1.How do I get started?

Answer:

Go to the Business Services home page and click on the button entitled "File Business Documents.” You will be asked to login with the username and password. If you do not have one, set up your account by clicking the "register" button. You'll be asked for your name, business address and business email. Your email will become your username. You will be sent a temporary password which you will use to select your own password. 

2.How do I file documents?

Answer:

Once you have logged in with your username and password, the system will give you the option to form a new entity, register a foreign entity, file annual reports, file amendments, dissolved entities, change your registered agent or order certificates of good standing and certified copies. This PowerPoint presentation​ will demonstrate some of the screens you will encounter and explain the payment process.

3.How can I pay for filings?

Answer:

All business filings may be submitted and paid for online. Payments can be made with credit card (American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Discover), E- check or through an ACH account. To set up an ACH account, download (ACH FORM.pdf) and complete the form, then mail or email it to the Mississippi Secretary of State at the address provided on the form. If you do not wish to pay online, forms may be completed online then printed off and mailed with a check. Be aware that paper registrations will take significantly longer to process than online filings.

4.Why do I need an email address?

Answer:

All filed or rejected documents will be returned via email. Some documents which are paid online will be approved and filed immediately. You will receive a copy of the filed stamped document and payment invoice via email. Some online filings will still require review by the Secretary of State's staff. Once reviewed, your document will be returned filed, or with an explanation of issues preventing filing. This should occur within 24 hours of submission.

In addition, notice of any filings for a company will be sent to all emails associated with the company meaning that you will be notified if an unauthorized person attempts to file documents against your company.

5.Can I use old paper forms?

Answer:

No. Paper forms will be accepted only for a short time after the new system becomes operational. If you need assistance, please call the Business Services Customer Service Line at 601-359-1633.

6.How do I file an amendment on an existing business?

Answer:

After logging in, scroll down to the button entitled "File an Amendment on an Existing Business." You will be asked to provide the Mississippi business ID number for the business. You will then have a menu of choices for the entity. Please see the PowerPoint presentation​ for a demonstration of this process.

7.How do I change my registered agent?

Answer:

There is no longer a separate form to change the registered agent for a company. Registered agent changes are handled as an amendment using the process outlined above.

8.How do I file an annual report?

Answer:

Filing an annual report for a Corporation or an LLC, or filing a nonprofit status report, has been simplified. After logging in, choose the appropriate button under "Business Filings.” You will be asked to enter the Mississippi business ID number of your company. The annual report will be pre-populated with the information already in the system. You will simply have to update the information and submit. All entity types will now file these reports online.

Only business corporations and LLC's must file annual reports in Mississippi. Nonprofit corporations are only required to file a nonprofit status report upon request from the Secretary of State.

9.How will I know if my filing is accepted?

Answer:

The information you enter online will go into the system exactly as it is typed. The system will validate many of the fields and will inform you if there are any errors before the document is filed. Corrections may be made prior to filing. Once the filing is submitted, you will receive an email notification that it has been accepted and filed or that it is being returned to you for further corrections. Once the system is up and fully functioning, you should receive those emails the same day the document is submitted, sometimes within minutes of your submission.

10.How do I reinstate my administratively dissolved company?

Answer:

When choosing the Reinstatement button from the Business Filings menu, you will be notified that all corporations and certain LLC's seeking reinstatement will need to obtain a tax clearance letter from the Mississippi Department of Revenue. A link is provided to the Department of Revenue website where you may request the tax clearance letter. You will need your taxpayer information in order to access their website. The tax clearance letter will be emailed to you by the Department of Revenue. Save the document to your computer as you will need to attach it electronically with your reinstatement request.

After receiving the tax clearance letter, return to the Reinstatement button and enter the business ID for the administratively dissolved company. The system will ask for information which must be entered to reinstate the company. Instructions are provided on the form. The system will check the information and outline any errors prior to submission.

11.How do I register my out-of-state business?

Answer:

After setting up your account and logging in, find the button entitled "Register an Out-of-State Corporation, Nonprofit, LLC, Partnership or Business Trust." Follow the instructions provided. You will need to download, as an attachment, a copy of your company’s Certificate of Good Standing/Certificate of Existence from your home state.

12.I'm a registered agent. How do I change my address?

Answer:

Registered agents may change their address using the button entitled "File Registered Agent Address Change", found under the Amendment section of the Business Filings. Entering the name of the registered agent will pull up a list of all companies listing that agent. Changing the address of the agent will change the information automatically in all company profiles.

13.What are the filing fees for my documents?

Answer:

Filing fees for business documents are set in statute by the Mississippi legislature. The Secretary of State does not control the amount of business fees. View a list of fees for different types of filings​.

14.What is an NAICS code and why do I need one?

Answer:

An NAICS code is a six digit number which describes business types. The forms which request this code have a search feature which allows you to determine the code for your business. Choose the code which most closely matches your business activity. The NAICS code allows individuals and businesses researching your company to determine what products and services you offer.

15.Can unauthorized persons file documents on my company?

Answer:

It is a misdemeanor in Mississippi for unauthorized persons to file documents on a company with the Mississippi Secretary of State. (see, Mississippi Code Annotated §79-4-1.29, 79-11-123 et al). Enforcement of these provisions is handled by the Mississippi Attorney General.

In addition, the new filing system has several safeguards. Whenever a document is filed for a company, an email notification of the filing is automatically sent to the company’s email and to any other emails associated with the company profile. Also, should fraudulent documents ever be filed, the Secretary of State will have a record of the filer who submitted the document.

16.Do I need special computer equipment to file documents?

Answer:

No. The filing system is contained entirely within the servers of the Mississippi Secretary of State. You may file documents using any computer with access to the Internet. You may use most browser programs including Internet Explorer, but the system works best with Google Chrome.

17.Will my personal information appear online?

Answer:

No. Your company's FEIN and telephone number will be redacted from forms appearing on the Secretary of State's website. Social Security numbers are never requested.