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How do I…

File and Maintain Business Documents

File Online

Register a new business or maintain an existing business registration by signing into the online filing portal.

 

Login with your username and password, or click the login button to create your user profile and sign in.

 

Registering a new business? Start a new business application on the Forms page.

 

Already registered? Search for the business record, then click on the business name.  Go to the Filing Actions button to find the necessary form.

Get Started

Filing Portal Login

Filing Portal Login

As of July 1, 2022, access to the online filing portal will no longer use ePass. You will need to create a new password to log in.

Instructions for creating an account:

  • If you have accessed the online filing portal in the past, click the ‘Reset Password’ link, enter your current username and submit. A verification email will be sent with a link to set up your new password. Once you have created your new password, return to the login. Enter your username and new password.
  • If you have never accessed the online filing portal, select ‘Create an Account’ and enter the required information.
  • Click the Login button below to begin.

Instructions for LOGGING INTO an EXISTING account:

  • Once you have verified your account email, you will be able to login into your portal account.
  • Click the following link to access the login page.
  • Enter your username and password to login.

Instructions for RESETTING YOUR ACCOUNT PASSWORD:

  • Click the following link to access the login page.
  • Click on the Reset Password link on the login page.
  • Enter your username that you use to login to the online filing portal.
  • An email will be sent to the email address under your account that will contain a link to send you to the reset password page.
  • Enter your new password and confirm your password to reset it.

Instructions for RECOVERING YOUR USERNAME:

  • Click the following link to access the login page.
  • Click on the Forgot Username link on the login page.
  • Enter your email address.
  • An email will be sent to the email address that will contain your username(s) that you have registered.

Instructions for EDITING YOUR USER ACCOUNT INFORMATION:

  • Once you are logged into the online filing portal, you will see your name and username in the upper right of the page.
  • Click on your username / name and a dropdown will appear.
  • Click the Edit My Account button to edit your account.
  • You will be able to change your name, email, and contact details under this page.

File an Annual Report

What is an annual report?
Annual reports are required for all limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations (profit and nonprofit.) The annual report filed with the Secretary of State’s office ensures the registration is up to date and confirms the business is still active in Montana. It is a renewal of the registration information, including updating (if necessary) the business mailing address, registered agent, shares (if applicable,) and principals of record. It is not a tax or earnings report.

If the business information has not changed, file a “no change” annual report using these steps:

  1. Visit the online filing portal at biz.sosmt.gov
  2. “Search” for the business.
  3. Click on the business name in the results list.
  4. On the right-side panel, click the “File Annual Report” button.
  5. Review the information on the report.
  6. To sign, read and check each declaration box, and fill in all fields marked with a red asterisk. (Scroll down to see all the fields.)
  7. Click “File Online” and make the payment by credit/debit card or e-check ($20 if filed by April 15th.)

If you need to update the business information, file the annual report using these steps:

  1. Visit the online filing portal at biz.sosmt.gov
  2. Click “Login” and sign into the site with your username and password. (If you don’t have an account, click the “login” button, then “create an account.”)
  3. After you have signed in, “search” for the business.
  4. Click on the business name in the results list.
  5. On the right-side panel, click the “File Annual Report” button.
  6. Follow the steps, updating the report information as needed.
  7. To sign, read and check each declaration box, and fill in all fields marked with a red asterisk. (Scroll down to see all the fields.)
  8. Click “File Online” and make the payment by credit/debit card or e-check ($20 if filed by April 15th.)

Request for Business Documents and Certificates

To Request Business Certificates or Certified Copies of Business Documents:
  1. Please access the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
  2. Click “Login” and sign into the site with your username and password. (If you don’t have an account, click the “login” button, then “create an account.”)
  3. Search for the business by name or folder ID.
  4. In search results, click on the business name to open the record.
  5. On the right, click “Request Information.” On the Request Details page, select “Certified Copies of Documents” or the business certificate you would like to request.
    • The fee is $10 for all document copies.
  6. Pay with credit/debit card, or e-check.
Obtain Business Principal Extract Report

This will return all principals related to a specific business

  1. Access the online portal here
  2. Search for and select the business name
  3. Click Request Information and follow the steps
  4. Submit payment
  5. Download the report
Obtain Principal Search Report

This will return specific principals associated to any business

  1. Access the online portal here
  2. Click on Forms
  3. Click on the Request Business Information tab
  4. Select Principal Search
  5. Enter the required principal information
  6. Submit payment
  7. Download the report

Register a Business

To Register a Business with the Secretary’s Office
  1. Visit the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password. (If you don’t have an account, simply click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one. This is your user profile for the site.)
  3. Go to the Forms section in the left side menu.
  4. Choose the applicable form.
    • Choose Domestic forms for a Montana business.
    • Choose Foreign forms for a business formed in another state/country that will be doing business in Montana.
  5. Fill in the form with all required fields, as designated by red asterisks.  Scroll down each page of the form to ensure everything required is completed.  If pages are missing information, it will be highlighted in red with an “x” on that step; return to that page for edits by clicking on the page name.
  6. Submit the form for processing with the fee (payable by credit/debit card or by e-check.)
  7. The Secretary of State’s office will review it, and once approved, will notify by email with instructions to access the approved documents from the portal.

Find or Change an Agent

To Change Registered Agent/Office Address:
  1. Visit the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, simply click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.  This is your user profile for the site.)
  3. Search for the business by name or folder ID.
  4. In search results, click on the business name to open the record.
  5. In the slide out bar on the right, click on Filing Actions.
  6. Scroll down to select and complete the “Registered Agent/Office Change by Entity.”

Change a Principal Mailing Address

To Change Principal Office Address:

  1. Visit the online filing portal at https://biz.sosmt.gov/
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, simply click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.  This is your user profile for the site.)
  3. Search for the business by name or folder ID.
  4. In search results, click on the business name to open the record.
  5. In the slide out bar on the right, click on Filing Actions.
  6. Scroll down to select and complete the “Principal Office Address Change” form.

Reinstate a Business

To Reinstate a Business:

Montana (domestic) corporations and LLCs are eligible for reinstatement within 5 years of their dissolution date.  Out-of-state (foreign) entity types are not eligible to reinstate and must requalify.  Most domestic business registrations require a Title 15 Certificate from the MT Department of Revenue to reinstate. Request the certificate through the Department of Revenue’s Transaction Portal. (A certificate is not required for single-member LLCs not taxed as corporations.)

Once you have your Title 15 certificate, please follow the steps below.  Note that you must file all missing annual reports AND a reinstatement application to return the registration to an active status.

File your annual reports

  1. Visit the online filing portal at biz.sosmt.gov
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
  3. Once signed in, search for the business registration using the “Search” in the left-side menu.
  4. Click on the business name in the results list, and find a panel on the right side of the screen.
  5. Click the “File Annual Report” button, follow the steps, and make the payment ($35) to file each missing annual report.

Complete the reinstatement

  1. When the annual reports are completed for all previous years, click on the “Filing Actions” button, and choose the “Reinstatement” form.
  2. Complete the form, uploading the tax certificate on the documents page, if required.
  3. Submit the filing for processing with its required fee. (Profit Corp – $30, LLC – $35, Nonprofit Corp – $10)
  4. The Secretary of State’s office will review the filing; once approved, the registration will be active again.  All filed documents and receipts can be obtained from the “Work Queue.”

Request a Refund

REQUESTING A REFUND:

The Montana Secretary of State’s office refunds payments under certain circumstances including, but not limited to:

  • Technological errors
  • Administrative errors

If you believe you have been overcharged and have not received a refund, please click here to submit a refund request.

Currently have an Assumed Business Name - Change to an LLC

Currently have a registered Assumed Business Name (ABN/DBA) – Change to an LLC

To change business structures from an Assumed Business Name to a Limited Liability Company, file a conversion to an LLC if the applicant on the registration is a partnership or an association.

In order to keep the same name, if the ABN applicant is an individual, cancel the ABN, then re-register as an LLC.

To Cancel an ABN:
  1. Visit the online filing portal at sosmt.gov
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
  3. Search for the business registration using the “Search” in the left-side menu.
  4. Click on the business name in the results list, and find a panel on the right side of the screen.
  5. Go to the Filing Actions button and choose to “Cancel an Assumed Business Name.”
  6. The form will open; complete the application online.  Please read all the instructions and be sure to complete every form item that has a red *asterisk.  Click on the Question Mark icon to see more information about the fields on each page.
  7. Once the application is completed, click the “FILE ONLINE” button to submit.
  8. When the application is approved, the system will send an email.  The email will also provide instructions on how to login to your account and download your confirmation documents.
To Register a Limited Liability Company
  1. Visit the online filing portal at sosmt.gov.
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.
  3. Once signed in, go to the “Forms” in the left-side menu.
  4. Click “Articles of Organization for Domestic Limited Liability Company.” Follow steps and complete payment for your submission to be sent for review.
  5. When the application is approved, the system will send you an email.  The email will also give you instructions on how to login to your account and download your confirmation documents.

File an Amendment

AMEND AN EXISTING BUSINESS
  1. Visit the online filing portal at sosmt.gov
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
  3. Once signed in, search for the business registration using the “Search” in the left-side menu.
  4. Click on the business name in the results list, and find the panel on the right side of the screen.
  5. Go to the Filing Actions button and choose the amendment form.
  6. The form will open, and you will complete the application online.  Please read all the instructions and be sure to complete every form item that has a red *asterisk.  Click on the Question Mark icon to see more information about the fields on each page.
  7. Once you have completed the application, click the “FILE ONLINE” button and make the payment with either a credit/debit card or an e-check.
  8. When the application is approved, the system will send you an email.  That email will also give you instructions on how to login to your account and download your confirmation documents.

Cancel, Withdraw or Terminate a Business Registration

To Cancel/Withdraw/Terminate a Business Registration
  1. Visit the online filing portal at biz.sosmt.gov
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
  3. Once you are signed in, search for the business registration using the “Search” in the left-side menu.
  4. Click on the business name in the results list, and find the panel on the right side of the screen.
  5. Go to the Filing Actions button and choose the applicable form. (Note that the terminology – dissolution/withdrawal/termination/cancellation – varies by business type.)       
  6. The form will open, and you will complete the application online.  Please read all the instructions and be sure to complete every form item that has a red *asterisk.  Click on the Question Mark icon to see more information about the fields on each page.
  7. Once you have completed the application, click the “FILE ONLINE” button to submit.
  8. When the application is approved, the system will send you an email.  That email will also give you instructions on how to login to your account and download your confirmation documents.

Some filings will require a tax certificate from the Montana Department of Revenue.  To request a tax certificate, please visit the TransAction Portal.

Renew a Mark

To Renew a Mark:
  1. Visit the online filing portal at sosmt.gov
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
  3. Use the Trademark search to look up the existing trademark record, either by name or ID number.
    • Be sure the top menu on the search screen is highlighted as ‘Trademark’ (and not Business).
  4. In search results, click on the mark name to open the record.
  5. Click on Filing Actions on the right to find and file the mark renewal.
    • The renewal will require a specimen of the mark showing it in use as stated in the original filing (ex. advertisements, website, products.)
  6. Pay with credit/debit card, or e-check when submitting the filing.
  7. When the renewal is approved, the system will send you an email.  That email will also give you instructions on how to login to your account and download your confirmation documents.

Register a Mark

To Register a Mark
  1. Visit the online filing portal at sosmt.gov
  2. Sign into the site with your username and password.  (If you don’t have an account, click the login button and you’ll see where you can create one.)
  3. Once you’re logged in, click “Register a Trademark” in the Trademark box, then select “Registration of Mark (Trademark or Service Mark)” and “File Online.”
  4. The form will open, and you will complete the application online.  Please read all the instructions and be sure to complete every form item that has a red *asterisk.  Click on the Question Mark icon to see more information about the fields on each page.
    • The application will require 3 specimens of the mark showing it in use as stated in the filing (ex. advertisements, website, products.)
  5. Once the application has been completed, click the “FILE ONLINE” button to submit.
  6. When the application is approved, the system will send you an email.  That email will also give you instructions on how to login to your account and download your confirmation documents.

Subscribe and Monitor

Subscription Services

A subscription service provides access to information with automatic payment deduction from the payment account.

Trademark Copies:
 A monthly download of trademark images on file with our office.

Active New Business Entity Report:
 A monthly report of all new businesses registered from the previous month.

Homeowner & Condo Association Report:
 A report of all homeowner and condo associations registered with our office.

Nonprofit Corporation Report:
 A report of all domestic and foreign nonprofit corporations registered with our office.

UCC Bulk:
 A data export of all UCC filings registered with our office with image extracts.  Include a full bulk download and daily exports.

Corporate Bulk:
 A data export for various criteria for all of our business information registered with our office.

If you would like further assistance filing, or have questions, please call the Business Services Division at 406-444-3665 or email [email protected].

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