Frequently Asked Questions

What is a Certificate of Existence?

Certificates of Good Standing, also known as Certificates of Status, Certificates of Existence, or Certificates of Fact, are often needed in the course of day-to-day business. This document states that a corporation or LLC is authorized to do business in the state and that its state requirements have been satisfied. It shows official evidence of an entity’s existence and provides a statement of the entity’s status, legal name, and legal formation. It bears the official seal of the Montana Secretary of State.

Why may I need a Certificate of Existence?

  • Apply for business loans/lines of credit
  • Renew a business license
  • Open a business bank account
  • Tax or other business purposes

What is a Labor Law Poster?

Labor law posters are the mandated state and federal employment law notices that employers with at least one employee are required to conspicuously post in an area frequented by all employees. Federal contractors and subcontractors are required to inform employees of their rights under the National Labor Relations Act (NLRA), the primary law governing relations between unions and employers in the private sector (see 29 CFR Part 471). The notice, prescribed in the Department of Labor’s regulations, informs employees of federal contractors and subcontractors of their rights under the NLRA to organize and bargain collectively with their employers and to engage in other protected concerted activity. Additionally, the notice provides examples of illegal conduct by employers and unions, and provides contact information for the National Labor Relations Board (www.nlrb.gov), the agency responsible for enforcing the NLRA.

Who is required to post a Labor Law Poster?

Federal contractors and subcontractors with at least one employee must post the employee notice conspicuously so that it is prominent and readily seen by employees. In particular, contractors and subcontractors must post the notice where other notices to employees about their jobs are posted. For more information, you may visit the Department of Labor at http://DOL.gov.

Why do I need to post a Labor Law Poster?

Businesses with at least one employee are required by federal law (29 USC Sec. 666(i) and 29 USC Sec. 2005) to post an up-to-date, compliant Labor Law Poster in the workplace. Failure to comply with posting regulations may result in fines of over $7,000 per instance and could even lead to lawsuits.

What is an EIN (Federal Tax ID Number)?

An EIN (Employer Identification Number) is a nine-digit number issued by the IRS and used to identify businesses and certain other entities. An EIN is also called a Federal Tax ID. It is commonly used for tax and banking purposes and to register your business with the federal government. All businesses are required to have an EIN.

Why Do I Need an EIN?

  • To hire employees
  • To open a business bank account
  • To file taxes
  • To apply for business loans/lines of credit

About your Annual Report: ​​

  • An annual report must be filed each year in order for your business entity to maintain an “active status” with The State of Montana.
  • It updates or confirms your records with The State of Montana, displaying your business’s most current data on file.
  • Filing is required, regardless of whether changes are needed.
  • Annual Reports are due to be filed every year by April 15th.
  • If a business files late, a $15 late fee will be imposed on you by The State.
  • If you do not file an annual report by December 1st, it may result in the termination of the business. Businesses may incur additional reinstatement fees.
  • Foreign businesses that fail to file their annual report by November 1st may have their authority revoked, and additional reinstatement fees may apply.

​Why do you need my information?

The information provided is used to complete processing with The State and IRS. Without it, we cannot proceed with your requests. We do not use your information for any other purposes except for the purposes for which you have contracted us.

When should I expect my documents?

All orders are typically processed the following business day. USPS orders may take up to 14 business days to arrive. Electronic deliveries may take up to 3 business days and will be sent to the email provided by the customer. If you do not see your order in your inbox within this time frame, please check your SPAM or JUNK folder.

What if I need to make changes to my information?

We currently do not provide assistance with updating your information with the Internal Revenue Service. For more information, we suggest you visit http://IRS.gov directly. Regarding your business information on https://biz.sosmt.gov/, we can only update or change your information during the time of annual filing. The only other changes we can assist with are those related to our own database.

Are you affiliated with a government agency?

Montana Business Filing Center is not a government agency and is not affiliated with the Internal Revenue Service or any other federal or state organizations. Montana Business Filing Center acts as a third-party application assistance company. We do not provide legal, financial, or other professional advice. We are not a law or an accountancy firm, nor are we affiliated with either.

What if I want a refund?

Since all transactions on this site are for services that require time and resources from the Montana Business Filing Center, we are unable to provide refunds once an order has been processed. If you would like to cancel a purchase, please contact us immediately by phone or email. If the order has not yet been processed, we may, at our discretion, issue a refund minus applicable merchant processing fees (up to $25).

What if my document(s) arrive damaged?

If an item arrives damaged or defective, we will gladly replace it within 7 days of the delivery date. A replacement will be shipped free of charge as a one time courtesy. Any additional replacement requests may be subject to processing and shipping fees.

What if I never received my order?

If you placed your order electronically, please be sure to check your spam or junk folder. If you are still unable to locate your documents, contact us right away and we will assist in finding and resending them. For USPS orders, we have access to all tracking information and can provide the delivery status. If your documents cannot be located, we will gladly resend your order once at no charge. Additional resends may be subject to postage fees.