Search Massachusetts Corporation, LLC & Business Records
The official Massachusetts Corporations Search is a free public database for corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, LLPs, nonprofits and other registered entities. You can search by entity name, individual name, 9-digit identification number or filing number.
For most users, the safest approach is to find the entity by name, open the full record, save its identification number and review the filing history before ordering certificates or submitting a filing.
Best first search: choose Entity Name. Use Full Text if you know only part of the name, or Soundex when the spelling may be uncertain.
Exact lookup: Massachusetts identification-number search requires the complete 9-digit ID. If your number is incomplete, search by entity name first.
Important: a Corporations Division record shows business-entity filing information. It does not automatically prove professional licensing, tax compliance, insurance or financial reliability.
How to Search the Massachusetts Corporate Database
Massachusetts gives you four main search paths. Starting with the right one usually saves more time than adding lots of search terms.
- Open the official Massachusetts Corporations Search.
- Select Entity Name, Individual Name, Identification Number or Filing Number.
- If searching a business name, choose the search method that fits what you know.
- Open the matching entity rather than relying only on the search-results list.
- Review the entity type, status, address, resident agent, officers/managers and filing history shown in the record.
- Save the 9-digit identification number before ordering documents or filing updates.
Which Massachusetts Search Method Should You Use?
| Search option | Best use | What to enter | Practical tip |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entity Name | You know the corporation, LLC, LP, LLP or other entity name. | The strongest distinctive words from the name. | Start broad before adding LLC, Inc., Corp., punctuation or extra words. |
| Individual Name | You know an officer, director or another listed individual. | First, middle and last name fields; last name is required. | Useful when the company changed names or you know the person better than the entity. |
| Identification Number | You already know the exact state entity ID. | A complete 9-digit Massachusetts identification number. | This is the cleanest exact-record search. |
| Filing Number | You have a filing reference from a state document. | The filing number exactly as shown. | Use it for document-level research, not general name searching. |
Entity-name search types
| Method | What it does | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| Exact Match | Returns records matching the entered criteria exactly. | You know the full legal name. |
| Begins With | Returns names beginning with the words you entered. | You know the first part of the legal name. |
| Full Text | Returns entity names containing the words entered. | You know only part of the business name. |
| Soundex | Finds records that sound similar to the search terms. | The spelling may be wrong or uncertain. |
What to Check After You Find the Business
Identify the exact entity
- Legal entity name
- 9-digit identification number
- Entity type
- State of organization or jurisdiction where shown
- Current status shown by the database
Review the supporting record
- Resident / registered agent information
- Officers, directors, managers or signatories where applicable
- Principal or business address information
- Annual reports
- Amendments, mergers, dissolutions and other filing history
Massachusetts Business Name Availability & Reservation
A database search is a useful screening step, but Massachusetts applies legal name-conflict rules. The Corporations Division says a proposed corporate name may not be the same as, or so similar that it is likely to be mistaken for, another protected name.
Before filing
- Search the full proposed name.
- Search the strongest distinctive words.
- Try Full Text and Soundex.
- Check close spelling and plural variations.
- Review reserved names and trademarks when relevant.
Name reservation
The current Massachusetts fee is $30.
An approved reservation lasts 60 days.
It can be extended for another 60 days with another $30 filing fee.
Open Massachusetts name-reservation guidance.
- Search both the corporate database and the name-reservation database.
- Review the Massachusetts name-conflict standard.
- Download the reservation form only if you actually need to hold the name before filing.
- Do not treat domain or social-media availability as state name approval.
Massachusetts Annual Report Deadlines
One of the biggest mistakes on Massachusetts business pages is treating LLC and corporation annual reports as if they use the same deadline. They do not.
| Entity type | When report is due | Current listed fee | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic LLC | On or before the anniversary date of the original Certificate of Organization. | $500 | The LLC annual report can update many certificate details, but registered-agent or office changes use their own procedure. |
| Foreign LLC | On or before the anniversary date of its Massachusetts registration. | $500 | Foreign LLCs use the registration anniversary rather than a corporation-style fiscal-year deadline. |
| Domestic profit corporation | Within 2½ months after the close of the corporation’s fiscal year. | $125 paper; $100 electronic; $150 if late | Confirm the fiscal year before assuming a calendar deadline. |
| Foreign business corporation | Within 2½ months after the close of the corporation’s fiscal year. | $125 paper; $100 electronic; $150 if late | The same statutory timing applies to corporations authorized to transact business in Massachusetts. |
| Limited partnership | On or before the anniversary date of the original certificate. | $500; $450 electronically | Use the LP-specific filing path rather than LLC forms. |
Massachusetts LLC filing guidance · Massachusetts corporation filing guidance
Good Standing Certificates & Certified Copies
Use the free search for basic research. Order official documents only when a bank, lender, attorney, agency, marketplace or transaction requires formal proof.
| Document | Base fee | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Corporation Certificate of Good Standing | $12 | Corporations Division proof of corporate good standing. This is not tax good standing. |
| LLC Certificate of Good Standing | $25 | Formal Corporations Division status proof for an LLC. |
| LLC Certificate of Existence | $12 | Proof of legal existence where good-standing language is not required. |
How to order a certified copy of a filed document
- Search the corporate database.
- Open the correct entity.
- Scroll to the filing area.
- Select ALL FILINGS.
- Choose view filings.
- Check the filing you want.
- Select request.
- Follow the payment instructions.
Read the official certified-copy instructions.
Electronic certificates
Massachusetts offers email delivery for certain certificate types. When email delivery is available, the certificate request form displays an email option. Emailed certificates include the Massachusetts state seal, a unique certificate number and a state verification path.
Corporations Division Good Standing Is Not Tax Good Standing
This distinction matters because Massachusetts has two different kinds of “good standing” requests handled by different agencies.
Corporations Division certificate
Use this when you need proof related to the entity’s corporate or LLC filing status with the Secretary of the Commonwealth.
The Corporations Division fee schedule specifically notes that its corporate Certificate of Good Standing is not a tax good-standing certificate.
Department of Revenue tax certificate
Use the Massachusetts Department of Revenue when you need proof that tax filings and payments are in good standing.
DOR says its Certificate of Good Standing and/or Tax Compliance has no fee and recommends requesting it through MassTaxConnect.
- Open MassTaxConnect.
- If logged in, choose More.
- Under Other Actions, choose Request a Certificate of Good Standing.
- Select the reason for the request.
- Complete and submit the application.
Using Massachusetts Online Filing
Public search does not require a business login, but filing for an existing entity is different.
Existing entity
The online filing system asks existing entities to sign in with a pre-assigned Customer ID Number (CID) and PIN.
If you do not have the CID/PIN, the state’s current login page directs users to corpcid@sec.state.ma.us.
New entity
The login page provides a separate formation path for users creating a new entity.
Massachusetts also notes that not every filing is available online; filings not offered online must use the appropriate paper method.
Open Massachusetts online corporate filing.
- Have the entity’s CID and PIN ready.
- Sign in to the Corporations Division filing system.
- Choose the filing available for that entity.
- Review pre-filled information carefully.
- Complete all required fields and confirm the final filing fee before submission.
Common Massachusetts Corporations Division Fees
The public entity search is free. Filing and document fees depend heavily on the entity type and filing method.
| Service | Current listed fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|
| Public corporate database search | Free | Search by entity, individual, 9-digit ID or filing number. |
| Domestic LLC Certificate of Organization | $500 | Formation filing for a Massachusetts LLC. |
| LLC annual report | $500 | Due by the relevant anniversary date. |
| Domestic profit corporation Articles of Organization | $275 minimum | Base amount applies up to the state’s listed share threshold; additional shares can increase the fee. |
| Corporation annual report | $125 paper; $100 electronic; $150 late | Due within 2½ months after fiscal year end. |
| Name reservation | $30 | Reservation lasts 60 days; extension requires another fee. |
| Corporation good-standing certificate | $12 base fee | Not a DOR tax-good-standing certificate. |
| LLC good-standing certificate | $25 base fee | Electronic service charges can increase the checkout total. |
| LLC certificate of existence | $12 base fee | Different from an LLC good-standing certificate. |
Check the current Massachusetts Corporations Division fee schedule.
Common Massachusetts Business Search Problems
| Problem | What to do |
|---|---|
| No results found | Try Full Text, remove LLC/Inc./Corp. and punctuation, then try Soundex if spelling is uncertain. |
| Too many similar names | Open each close record and compare the 9-digit identification number, entity type, address and status. |
| Identification number rejected | Massachusetts requires 9 digits. Search by entity name first if your number is incomplete. |
| Business changed names | Try Individual Name, filing history, Filing Number or an older entity name. |
| Need an official filing copy | Open the entity record, choose ALL FILINGS, select the document and use the official request process. |
| Need proof of tax compliance | Use Massachusetts DOR / MassTaxConnect rather than ordering only a Corporations Division certificate. |
Massachusetts Corporations Division Contact Information
Office address
Secretary of the Commonwealth
Corporations Division
1 Ashburton Place, 17th Floor
Boston, MA 02108
Office hours
Filing Room:
Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Public & Phone Room:
Monday–Friday, 8:45 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Official Massachusetts Business Entity Resources
Search by entity name, individual name, 9-digit identification number or filing number.
Official explanation of Exact Match, Begins With, Full Text and Soundex.
Central page for filings, forms, certificates, UCC, trademarks, fees and corporate records.
Existing entities use CID and PIN; new entities use the separate formation path.
Current fees for corporations, LLCs, partnerships, certificates, UCC and other services.
Official workflow for selecting a filed document and requesting certification.
Massachusetts name-reservation rules, 60-day period and $30 filing fee.
Use this when you need proof of Massachusetts tax compliance rather than Corporations Division entity status.
Massachusetts Business Entity Search FAQ
1. Is the Massachusetts business entity search free?
Yes. The Secretary of the Commonwealth’s public Corporations Search is free and available to everyone. Fees apply to filings, certificates, certified copies and other paid services.
2. Where do I search for a Massachusetts corporation or LLC?
Use the official Massachusetts Corporations Search operated by the Secretary of the Commonwealth. It supports Entity Name, Individual Name, Identification Number and Filing Number searches.
3. What is the best search method if I do not know the exact business name?
Use Full Text when you know part of the entity name. If the spelling may be wrong, try Soundex. Exact Match is best only when you know the legal name precisely.
4. How many digits are in a Massachusetts business identification number?
The official Corporations Search requires a 9-digit identification number. If your number is incomplete, search by entity name and copy the full ID from the correct record.
5. Can I search a Massachusetts company by officer or director name?
Yes. Choose Individual Name on the official search page. The search provides first, middle and last-name fields and can help when you know a connected individual but not the entity name.
6. When is a Massachusetts LLC annual report due?
A domestic LLC files its annual report on or before the anniversary date of its original Certificate of Organization. A foreign LLC uses the anniversary date of its Massachusetts registration. The current filing fee is $500.
7. When is a Massachusetts corporation annual report due?
A business corporation authorized in Massachusetts generally files within two and one-half months after the close of its fiscal year. The current domestic profit-corporation fee is $125 on paper, $100 electronically and $150 when filed late.
8. How do I order a certified copy of a Massachusetts corporate filing?
Search the entity, open its record, select ALL FILINGS, view the filing list, check the document you need, choose request and follow the state’s payment instructions.
9. Is a Massachusetts Corporations Division Certificate of Good Standing proof of tax compliance?
No. The Corporations Division specifically distinguishes its entity good-standing certificate from tax good standing. Massachusetts tax good-standing requests are handled by the Department of Revenue through MassTaxConnect.
10. Who do I contact for Massachusetts Corporations Division help?
Call 617-727-9640 or email corpinfo@sec.state.ma.us. The Corporations Division is at 1 Ashburton Place, 17th Floor, Boston, MA 02108.