Provenance - South Dakota fee schedule○Pending review
55 of 63 fee datums on this page are verified against the agency's own published schedule or statute (2026-09-04); the rest are marked pending review in the Status column - portal-surcharge components no official page states, values the official source contradicts (held for a correction package), or sources that could not be reached.
Values were first corroborated across independent internal records; verified cells now also carry the agency's own published schedule or statute as their authority, which is what promotion to verified requires.
Cost position
Ranked 36 of 54 on first-year state
filing cost, at $210.03 against a national median
of $185.00.
Recurring annual cost $56.35.
See the full ranking.
Where South Dakota sits among its neighbours in the first-year cost ranking (USD)Show all 54 jurisdictionsThe full ranking with South Dakota highlighted (USD)
Registered-agent statutes, quoted verbatim
The one section on this page that clears the publication gate in full. 12 citations, verified, quoted from the official code with every elision marked.
SDCL § 59-11-6
◎Verified
Model Registered Agents Act (SDCL ch. 59-11) · applies to
corporations and LLCs
Appointment of registered agent.A registered agent filing must state: (1) The name of the represented entity's commercial registered agent; or (2) If the entity does not have a commercial registered agent: (a) The name and address of the entity's noncommercial registered agent; or (b) The title of an office or other position with the entity if service of process is to be sent to the person holding that office or position, and the address of the business office of that person. The appointment of a registered agent pursuant to subdivision (1) or subsection (2)(a) is an affirmation by the represented entity that the agent has consented to serve as such.
South Dakota Business Corporation Act · applies to
corporations
Articles of incorporation--Required provisions.The articles of incorporation shall set forth: (1) A corporate name for the corporation that satisfies the requirements of §§ 47-1A-401 to 47-1A-401.3, inclusive; (2) The number of shares the corporation is authorized to issue; (3) The street address of its principal office; (4) The information required by § 59-11-6; and (5) The name and address of each incorporator.
Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (SDCL ch. 47-34A) · applies to
LLCs
Articles of organization.(a) Articles of organization of a limited liability company must set forth: (1) The name of the company; (2) The address of the initial designated office; (3) The information required by § 59-11-6; (4) The name and address of each organizer; [...]
Model Registered Agents Act (SDCL ch. 59-11) · applies to
corporations and LLCs
Addresses in filings.Whenever a provision of this chapter other than subdivision 59-11-15(4) requires that a filing state an address, the filing must state: (1) An actual street address or rural route box number in this state; and (2) A mailing address in this state, if different from the address under subdivision (1).
South Dakota Business Corporation Act · applies to
corporations
Incorporators.One or more persons may act as the incorporator or incorporators of a corporation by delivering articles of incorporation to the Office of the Secretary of State for filing.
Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (SDCL ch. 47-34A) · applies to
LLCs
Organization.(a) One or more persons may organize a limited liability company, consisting of one or more members, by delivering articles of organization to the Office of the Secretary of State for filing. (b) Unless a delayed effective date is specified in accordance with § 47-34A-206(d), the existence of a limited liability company begins when the articles of organization are filed. [...]
Model Registered Agents Act (SDCL ch. 59-11) · applies to
corporations and LLCs
Annual report--Aggregated report by secretary.Each filing entity or qualified foreign entity, except a bank organized under § 51A-3-1.1, a limited partnership organized pursuant to chapter 48-7, or a series of a limited liability company established under §§ 47-34A-701 to 47-34A-707, inclusive, shall deliver to the Office of the Secretary of State for filing an annual report that sets forth: (1) The name of the filing entity or qualified foreign entity; (2) The jurisdiction under whose law it is formed; (3) The address of its principal office, wherever located; (4) The information required by § 59-11-6; [...]
South Dakota Business Corporation Act · applies to
corporations
Grounds for administrative dissolution.The Office of the Secretary of State may commence a proceeding under § 47-1A-1421 to administratively dissolve a corporation if: (1) The corporation does not pay within sixty days after they are due any filing fees or penalties imposed by this chapter or other law; (2) The corporation does not deliver its annual report to the Office of the Secretary of State within sixty days after it is due; (3) The corporation is without a registered agent in this state for sixty days or more; [...]
Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (SDCL ch. 47-34A) · applies to
LLCs
Grounds for administrative dissolution.The secretary of state may commence a proceeding to dissolve a limited liability company administratively if the company does not: (1) Pay any fees, taxes, or penalties imposed by this chapter or other law within sixty days after they are due; or (2) Deliver its annual report to the secretary of state within sixty days after it is due.
South Dakota Business Corporation Act · applies to
corporations
Corporate name--Use of particular words--Purpose.A corporate name must contain the term, corporation, incorporated, company, or limited, or the abbreviation, corp., inc., co., or ltd., or terms or abbreviations of like import in another language. A corporate name may not contain language stating or implying that the corporation is organized for a purpose other than that permitted by § 47-1A-301 and its articles of incorporation.
Uniform Limited Liability Company Act (SDCL ch. 47-34A) · applies to
LLCs
Name.(a) The name of a limited liability company must contain, limited liability company, or limited company, or the abbreviation, L.L.C., LLC, L.C., or LC. Limited may be abbreviated as Ltd. and company may be abbreviated as Co. (b) Except as authorized by subsections (c) and (d), the name of a limited liability company must be distinguishable upon the records of the secretary of state from: (1) The name of any corporation, limited partnership, or company incorporated, organized or authorized to transact business, in this state; [...]
Under the Model Registered Agents Act, if an entity no longer has a registered agent or the agent cannot with reasonable diligence be served, service is by registered or certified mail addressed to the entity's governors by name at its principal office - not on the Secretary of State. If that fails, process may be handed to the manager, clerk, or person in charge of any regular place of business (§ 59-11-17). Separately, revocation of a foreign corporation's certificate of authorityCertificate of authorityPermission for an entity formed in one state to do business in another - the 'foreign' registration.Read the full entry → appoints the SOS its agent for service (§ 47-1A-1531.1).
Revocation Foreign. A foreign corporation without a registered agent in SD for 60 days or more, or that fails to file notice of an agent change or resignation within 60 days, faces revocation of its certificate of authority.
Reinstatement Fee. Corporate reinstatement after administrative dissolution costs $300 plus delinquent annual-report fees and penalties; a Department of Revenue tax-clearance certificate is also required (§ 47-1A-1422).
Reinstatement Fee. LLC reinstatement after administrative dissolution costs $150 plus delinquent annual-report filing fees.
No Court Access. A foreign corporation transacting business in SD without a certificate of authority (e.g., after revocation) may not maintain a proceeding in any SD court until it obtains one.
Civil Penalty. Civil penalty of $100 per day (capped at $1,000 per year) for a foreign corporation transacting business in SD without a certificate of authority.
Other. Effect of administrative dissolution: the corporation continues to exist but may only wind up and liquidate; the agent's own authority is not terminated.
Dollar amounts named in the registered-agent statutes
Statement of change of registered agent, per filing entity
$10
○Pending review
Statement appointing an agent for service of process
$10
○Pending review
Civil penalty for executing an annual report or statement of change known to be materially false
up to $500
○Pending review
Corporation application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution (plus delinquent annual-report fees and penalties)
$300
○Pending review
LLC application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution
$150
○Pending review
Civil penalty for a foreign corporation transacting business without a certificate of authority
$100 per day, max $1,000 per year
○Pending review
18 statutory citations and their supporting verbatim quotations sit behind this section in the record and are withheld from public display until the review pass lands, because a citation presented as authority is a verification claimed. Statutory references appearing inside the summaries above are part of the recorded text rather than an authority claim, and they are not rendered as citations, linked, or emitted in this page's structured data. How the gate works.
Governance rules
7 governance rules are recorded for South Dakota - the organizational and annual meetings, action by written consent, and whether bylaws or an operating agreement are mandatory. Each verified rule links to the statutory text it was verified against, quoted verbatim below.
Organizational meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
the initial directors shall hold an organizational meeting, at the call of a majority of the directors, to complete the organization of the corporation by appointing officers, adopting bylaws
Annual meeting required · applies to
corporations ·
yes
A corporation shall hold a meeting of shareholders annually at a time stated in or fixed in accordance with the bylaws... failure to hold an annual meeting... does not affect the validity of any corporate action.
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
corporations ·
yes
may be taken without a meeting if the action is taken by all the shareholders entitled to vote on the action... No written consent is effective... unless written consents signed by all shareholders... are received
Operating agreement required · applies to
LLCs ·
no
"Operating agreement" means any valid agreement, either written or oral, under § 47-34A-103 concerning the relations among the members, managers, and limited liability company
Action by written consent allowed · applies to
LLCs ·
yes
any matter relating to the business of the company may be decided by a majority of the members... Action requiring the consent of members or managers under this chapter may be taken without a meeting.
South Dakota Secretary of State (SOSEnterprise portal)
State fee
$10 DBA (Fictitious) Business Name Registration; $10 amendment; cancellation free
Term
5 years
Renewal
$10 renewal every 5 years; renewals accepted only within 90 days of the expiration date; an EXPIRED registration cannot be renewed - it must be re-filed as a new registration
The registry is the Secretary of State's electronic filing system: statements are filed electronically with the Secretary of State, or in paper form with any county register of deeds - and the register of deeds must, within seven days, record paper filings on the Secretary of State's electronic filing system, so all filings land in the state system.
Term and renewal
Five years - the filing must be renewed every fifth year.
Assumed names for registered entities
South Dakota's entity codes provide the name-conflict mechanism: a foreign corporation whose corporate name does not satisfy the state's distinguishability requirements may either add a corporate indicator (corporation, incorporated, company, limited or an abbreviation) or use a fictitious name by delivering a certified board resolution to the Secretary of State for filing (SDCL 47-1A-1506); the fictitious name itself must be distinguishable on the Secretary of State's records (47-1A-1506.1). A parallel fictitious-name approval for foreign LLCs is referenced at SDCL 47-34A-1005 (via 47-34A-105(b)(3)). Domestic-name conflicts are governed by SDCL 47-1A-401.1, which notes 'This chapter does not control the use of fictitious names' (47-1A-401.3).
Penalties
A non-compliant person or firm may not maintain a legal action in the business name, and may not recover anything or enforce any right arising out of the business, until the required statement is filed. All persons interested in the business at any time remain liable at all times for contracts or obligations incurred while they were so interested.
Fictitious name statement - new filing or five-year renewal
$10
SDCL § 37-11-1 ('A fee of ten dollars shall be paid with each new filing and renewal.')
◎Verified
Statement on change of 25% or more of the ownership interest in the business
$10
SDCL § 37-11-2 ('A fee of ten dollars shall be paid with each filing under this section.')
◎Verified
Known gaps in the record
Publication: no newspaper-publication provision found anywhere in ch. 37-11 (full chapter reviewed, §§ 37-11-1 to 37-11-7)
Exclusiverights: ch. 37-11 is silent on whether filing grants or denies exclusive rights to the name - no provision to quote either way
Namerestrictions: ch. 37-11 contains no barred-name/deceptive-name provision for fictitious name statements (entity-name distinguishability rules live in the entity codes)
source-encoding: corpus file decoded from UTF-16 with replacement characters at section marks/non-breaking spaces; excerpts normalize those artifacts to '§'/spaces without altering wording
Common questions
Who has to file a fictitious name statement in South Dakota?
Any person regularly engaging in or conducting a business in the state, unless the business name plainly shows the true surname of each person interested in the business, or the name is already on file with the Secretary of State in a required business filing (SDCL 37-11-1).
Where is a South Dakota fictitious name statement filed, and what does it cost?
It is filed electronically with the Secretary of State, or in paper form with any register of deeds in the state - paper filings are recorded on the Secretary of State's electronic system within seven days. The statute sets a $10 fee for each new filing and renewal (SDCL 37-11-1, 37-11-3).
How long does a South Dakota fictitious name filing last?
The filing must be renewed every fifth year, with a $10 fee paid at each renewal (SDCL 37-11-1). A separate $10 statement is also required upon any change of 25% or more of the ownership interest in the business (SDCL 37-11-2).
What happens if a business skips the South Dakota fictitious name filing?
It may not maintain any legal action in the business name and may not recover anything or enforce any right arising out of the operation of the business until the required statement is filed (SDCL 37-11-5).
Recurring entity-level tax
No franchise or privilege tax in this jurisdiction
Stored as a delta against the federal baseline:
0 days this state closes that the
federal government does not, and 0 federal
holidays its filing office works through.
Verified empty delta. This jurisdiction observes exactly the federal calendar - a positive finding, not a missing record.
Provenance - South Dakota 2026 closures◎Verified
Citation withheld: this record did not clear the publication gate.
South Dakota observed status strings and their verdict
Observed status
Verdict
Confidence
(BLANK)
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
ACTIVE
In good standing
high
ADMINISTRATIVE DISSOLVED
Not in good standing
high
CANCELED
Not in good standing
high
CANCELLED
Not in good standing
high
CONVERTED
Not in good standing
medium
DELINQUENT
Not in good standing
high
DISSOLVED
Not in good standing
high
DISSOLVED (ADMINISTRATIVE)
Not in good standing
high
FILED IN <YEAR>
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
GOOD STANDING
In good standing
high
INACTIVE
Not in good standing
high
INACTIVE (OTHER)
Not in good standing
high
MERGED
Not in good standing
medium
NON SOS
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
NON-SOS
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
NOT FILED
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
NOT FILED / NON SOS
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
NOT FILING
Unresolved - do not automate on this
low
NOT SOS FILED
Unresolved - do not automate on this
low
NOT YET FILED
Unresolved - do not automate on this
medium
REVOKED
Not in good standing
high
REVOKED (ADMINISTRATIVE
Not in good standing
high
REVOKED (ADMINISTRATIVE)
Not in good standing
high
REVOKED (ADMINISTRATIVE) - PRIOR TO ORDERING SERVICES
Not in good standing
high
REVOKED (REVENUE)
Not in good standing
high
TERMINATED
Not in good standing
high
UNKNOWN
Unresolved - do not automate on this
high
WITHDRAWN
Not in good standing
high
Restricted entity-name words
3 restricted entity-name word entries
are recorded for South Dakota,
the rest requiring an agency's consent or licensure before the word may appear in a name.
Governing law: SDCL 47-1A-401.
South Dakota restricted entity-name words
Treatment
Word or phrase
Authority
Citation
Status
License required
banking (representing that one is engaged in the business of banking)
Director, SD Division of Banking (certificate of authority)
SDCL 51A-4-5: "No person, partnership or corporation may advertise, publish or otherwise represent that he is engaged in the business of banking without having first obtained a certificate of authority from the director..." Class 1 misdemeanor
◎Verified
License required
Trust
Director, SD Division of Banking (authorization to transact trust business under Title 51A)
SDCL 51A-5-1 (Use of "trust" in name restricted): "No person may assume or use the word 'trust' in such person's name in any manner which infers or suggests that the person has authority to transact such business unless the person is authorized to transact trust business pursuant to this title." Class 2 misdemeanor
◎Verified
Restricted
cooperative (or any variation)
SDCL 47-15-41 (Use of term "cooperative"): the term "may be used either by any cooperative organized under this chapter or under other laws of this state relating to cooperative corporations, or by any foreign cooperative licensed to do business in this state or by any association of cooperatives..."; SDCL 47-15-42 makes unauthorized use a petty offense; 47-15-43 allows injunction
● accepted · ○ not accepted · ? unknown or conditional (hover for the recorded condition). Channel data covers 54 jurisdictions (2026-08-15 wave). Source links render on verified rows only.
Contact the filing office
Verified against the agency's own contact page
2026-08-13 - office hours: Mon - Fri 8am - 5pm Central.
Source links render on verified rows only.
Where to search South Dakota's UCC (Article 9) financing statements, on what terms, and what the office charges to file one. Verified against the filing office's own pages 2026-09-11. UCC division contacts are listed with the other filing-office contacts above.
UCC records - South Dakota◎Verified
Filing office
South Dakota Secretary of State - Business Services - UCC Filings
Filing-office statute
SDCL 57A-9-501(a)(2): 'The Office of the Secretary of State, in all other cases' (read at https://sdlegislature.gov/Statutes/57A-9-501)
Fee schedule 'UCC Electronic Access Fees - Annual Subscription Fee': 'Search Only Access ... $300 annually', 'Full System Access ... $450 annually' (row labels truncated in render; the UCC Online Subscription Form states 'Search Only - $300.00 annual fee' and 'Full Access - $450.00 annual fee Access to: Search, File (UCC and EFS documents)'). Paper: 'UCC 2 Information Request $20 per debtor', 'UCC
Filing images online
Not stated for subscribers on public pages. Non-subscribers obtain records by mailing a UCC2 search request ('Complete the UCC2 search request form to request UCC documents', https://sdsos.gov/contact-us/assets/ucc_search.pdf), $20 per debtor plus $2 per page copies. Bulk images sold separately ('UC
$25 on paper for a one-debtor, one-page financing statement, plus $5 flat for attachments and $3 for each additional debtor name; $20 electronically for subscribers to the SOS UCC system, plus $3 per additional debtor name
Filing channels
online or paper; Paper by mail to the Secretary of State (non-subscribers prepare the UCC-1 on the SOS UCC online tool, print it, and mail it with payment); electronic filing and payment online only for subscribers wi
Expedited Service $50 (Expedited service is defined as: completion sooner than the normal course of business upon request.)
UCC-3 amendments, as the office states the fees
UCC-3 amendments (including continuations and assignments) $25 on paper or $20 electronically with subscription, for one debtor, one page; $3 per additional debtor name; terminations are free
Effective for
5 years from filing - SDCL 57A-9-515(a)
Bulk data
published bulk-data program - $1,500 Full Database Purchase (initial setup, includes copy of the full UCC database; posted to FTP with emailed instructions)
Whether South Dakota requires a general state-level business license, and on what terms. A "None" is a verified finding cited to the agency's own pages, not a gap. Which of the state's filings ask for an industry code is in the next section.
State business license - South Dakota◎Verified
General state license
None - the state issues no general business license; licensing is occupation-specific and local
Which of South Dakota's business filings ask the filer for an industry classification, and in what form. "No industry information" is a positive finding cited to the form. Where the state uses its own category list and the list was captured, it is expandable below. The NAICS and SIC reference lists are on their own page.
Industry code on South Dakota filings, 6 of 6 rows verified
Filing
Entity scope
Asks for
Required
Where on the form
Source
Formation
domestic business corporation
no industry information
not asked
Articles of Incorporation - Domestic Business Corporation (SDCL 47-1A-120, 129 & 202), Article IA
SD DOR Tax License Application (online only, https://apps.sd.gov/rv23cedar/main/main.aspx) - field not viewable; DOR keys each license to a Standard Industrial
South Dakota has 66 county-equivalents: 66 countyies. Names and codes are the U.S. Census Bureau's (2020 national county codes); county seats and official sites are not yet published here.
All 66 county-equivalents
South Dakota county-equivalents
Name
Type
FIPS
Note
Aurora County
county
46003
Beadle County
county
46005
Bennett County
county
46007
Bon Homme County
county
46009
Brookings County
county
46011
Brown County
county
46013
Brule County
county
46015
Buffalo County
county
46017
Butte County
county
46019
Campbell County
county
46021
Charles Mix County
county
46023
Clark County
county
46025
Clay County
county
46027
Codington County
county
46029
Corson County
county
46031
Custer County
county
46033
Davison County
county
46035
Day County
county
46037
Deuel County
county
46039
Dewey County
county
46041
Douglas County
county
46043
Edmunds County
county
46045
Fall River County
county
46047
Faulk County
county
46049
Grant County
county
46051
Gregory County
county
46053
Haakon County
county
46055
Hamlin County
county
46057
Hand County
county
46059
Hanson County
county
46061
Harding County
county
46063
Hughes County
county
46065
Hutchinson County
county
46067
Hyde County
county
46069
Jackson County
county
46071
Jerauld County
county
46073
Jones County
county
46075
Kingsbury County
county
46077
Lake County
county
46079
Lawrence County
county
46081
Lincoln County
county
46083
Lyman County
county
46085
McCook County
county
46087
McPherson County
county
46089
Marshall County
county
46091
Meade County
county
46093
Mellette County
county
46095
Miner County
county
46097
Minnehaha County
county
46099
Moody County
county
46101
Oglala Lakota County
county
46102
Pennington County
county
46103
Perkins County
county
46105
Potter County
county
46107
Roberts County
county
46109
Sanborn County
county
46111
Spink County
county
46115
Stanley County
county
46117
Sully County
county
46119
Todd County
county
46121
Tripp County
county
46123
Turner County
county
46125
Union County
county
46127
Walworth County
county
46129
Yankton County
county
46135
Ziebach County
county
46137
Other records held
Other records held for South Dakota
Record
Value
Status
State trademark registration
$125 per class, 4 year term, $125 renewal
○Pending review
Change of registered agent
$10
○Pending review
Who must be named in public filings
Formation: LLC Articles of Organization require organizer + registered agent only; beneficial-owner disclosure is an OPTIONAL article on the SD LLC form (formation wave state_summary). Corp articles require incorporators + RA. Annual report (SDCL 59-11-24) is the public-record forcing function: it requires principal of
○Pending review
These come from a research pass its own author graded CANDIDATES. They are shown because they are useful and withheld from every ranking on this site because they are not ratified.