Search DC LLC & Corporation Records in BOSS
The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, or DLCP, maintains DC corporate registrations through its Corporations Division. The current online system is BOSS, which replaced the older CorpOnline branding.
Use BOSS to search registered entities, review report history, trade names, registered agents and governor information, then move to biennial reports, certificates or other filings only after confirming the correct business.
Fast answer: use BOSS at boss.dc.gov. The current DLCP system can search registered entities and provide expanded information such as report history, trade names, registered agents and governor information.
Important update: older instructions and screenshots may say CorpOnline. DLCP now calls the platform BOSS (formerly CorpOnline). Your existing Access DC account can still be used.
Do not confuse three different records: corporate registration, a DC business license and a Certificate of Clean Hands answer different compliance questions.
How to Search a DC Business in BOSS
BOSS is more than a filing portal. DLCP says it can search all registered entities and show expanded corporate information.
- Open BOSS.
- Use the business-filings or registered-entity search area.
- Search the strongest identifying words from the legal business name.
- Open the matching entity rather than relying only on a results row.
- Compare the entity type, status, registered agent, report history and other entity details.
- Save the entity/file information before ordering a certificate or submitting a filing.
Image description: this reference helps identify the older DC corporate-search interface that users may still see in past guides or screenshots. It is not a claim that this website is an official DC government website.
What to Check on a DC Corporate Record
Entity identity
- Exact legal name
- Entity type
- Domestic or foreign registration
- Entity/file information
- Registration status
Compliance clues
- Registered agent
- Registered-agent address
- Biennial report history
- Trade-name information
- Governor or management information shown in BOSS
DC Biennial Reports: April 1 Is the Date to Remember
Registered DC filing entities must file the BRA-25 Biennial Report and maintain a registered agent to remain active and in good standing with the Corporations Division.
First report
The first biennial report is due by April 1 of the calendar year immediately after registration.
Example: if an LLC registers in DC during 2026, its first BRA-25 report is due April 1, 2027.
Later reports
After the first report, another BRA-25 report is due by April 1 every two years.
Using the example above, the next report would generally be due April 1, 2029.
| Entity category | Current biennial fee | Late fee |
|---|---|---|
| Business corporation | $300 | $100 |
| Limited liability company | $300 | $100 |
| Other entity types | Varies | Varies |
The BRA-25 report can update information such as the business address, registered agent, purpose and beneficial ownership information required by DC law.
Open DLCP’s biennial-report guidance.
- Find the section titled Maintaining a Corporate Registration.
- Review the BRA-25 due-date rule.
- Log into BOSS to file the report.
- After submission, save the confirmation page and filing summary.
- DLCP says a copy is also sent to the BOSS user’s email and stored under Certificates & Filing Images.
DC Trade Names: When the Public Name Differs From the Legal Name
DC uses the term trade name for a business name that differs from the true legal name of the owner or registered entity. This is the District’s version of a DBA or fictitious business name.
| Trade-name action | Current fee |
|---|---|
| Registration | $55 |
| Renewal | $55 |
| Late renewal fee | Additional $55 |
| Amendment | $55 |
| Cancellation | $55 |
The first renewal is due by April 1 of the second year from the year of registration and every two years after that. A late renewal can generally be filed through August 31 with the late fee; an unrenewed name is canceled September 1.
Open the official DC Trade Name guide.
- Confirm that you are actually using a name different from the true legal name.
- Review the renewal calendar if the name is already registered.
- For a new trade name, log into BOSS.
- Use Filings > Trade Name Services.
- Select the Trade Name Registration option and complete the filing.
- Print or save the confirmation page after submission.
Good Standing Certificates and Certified Copies
Once you confirm the correct entity, BOSS can be used to request official proof and copies of filed corporate documents.
| Service | Common for-profit fee | Use |
|---|---|---|
| Certificate of Good Standing / status certificate | $50 | Official entity-status proof for banks, lenders, landlords, vendors or contracts. |
| Certified copy of filing | $50 | Certified copy of a specific Corporations Division filing. |
- Sign into BOSS.
- Select Certificates & Certified Copies.
- Choose the Good Standing Certificate tile.
- Search for the entity and open the correct name.
- Submit payment.
- DLCP says the certificate will appear in the Certificates and Filing Images area.
- Select Certificates & Certified Copies.
- Choose Certified Copy Request.
- Search the entity.
- Select the specific filing you need.
- Submit a separate request for each filing that requires certification.
Good Standing Is Not the Same as a DC Certificate of Clean Hands
This distinction matters because users frequently search the corporate database when a licensing agency, grant program or contract actually requires tax-compliance proof.
Certificate of Good Standing
Issued through the DLCP Corporations Division / BOSS for qualifying registered business entities.
It addresses the entity’s corporate-registration standing.
Certificate of Clean Hands
Administered by the DC Office of Tax and Revenue, not the Corporations Division.
It addresses District tax-return and debt compliance and can be required for licenses, permits, grants or contracts.
Open the official DC Certificate of Clean Hands page.
- Determine whether you are requesting the certificate as a DC taxpayer or non-DC resident.
- Use MyTax.DC.gov according to the instructions.
- Confirm required tax returns have been filed.
- Resolve applicable District debt issues if the system does not issue the certificate.
Corporate Registration vs DC Business License
DLCP specifically treats corporate registration as separate from business licensing, permits and tax registration.
Corporations Division registration
Shows that a corporation, LLC, partnership, cooperative or statutory trust has been registered as required with DC’s corporate registrar.
Business license
Addresses whether a business has the license required for a particular business activity. BOSS Global Search can be used to check license or registration information.
Open DLCP Online Resources and business-license verification guidance.
DC Registered-Agent Requirements
Domestic and foreign filing entities are required to appoint and maintain a registered agent in the District.
Address requirement
The registered agent must have a physical street address in the District of Columbia.
A P.O. box, third-party mailbox such as a UPS/FedEx mailbox, or an address outside DC does not satisfy the registered-agent address requirement.
Who may serve
A qualifying individual or entity can serve. DLCP also distinguishes commercial registered agents from noncommercial agents.
A person or entity representing more than 50 entities as registered agent must register as a commercial registered agent.
Open DC corporate registration and registered-agent guidance.
Out-of-State Businesses Registering in DC
A business formed in another state or country generally must register as a foreign entity if it is transacting business in the District, subject to statutory exceptions.
For-profit foreign entities such as LLCs and business corporations currently have a $220 foreign registration statement fee.
- Sign into BOSS.
- Select Create or Register Entity.
- Choose Foreign.
- Select the correct entity type.
- Enter the requested business information.
- Upload the qualifying home-state Good Standing Certificate.
- Submit payment and save the filing confirmation.
DC Business Entity Fees Most Relevant After a Search
| Service | Current listed fee | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| LLC biennial report | $300 | Late fee is an additional $100. |
| Business corporation biennial report | $300 | Late fee is an additional $100. |
| LLC / business corporation Good Standing or status certificate | $50 | Trade names cannot receive a Good Standing Certificate. |
| LLC / business corporation certified copy | $50 | Request each filing separately. |
| Trade-name registration | $55 | Renewal, amendment and cancellation are also $55. |
| Foreign for-profit registration | $220 | Home-jurisdiction Good Standing Certificate must be recent. |
| Expedited 3-day service | $50 extra | Added to the normal statutory filing fee. |
| Expedited 1-day service | $100 extra | DLCP describes this as processing by the end of the next business day. |
Entity type matters. Nonprofit and other entity categories can have different fees, so confirm the exact entity-specific fee schedule before paying.
Check current DC LLC fees or check current business-corporation fees.
Common DC Business Search Problems
| Problem | Best next step |
|---|---|
| Old instructions say CorpOnline | Use boss.dc.gov. BOSS is the current name for the platform formerly called CorpOnline. |
| No entity found | Shorten the name and remove legal suffixes and punctuation. The public-facing name may also be a trade name. |
| Entity found but license unclear | Use BOSS Global Search / DLCP license verification rather than the corporate record alone. |
| Good Standing requested but trade name found | Find the underlying entity. DLCP does not issue Good Standing Certificates for trade names. |
| Entity is not in good standing | Check BRA-25 biennial reports and registered-agent compliance before filing unrelated changes. |
| Bank asks for “Clean Hands” | Use the Office of Tax and Revenue process; a corporate Good Standing Certificate is a different document. |
DC Corporations Division Phone, Address & Hours
Office address
Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection
1100 4th Street SW
Washington, DC 20024
Service hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday & Friday:
8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Thursday:
10:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
In-person service stops accepting visitors at 4 p.m.
Official DC Business Entity Resources
Current portal for corporate registrations, filings, biennial reports, trade names, certificates and business-license services.
Official overview of registered entity types, BOSS access, trade names and corporate services.
Detailed BOSS instructions, biennial-report rules, certificates, foreign entities and registered-agent requirements.
Registration, renewal calendar, late filing and current trade-name fees.
Access DC, BOSS, business-license verification and other online services.
Office of Tax and Revenue process for tax/debt compliance proof; separate from corporate Good Standing.
DC Business Entity Search FAQ
1. What replaced DC CorpOnline?
DLCP now uses BOSS, formerly CorpOnline. The current portal is boss.dc.gov, and existing Access DC accounts can be used to access the system.
2. Where do I search for a DC LLC or corporation?
Use BOSS through the DC Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection. BOSS can search registered entities and display information such as report history, trade names, registered agents and governor information.
3. When is a DC biennial report due?
The first BRA-25 Biennial Report is due by April 1 of the calendar year immediately following registration. Later reports are due by April 1 every two years after that.
4. How much is a DC LLC biennial report?
The current DLCP LLC fee schedule lists the biennial report at $300, with an additional $100 late fee.
5. How much is a DC Certificate of Good Standing for an LLC or business corporation?
The current DLCP fee schedules list $50 for a Certificate of Good Standing or other status certificate for LLCs and business corporations.
6. Can I get a Certificate of Good Standing for a DC trade name?
No. DLCP specifically states that a Good Standing Certificate cannot be issued for a trade name. You need to identify the underlying registered entity if formal entity-status proof is required.
7. How often does a DC trade name need to be renewed?
The first renewal is due by April 1 of the second year from the year of registration and every two years thereafter. Late renewal is available with an additional fee through August 31; unrenewed names are canceled September 1.
8. Is a DC Certificate of Good Standing the same as a Certificate of Clean Hands?
No. Good Standing is a corporate-registration document from DLCP, while a Certificate of Clean Hands is administered by the DC Office of Tax and Revenue and addresses tax-return and District debt compliance.
9. Does a DC corporate registration prove that the business has a license?
No. Corporate registration and business licensing are separate. Use BOSS Global Search or the relevant DLCP licensing service to verify the business license required for the activity.
10. What happens if a DC entity does not maintain a registered agent?
DLCP states that an entity’s status may be revoked if it fails to maintain a registered agent for more than 60 days. The registered agent must have a physical street address in the District of Columbia.