forth in the Nonprofit Corporation Act, D.C. Official Code § 29-412.02(g): “A charitable corporation shall give the Attorney General for the District of Columbia notice in the form of a record that it intends to dissolve before the time it delivers articles of dissolution to the Mayor. Notice to the Attorney General under this section shall not delay or otherwise affect the dissolution process.

For more information consult this link: https://oag.dc.gov/charities-and-other-nonprofit-organizations

Trade Name Registration

5a. Is a Trade Name Required?

No. A trade name is optional and is not required in order to conduct business in DC.

However, if a trade name is being used in DC, it must be registered and on record with Corporations Division.

5b. What is the difference between a corporate name and a trade name? What are the naming rules for a trade name?

A corporate, limited liability or partnership name is the name under which the organization is formed, or registered, and must include a distinct suffix, for example, Inc, LLC, PLLC, LLP, LP, PC.

A trade name is the name under which a business operates or does business. The trade name is NOT the true or real name of the business. For example, Capital One Arena is the trade name of the DC Arena, L.P. It is the name that is most commonly associated with the business.

A business may not use a name other than their registered corporate name unless it is registered as a trade name.

A trade name cannot be the true and legal name of a person, nor can it be the same as an active entity name on record or another active trade name on record.

5c. How do I register a Trade Name?

To register a new Trade Name, complete a TN-1 Trade Name Registration form. To do so, log onto CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal. On the CorpOnline homepage select "Trade Name Registration Services" icon.

If you wish to obtain a trade name for your already registered business to use, select the "...for an existing registered organization" option.

If you are a sole proprietor or general partnership and wish to obtain a trade name, select the "...for a new non-filing entity (ex. sole proprietorship, general partnership)" option.

Fill in required information, provide payment details and submit.

Note, only the entity or person (ex. sole proprietor) who is listed as the owner of the trade name may use that trade name.

5d. How often do I need to renew my trade name?

A trade name needs to be renewed every two years, by April 1 the year it is set to expire. Trade names that are not renewed by April 1 will be charged a late fee to renew. Trade names that are still not renewed by September 1 will be cancelled and the trade name no longer protected against use by others.

Trade name renewals can be done on CorpOnline by going to "Trade Name Registration Services" and then selecting the "Renew It" option.

5e. How can I make changes to my trade name?

You can make changes to your trade name by filing a trade name amendment on CorpOnline. On CorpOnline’s homepage, select the "Trade Name Registration Services" icon and then select the "Amend it" option.

5f. Who can register a trade name?

Any entity registered/incorporated by Corporations Division can register a trade name. In addition, sole proprietors and general partnerships, can register a trade name.

Good Standing Certificates, Certified Copies and Information Requests

6a. How do I get certified copies of documents?

You can get a certified copy of any Corporations Division document conveniently through CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage, select "Document and Certificate Order" and then "Order Certified Copies". Search for your entity and click on its name when it appears. In the text box, provide the name and filing date of the document you would like a certified copy of.

Please note, a separate request must be made for each filing you are requesting copies of.

6b. Does the Corporations Division provide “apostille” (authentication) service for issued documents?

Corporations Division does not provide authentication services. However, you may request this service from the D.C. Office of the Secretary.

To do so, please, follow these steps:

Locate document or certificate that you need and request a certified copy of that document on CorpOnline.
Once you have received the certified copy of the document or contact the D.C. Office of the Secretary to request document authentication.

The U.S. Department of State also provides document authentication services. For more information, please refer to the State Department’s Office of Authentication.

6c. How do I get a Certificate of Good Standing?

You can request a Certificate of Good Standing conveniently through CorpOnline which is accessible via DLCP's Access DC Portal.

On the CorpOnline homepage, select "Document and Certificate Order" and then "Order Good Standing Certificate". Search for your entity and click on its name when it appears. Submit payment and the Good Standing Certificate will appear in your "My Filing History" tab.

Please note - a good standing certificate cannot be issued for trade names.

6d. Does Corporations Division issue Certificates of Clean Hands?

No. The DC Office of Tax and Revenue facilitates the administration and compliance of the Certificate of Clean Hands mandate. For more information, please refer to this website.

Registered Agent

8a. What is a registered agent and what are their responsibilities in the District of Columbia?

The Registered agent (RA) is the individual or the entity that performs the following duties:

Forward to the represented entity at the address most recently supplied to the agent by the entity any process, notice, or demand that is served on the agent.
Provide the notices required by Business Organizations Act Title 29 to the entity at the address most recently supplied to the agent by the entity.
Provide trade name renewal notices required by Title 47, Chapter 28, related to Trade Name renewal.
Provide other notices and correspondence from government agencies.

8b. Who can act as a Registered Agent in the District of Columbia?

A registered agent can be a Commercial Registered Agent or a Non-Commercial Registered Agent.

1. A "Commercial registered agent” means a person (an individual or domestic or foreign filing entity) who have filed “Listing of commercial registered agent” filing required under § 29-104.05 with Corporations Division.

A person or entity who represents more than 50 entities as a registered agent must become a Commercial Registered Agent by filing a form RA-1.

2. A "Noncommercial registered agent" means a person that is not a commercial registered agent and is:

(A) An individual or domestic or foreign entity that serves in the District as the agent for service of process of an entity.

(B) An individual who holds the office or other position in an entity who is designated as the agent for service of process; or

8c. What are the address requirements for Registered Agents?

The Registered Agents (RA's) address must be physical street address in the District of Columbia. RA’s address may not be a PO Box, a third-party mailbox (ex. FedEx or UPS mailbox) or address outside the District.

8d. Can Entity act as its own Registered Agent if it has office address in the District of Columbia?

Domestic or foreign filing entities may appoint an individual within the organization to act as the registered agent in the District.

If a foreign entity is the registered agent for an entity, it must be registered with Corporations Division.

8e. What Entities should have a Registered Agent?

All domestic and foreign filing entities are required to appoint and maintain the registered agent.

Filing entities include the following:
Limited Liability Companies (including Professional Limited Liability Companies)
Non-Profit and For-Profit Corporations (including Professional and Benefit Corporations)
Limited Partnerships
Limited Liability Partnerships
General and Limited Cooperative Association
Statutory Trusts
Trade names

8f. What is the penalty for failure to maintain a Registered Agent?

An entity's status may be revoked if it fails to maintain a registered agent for more than 60 days.

8g. How do I become a commercial registered agent?

To become a commercial registered agent an individual or domestic or foreign filing entity must file a “Listing of commercial registered agent” form (an RA-1) required under § 29-104.05 with Corporations Division.

Upon becoming a Commercial Registered Agent (CRA), the CRA will be able to start receiving notifications of agent appointment and resignation by email.

8h. How do I make changes to my Commercial Registered Agent Listing (i.e. change of address)?

To make changes to a Commercial Registered Agent Listing, the commercial registered agent must file a Statement of Change of Commercial Registered Agent Form (an RA-5 form).

Commercial Registered Agents are able to file blanket statement of changes (form RA-5) and pay a lower fee per entity and perform changes on a wider scale.

Fees and Refunds

9a. What are the Corporate Filing Fees?

For a list of Corporate Filing Fees, please consult this page.

Note filings can be cancelled or reversed if payment is reversed or returned.

9b. How can I get refund for my corporate filing?

To request a refund, please submit a Corporations Refund Request Application.

9c. On what legal authority may I submit a refund request?

Pursuant to D.C. Municipal Regulations Title 17, Chapter 708.1, the request for refund shall be made within sixty (60) calendar days from the date of payment; or from the date of DLCP's rejection notification.

Pursuant to D.C. Code § 29–102.13. (d), overpayments and duplicate and erroneous payments shall be refunded. The term “erroneous” is defined as when payment was sent to Corporations division but intended for another recipient (ex. tax or license payments erroneously sent to Corporations division). “Erroneous” payment does not include the case where customers change his/her mind and wants to rescind the filing (remove the filing in order to get refund).

Pursuant to D.C. Code § 29–102.13. (d), a mere change of purpose after the payment of money, as when a party desires to withdraw a filing, shall not entitle a party to a refund.

Service of Process

10a. What is Service of Process?

Service of Process is a legal process: legal orders, demands, notices, or other papers about court proceedings in the District of Columbia are served on an individual or organization.

10b. Who is the Superintendent of Corporations?

The Superintendent of Corporations is the head of the Corporations Division. As the Corporate Registrar for the District of Columbia, the Superintendent is charged with administering Title 29 and Title 47, Chapter 28, subchapter 1-C of the DC Code and with DC Municipal Regulations 17-6, 17—7 and 17-89.

10c. When and why would I serve the Superintendent of Corporations?

The Superintendent of Corporations at the District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection is designated to accept Service of Process on the Mayor's behalf pursuant to Mayor’s Order 2009-65 dated April 24th, 2009.

If domestic or foreign filing entity has the registered agent on record, that agent should attempt to be served before a service of process is delivered to the Superintendent.

Filing entities includes nonprofit and for-profit corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, limited liability partnership, general cooperative association, limited cooperative association and statutory trust.

Service of Process can be mailed or delivered to DLCP’s Superintendent of Corporations, who may act as the substitute Registered Agent for a corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership, or limited liability partnership operating in the District, if any one of the following apply:

1. Represented entity failed to appoint or maintain a registered agent in the District; or

2. A represented entity's registered agent in the District cannot with reasonable diligence be found.

3. The company is not registered but operating within the District of Columbia.

10d. Who can be served by Superintendent of Corporations?

All domestic and foreign filing entities.

10e. How do I serve the Superintendent of Corporations?

To serve the Superintendent of Corporations, the customer must provide:

1. One copy of the documents (legal orders, demands, notices, affidavit of service on corporation, etc.) that have been filed with the court.

2. Complete form GN-6 Service of Process Action Form.

3. Include payment for service of process filing (see this page to reference current fee)

These three things should be mailed to the following address:

Superintendent of Corporations,
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
Business and Professional Licensing Administration
Corporations Division
Wells Fargo Bank
MAC Y1372-045
401 Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106

Or these documents can be filed in person at our 1100 4th St. SW location. Note all in-person service carries with it an expedited fee of $50 for 3-day service or $100 for 1-day service, in addition to the filing fee.

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