Delaware compliance status restoration service

Comprehensive research summary and operational guidance for a "Delaware compliance status restoration service" targeted to US business owners and LLC founders (as of 2026-01-03). This answer synthesizes official Delaware guidance, reputable service-provider instructions, and recent statutory amendments.

It provides a step-by-step restoration checklist, required forms, typical state fees and penalties, timelines and expedited options, common pitfalls, and recommended next steps for offering or using a restoration service.Key conclusions (summary):- Primary causes of loss of good standing in Delaware: failure to pay annual franchise tax, failure to file required annual reports (corporations), and failure to maintain a Delaware registered agent (30+ days).

When these occur an entity may be listed as "Ceased Good Standing," "Forfeited," "Void," or administratively dissolved/cancelled.- Core restoration requirements: pay all past-due franchise taxes, penalties and interest; file all missing annual reports (corporations); appoint or confirm a Delaware registered agent; submit the appropriate revival/reinstatement/renewal form (Certificate of Revival, Certificate of Renewal and Revival, or other required document) to the Delaware Division of Corporations.- Typical state filing fees and state penalties (representative amounts found in public sources): Certificate of Revival (corporation) — $189 filing fee + $9 per additional page; Certificate of Revival (LLC) / Certificate of Renewal and Revival — typically ~$200 state fee.

Penalty for late franchise tax: automatic $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on combined tax and penalty. Exact tax, penalty, and interest amounts depend on the entity’s franchise tax liability and years outstanding.- Processing: After paying taxes/fees and filing required documents, restoration is normally processed within several business days; expedited processing options are available from the Division of Corporations and many registered-agent providers.- Recent statutory changes (2024–2025 legislation): Amendments (e.g., SB 95 and related bills) updated the General Corporation Law, the Franchise Tax Law, and the DLLCA/DRULPA/DRUPA; these changes affect revival/reinstatement procedures and require filing and payment of all annual reports and franchise taxes for periods during which a certificate was forfeited/void when reviving/validating acts.

Some changes took effect in 2025 and impact tax/refund rules effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.Step-by-step operational checklist to restore an entity for clients (actionable for a restoration service):

Comprehensive research summary and operational guidance for a "Delaware compliance status restoration service" targeted to US business owners and LLC founders (as of 2026-01-03). This answer synthesizes official Delaware guidance, reputable service-provider instructions, and recent statutory amendments.

It provides a step-by-step restoration checklist, required forms, typical state fees and penalties, timelines and expedited options, common pitfalls, and recommended next steps for offering or using a restoration service.Key conclusions (summary):- Primary causes of loss of good standing in Delaware: failure to pay annual franchise tax, failure to file required annual reports (corporations), and failure to maintain a Delaware registered agent (30+ days).

When these occur an entity may be listed as "Ceased Good Standing," "Forfeited," "Void," or administratively dissolved/cancelled.- Core restoration requirements: pay all past-due franchise taxes, penalties and interest; file all missing annual reports (corporations); appoint or confirm a Delaware registered agent; submit the appropriate revival/reinstatement/renewal form (Certificate of Revival, Certificate of Renewal and Revival, or other required document) to the Delaware Division of Corporations.- Typical state filing fees and state penalties (representative amounts found in public sources): Certificate of Revival (corporation) — $189 filing fee + $9 per additional page; Certificate of Revival (LLC) / Certificate of Renewal and Revival — typically ~$200 state fee.

Penalty for late franchise tax: automatic $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on combined tax and penalty. Exact tax, penalty, and interest amounts depend on the entity’s franchise tax liability and years outstanding.- Processing: After paying taxes/fees and filing required documents, restoration is normally processed within several business days; expedited processing options are available from the Division of Corporations and many registered-agent providers.- Recent statutory changes (2024–2025 legislation): Amendments (e.g., SB 95 and related bills) updated the General Corporation Law, the Franchise Tax Law, and the DLLCA/DRULPA/DRUPA; these changes affect revival/reinstatement procedures and require filing and payment of all annual reports and franchise taxes for periods during which a certificate was forfeited/void when reviving/validating acts.

Some changes took effect in 2025 and impact tax/refund rules effective for tax years beginning on or after January 1, 2026.Step-by-step operational checklist to restore an entity for clients (actionable for a restoration service):

Identify entity status and cause

- Search Delaware entity database (Division of Corporations) to confirm current status (Good Standing, Ceased Good Standing, Forfeited, Voided, Cancelled).- Determine cause(s): unpaid franchise tax(s), missing annual reports (corporations), no registered agent, or administrative cancellation.

Calculate outstanding amounts

- Determine outstanding franchise tax by year, plus statutory penalty ($200 automatic where applicable) and 1.5% monthly interest on tax+penalty. Confirm with Division of Corporations or Division of Revenue records.3. Prepare required filings and documentation:- Corporations: file missing Annual Reports and pay franchise taxes for each delinquent year; then file the applicable Certificate of Revival or Certificate of Renewal and Revival (depending on status).- LLCs/LPs/partnerships: confirm annual tax (LLC tax due June 1) and file Certificate of Renewal and Revival or Certificate of Revival (LLC revival forms available from Division of Corporations).- If entity was forfeited/void for lack of registered agent, include registered agent information on revival form and provide any required declarations.- Where applicable, include signed authorization from an officer/authorized person or power of attorney for third-party filings.4. Submit payments and filings:- Pay all taxes, penalties, interest, and state filing fees (e.g., $189 for corporation revival or approx. $200 for LLC revival) via the Division of Corporations online payment system or by mail. Many registered-agent services pay state fees up-front and collect from the client.5. File revival/reinstatement document with Division of Corporations:- Typical documents: Certificate of Revival of Charter (corporation - two versions exist depending on whether void or forfeited), Certificate of Revival for an LLC (llcrev09.pdf or equivalent), Certificate of Renewal and Revival where applicable.- Use the Division of Corporations’ document upload service or mail/in-person filings; check current online filing windows and hours.

Obtain confirmation and post-restoration deliverables

- Request Certificate of Good Standing or certified status from the Division of Corporations after restoration.- Provide the client with receipts, cleared tax proof, and certified documents; update registered-agent records.

Optional

expedite or validate prior acts- If retroactive validation of corporate acts is required (certificate of validation), ensure that all taxes/reports for the affected period are filed and paid per recent statutory requirements.Required forms and where to find them (state sources):- Division of Corporations Renewal/Revival instructions and forms: corp.delaware.gov/renew09/ (official guidance and links to applicable forms).- Corporation revival forms: Certificate for Revival of Charter for a Voided Corporation; Certificate for Revival of Charter for a Forfeited Corporation (available on the Division of Corporations’ forms pages).- LLC revival form: Certificate of Revival for LLC (e.g., llcrev09.pdf) and Certificate of Renewal and Revival where applicable.Fees, penalties, deadlines, and processing times (representative):- Franchise tax due dates: Corporations — March 1 (annual report + tax); LLCs — June 1 (annual tax). Failure to pay results in loss of good standing and potential forfeiture or voiding if unresolved.- Penalty and interest: automatic $200 penalty plus 1.5% interest per month on the combined amount of tax and penalty (sources collected from registrar/registered-agent guidance).- State filing fees: Certificate of Revival for a corporation — $189 + $9 per extra page; Certificate of Revival for LLCs and other entities commonly cited as ~$200 (confirm on Division of Corporations current fee schedule at time of filing).- Processing time: typical processing within a few business days after payment and filing; expedited options available for additional charges.Statutory and regulatory notes (high-level):- Revival/reinstatement procedures and requirements are set out in Delaware statutory law (Title 8 — General Corporation Law; Title 6 — Delaware LLC/partner acts) and Division of Corporations rules. Recent amendments (e.g., Senate Bill 95 and related bills) modify the treatment of revival/reinstatement and franchise tax rules; practitioners must confirm applicability for any restoration covering periods around 2024–2026.Common pitfalls and how a professional restoration service handles them:- Underestimating total tax exposure: a service should calculate year-by-year franchise tax liabilities, include statutory penalties and accumulated interest, and confirm with the Division of Corporations or Division of Revenue.- Missing required annual reports (corporations): ensure all missing reports are prepared and submitted — not just payment of tax.- Registered agent gaps: if the entity lacked a registered agent, provide agent appointment paperwork and ensure the agent accepts service before filing revival documents.- Incorrect form selection: Delaware has different revival forms depending on whether an entity is voided, forfeited, or administratively cancelled — choose the correct form and include required attestations.- Recent statutory changes: ensure revival actions incorporate recent legislative amendments requiring filing of all annual reports and payment of taxes for the period of forfeiture/voiding when filing validation or revival forms.Recommended user-facing deliverables for a restoration service (newsletter/blog content assets):- A clear, step-by-step client checklist for restoration (diagnose status, pay taxes, file missing reports, appoint agent, file revival form, get certificate of good standing).- A fee-estimate calculator/worksheet (state fees + estimated penalties/interest + service fee + expedited fees).- Template authorization/POA and signature-ready revival forms for common scenarios.- FAQs: deadlines, consequences of noncompliance, turnaround times, and why using a registered agent or professional service reduces risk.Next steps and practical advice for business owners/LLC founders:- Immediately check entity status in the Delaware Division of Corporations database and order a Certificate of Status/Good Standing if uncertain.- If delinquent, gather corporate records and authorize a registered agent or representative to request the Division of Corporations’ ledger of outstanding taxes/fees and to file revival paperwork.- For complex matters (multi-year delinquency, missing corporate records, or possible personal liability exposure), consult Delaware counsel or a qualified restoration professional.Reasoning and actions performed during research:- Collected and prioritized primary official guidance from the Delaware Division of Corporations (renewal/revival instruction page) and corroborated with leading registered-agent and compliance-service providers (Delaware Registered Agent, Harbor Compliance, IncNow, Harbor) to assemble common state fees, forms, processing steps, and service best practices.- Reviewed expert analysis summarizing recent statutory amendments to Title 8 and Title 6 (Wolters Kluwer) that affect revival/reinstatement and franchise tax rules for the 2024–2026 period.- Compiled representative verbatim excerpts from official and high-quality secondary sources (below) to support the operational guidance and to supply authoritative links for forms, fee confirmation, and statutory references.Citations (sources used) with verbatim excerpts supporting the key points: