Find Virginia LLC & Corporation Records
Virginia business records are maintained by the State Corporation Commission (SCC), Office of the Clerk. The official Clerk’s Information System—usually called CIS—is the correct place to search corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships, business trusts and other registered entities.
This page explains what to search, how to read the result, which annual obligations apply to each entity type, when a certificate is actually needed, and how Virginia’s registered-agent and fictitious-name rules differ from a basic business lookup.
Fast answer: use the Virginia SCC Clerk’s Information System Business Entity Search. Search by entity name or SCC Entity ID; CIS also provides additional search paths for principals, registered agents and filing information.
Most important Virginia distinction: Virginia LLCs generally do not file an SCC annual report. They pay a $50 annual registration fee. Corporations, by contrast, file an annual report and also pay an annual registration fee.
Do not confuse agencies: Virginia business entities are filed with the State Corporation Commission—not a Secretary of State business division.
- Start with the business’s legal name or SCC Entity ID.
- Use only the strongest identifying information at first.
- Open the matching entity rather than relying only on a results row.
- Compare status, entity type, formation date, addresses and registered agent.
- Save the SCC Entity ID before using annual-fee, certificate, copy or amendment services.
I Want To… Pick the Correct Virginia SCC Path
CIS handles several different tasks. Starting with the right one prevents unnecessary fees and keeps a simple records search from turning into the wrong filing.
Find an LLC or corporation
Use Business Entity Search when you know the legal name, part of the name or SCC Entity ID.
Search Virginia entitiesUse an SCC Entity ID
The Entity ID is the safest identifier when similar names appear or you need to return to the same business later.
Search by Entity IDCheck registered agent
Open the exact entity to verify its registered agent and registered office before relying on service-of-process information.
Agent rulesPay annual registration fee
Virginia assesses annual registration fees by entity type. LLCs currently pay $50 per year.
Annual fee guidanceFile corporate annual report
Domestic and foreign corporations file annual reports. LLCs do not use this corporate annual-report requirement.
Annual report rulesOrder official proof
Corporations can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing; LLCs use the applicable Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration.
Certificate optionsCheck a business name
Use CIS Name Availability when you are considering a new Virginia entity name.
Name rulesContact the Clerk’s Office
For filing and record questions, contact the Virginia SCC Office of the Clerk.
View contact detailsVirginia Search Helper Before You Open CIS
How to Search Virginia Business Records in CIS
Virginia’s system works best when you separate the basic lookup from follow-up actions such as annual fees, certificates or amendments.
Open the SCC Clerk’s Information System search
Use the official CIS Business Entity Search rather than a commercial entity directory.
Open official CIS searchSearch by business name or SCC Entity ID
If you already have the Entity ID from a prior filing, notice or search result, use it to avoid close-name confusion.
Use additional search options only when needed
CIS supports other business-search clues such as principal, registered-agent and filing information. These are useful when the company name is unknown or has changed.
Open the entity detail
Compare the SCC Entity ID, entity name, type, formation date, status, addresses and registered agent before assuming you found the correct company.
Identify whether the record is domestic or foreign
A foreign entity was formed elsewhere and registered to do business in Virginia. Its original formation record remains with its home jurisdiction.
Move to the correct follow-up service
After confirming the entity, use CIS for annual registration fees, corporate annual reports, certificates, certified copies or eligible business changes.
This is a user-help field map, not an official SCC screenshot. Use the live CIS interface for current fields and records.
How to Read a Virginia SCC Record Without Making a Wrong Assumption
Entity name
Match the legal entity name rather than relying only on a trade name, website name or invoice heading.
SCC Entity ID
This is the best identifier for returning to the exact record and avoiding similarly named businesses.
Entity type
Corporations, LLCs, limited partnerships and business trusts have different annual obligations and fees.
Status
Status can affect certificates, reinstatement, good standing and whether the entity is currently authorized in Virginia.
Registered agent
The registered agent receives legal process and SCC notices. The agent is not automatically the business owner.
Addresses
Registered office and principal office addresses serve different purposes and may not be customer-facing locations.
Virginia Annual Report vs Annual Registration Fee Do Not Confuse Them
This is one of the most important Virginia-specific distinctions. Different entity types have different recurring obligations.
| Entity type | Annual report? | Annual registration fee | Due date | If missed |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia / foreign LLC | No SCC corporate annual report | $50 | Last day of the month the LLC was organized or registered in Virginia | $25 penalty; cancellation can occur after the last day of the third month following the due date |
| Stock corporation | Yes; no filing fee for the annual report | Based on authorized shares | Last day of incorporation / Virginia-registration month | Loss of good standing and eventual termination or revocation if requirements remain unmet |
| Nonstock corporation | Yes; no filing fee for the annual report | $25 | Last day of incorporation / Virginia-registration month | $10 annual-fee penalty; continued noncompliance can lead to termination or revocation |
| Limited partnership | No corporate annual report | $50 | October 1 | $25 penalty; cancellation risk if unpaid by December 31 |
| Business trust | No corporate annual report | $50 | October 1 | $25 penalty; cancellation risk if unpaid by December 31 |
Open SCC annual registration fee guidance
- Find your exact entity type in the SCC table.
- Confirm the due-date rule and fee amount.
- Use CIS after the SCC has assessed the fee; the SCC says assessments are issued about two months before the due date.
- Pay online by credit card, or use the current mail/in-person payment instructions if needed.
- Check the entity record afterward when status matters.
Open Virginia corporate annual-report guidance
- Confirm the record is a corporation.
- Check the incorporation or Virginia-registration month.
- Remember that the annual report itself currently has no filing fee.
- File through CIS and confirm directors, officers and principal-office information.
- Use separate filings for changes the annual report cannot make, such as the corporation name or registered agent.
Virginia Business Name Availability Search Before Formation
Virginia requires a new business entity name to be distinguishable on the SCC’s records from protected names and active business entities, subject to the Commission’s naming rules.
The SCC ignores certain legal designators and common words when comparing names. For example, changing only “Inc.” to “Company” may not create a distinguishable core name.
Good screening process
- Search the proposed legal name in CIS.
- Search the strongest core words separately.
- Check similar singular/plural and spelling variations.
- Review Virginia entity-designator requirements.
- Use the dedicated CIS Name Availability function before filing.
Name reservation
Virginia allows an available business entity name to be reserved for 120 days.
Current filing fee: $10.
An online name reservation requires a CIS account.
Open Virginia business-name rules
- Review the required wording for your entity type.
- Read the SCC explanation of “distinguishable” names.
- Use CIS Name Availability to test the proposed name.
- Reserve the name only if you need to hold it before formation.
Virginia Fictitious Names / DBA Are Different From Legal Entity Names
A Virginia fictitious name is a name used instead of the legal name. It may also be called an assumed name, DBA, “t/a” or “aka.” The SCC Office of the Clerk is Virginia’s central filing office for fictitious-name certificates.
Filing fee
The current filing fee for a Certificate of Assumed or Fictitious Name is $10.
Registered entity
If the applicant is already on the SCC’s records, CIS links the fictitious name to that business.
Individual / sole proprietor
Virginia also allows individuals, sole proprietors, general partnerships and trusts to file fictitious-name certificates.
Open Virginia fictitious-name guidance
- Determine whether the name is being used by an SCC-registered entity or by an individual/other unregistered business.
- Choose the correct certificate form or CIS filing path.
- Pay the $10 filing fee.
- Keep the resulting fictitious-name receipt with your records.
- If you later stop using the name, review the applicable release procedure.
Virginia Certificates & Business Document Copies
Search the entity first. Virginia’s CIS can provide several record products immediately online, and the correct document depends on the entity type.
Corporations
Virginia corporations can obtain a Certificate of Good Standing through CIS.
Current online fee: $6.
LLCs
For LLCs, Virginia uses a Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration rather than calling the document a corporation Certificate of Good Standing.
Current online fee: $6.
Filed document copies
Certified copies available through CIS are currently $6 per request. Noncertified images of available filed documents can be downloaded online at no charge.
Open Certificates & Copies guidance
- Confirm the entity type and SCC Entity ID.
- Decide whether you need official status proof, a certified filing copy or only a noncertified record image.
- Use CIS for instant-download products where available.
- For older or unavailable images, follow the Clerk’s Office request instructions.
Virginia SCC Business Fees Most Relevant After a Lookup
| Service | Current listed fee | What it is for | Useful note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business Entity Search | Public lookup | Finding Virginia entity records in CIS. | Use the search before paying a third party for basic public information. |
| Virginia LLC annual registration fee | $50 | Maintaining a Virginia or foreign LLC registration. | Late-payment penalty is currently $25. |
| Nonstock corporation annual registration fee | $25 | Annual corporation registration fee. | Corporate annual report is a separate requirement and currently has no filing fee. |
| Stock corporation annual registration fee | Based on authorized shares | Annual stock-corporation registration fee. | Check the current SCC share-based schedule. |
| Limited partnership / business trust annual fee | $50 | Annual registration. | Generally due October 1. |
| Name reservation | $10 | Holding an available legal entity name for 120 days. | Online reservation requires a CIS account. |
| Fictitious name certificate | $10 | Registering a DBA / assumed name. | Fictitious names do not have to be unique. |
| Virginia LLC formation | $100 | Forming a domestic Virginia LLC. | Use LLC1011 through CIS or the current SCC filing method. |
| Online status certificate | $6 | Good Standing or applicable Certificate of Fact. | Certificate name depends on entity type. |
| Online certified document copy | $6 per request | Certified copy of a filed SCC document. | Online requests do not add per-page fees. |
| Online noncertified document image | $0 | Research and ordinary record review. | Not an official certified copy. |
- Select the exact entity type.
- Find the lifecycle task you need—formation, maintenance, amendment, reinstatement or closure.
- Confirm the current fee and whether the filing can be completed online.
- Return to CIS only after verifying the correct entity and filing type.
Virginia Registered-Agent Rules What the Search Result Means
Every authorized Virginia business must continuously maintain a registered agent to receive official documents such as service of process and SCC notices.
Basic Virginia agent requirements
- Must satisfy Virginia’s statutory qualification requirements.
- Must have a physical Virginia registered-office address.
- Must be available during normal business hours.
- The registered office cannot simply be a P.O. box.
Do not assume the agent is the owner
- An attorney or professional service company may be the agent.
- One agent may represent many unrelated companies.
- The registered office may not be the company’s operating location.
- Agent information is public record.
Open Virginia registered-agent rules
- Review who qualifies to serve.
- Check Virginia registered-office requirements.
- Return to the business entity record and compare the current agent.
- If the information needs changing, use the appropriate Statement of Change filing rather than editing unrelated fields.
Common Virginia Business Search Problems and Fast Fixes
No matching entity
Shorten the name and search the strongest distinctive words. The business may also be using a fictitious name rather than its legal SCC name.
Too many similar names
Use the SCC Entity ID when available and compare entity type, formation date, status and registered agent.
LLC “annual report” confusion
Virginia LLCs generally pay the annual registration fee instead of filing the corporation-style SCC annual report.
Wrong certificate requested
Corporations generally use a Certificate of Good Standing; LLCs use the applicable Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration.
DBA name appears different
A fictitious name can differ from the underlying legal entity name and does not have to be unique in Virginia.
Unexpected compliance letter
Check the entity and any actual SCC obligation in CIS before paying a private solicitation that looks official.
Virginia SCC Office of the Clerk Phone, Address, Hours & Map
Business information & filing help
Phone: 804-371-9733
Toll-free: 1-866-722-2551
Email: sccefile@scc.virginia.gov
Physical address
Office of the Clerk
State Corporation Commission
Tyler Building, 1st Floor
1300 E. Main St.
Richmond, VA 23219
Mail & public service hours
Mail:
Office of the Clerk
P.O. Box 1197
Richmond, VA 23218
In-person service: 8:30–10:30 a.m., Monday–Friday.
Document drop-off: SCC lists regular business hours of 8:15 a.m.–5:00 p.m., Monday–Friday, subject to holidays.
- Use the Clerk of the Commission section for business-record and filing questions.
- Have the legal entity name and SCC Entity ID ready.
- Check the current in-person service window before traveling to Richmond.
- Use the mailing address shown for the specific paper filing when instructions differ.
Official Virginia SCC Business Resources
Business Entity Search
Official SCC CIS lookup for Virginia business entity records.
Open CIS SearchCIS Help
Explains how the Clerk’s Information System is used for searching, payments and filings.
Open CIS HelpAnnual Registration Fees
Current SCC fee amounts, due dates, penalties and payment options by entity type.
Open Annual Fee GuideCorporate Annual Reports
Annual-report rules for domestic and foreign corporations.
Open Annual Report GuideCertificates & Copies
Good Standing, Certificates of Fact, certified copies and free noncertified record images.
Open Record ServicesBusiness Entity Names
Name availability, distinguishability rules and 120-day reservations.
Open Name RulesRegistered Agents
Eligibility, registered-office requirements and change procedures.
Open Agent RulesForms & Fees
Entity-specific formation, amendment, reinstatement and closure filings.
Open Forms & FeesVirginia Business Entity Search FAQ
1. Is the Virginia business entity search free?
The Virginia SCC provides a public CIS business entity search. Fees apply to filings, certificates, certified copies and annual registration obligations rather than the basic public lookup.
2. Where do I search for a Virginia LLC or corporation?
Use the State Corporation Commission Clerk’s Information System at cis.scc.virginia.gov. Virginia business entities are handled by the SCC Office of the Clerk rather than a Secretary of State business division.
3. What is an SCC Entity ID?
The SCC Entity ID identifies a specific Virginia business record. Save it after confirming the correct company because it is useful for exact lookup, certificates, copies and filing-related questions.
4. Does a Virginia LLC file an annual report?
Virginia LLCs generally do not file the corporation-style SCC annual report. They pay a $50 annual registration fee due by the last day of the month in which the LLC was organized or registered in Virginia.
5. When is a Virginia corporation annual report due?
A domestic or foreign corporation’s annual report is due by the last day of the month in which it was incorporated or registered to transact business in Virginia. The annual report currently has no filing fee, but the annual registration fee is separate.
6. How much is the Virginia LLC annual registration fee?
The current SCC annual registration fee for a Virginia or foreign LLC is $50. If payment is late, the current penalty is $25, and continued nonpayment can lead to cancellation.
7. How much is a Virginia Certificate of Good Standing?
The SCC currently lists instant-download certificates through CIS at $6. Corporations use a Certificate of Good Standing; LLCs generally use the applicable Certificate of Fact of Existence/Registration.
8. Can I download Virginia business filing documents for free?
Yes. The SCC says noncertified images of many filed business-entity documents are available through CIS at no charge. Online certified copies currently cost $6 per request.
9. Does a Virginia fictitious name have to be unique?
No. The SCC states that fictitious names do not have to be unique and do not have the same wording restrictions as legal business entity names. The current fictitious-name filing fee is $10.
10. Is the Virginia registered agent necessarily the business owner?
No. A Virginia registered agent receives official notices and service of process. The agent may be an eligible owner or manager, an attorney, or a third-party service company, so agent information alone does not prove ownership.
Final Practical Advice
For a Virginia business entity search, start with CIS and confirm the exact entity before paying or filing anything. Save the SCC Entity ID, verify the status and registered agent, and identify the entity type because Virginia’s annual requirements differ sharply between LLCs and corporations.
Best path: CIS Business Entity Search → open exact entity → save SCC Entity ID → review status and agent → determine entity type → check annual obligations → order a certificate or certified copy only when formal proof is required.
Editorial verification: Virginia SCC CIS guidance, annual-registration fees, corporate annual-report rules, business-name rules, fictitious-name requirements, certificates/copies, registered-agent requirements and Clerk’s Office contact information were reviewed September 11, 2026. Fees and portal procedures can change, so verify the live SCC page before filing or paying. This independent informational website is not the Virginia State Corporation Commission and does not provide legal, tax or licensing advice.