How to Register a Business in New York: Application for Authority Guide (2026)
If your company was formed in another state and now has employees, an office or regular business in New York, you register with the New York Department of State by filing an Application for Authority. LLCs have one extra step most states don't: publishing a notice in two newspapers. Here is what it costs, what you need, and what comes after.
New York at a glance
Item | New York |
|---|---|
Filing | Application for Authority |
Where | New York Department of State, Division of Corporations, online or by mail |
State fee | $225 for corporations, $250 for LLCs (LLCs also pay $50 to file proof of publication) |
Typical processing | More than 4 weeks; 24-hour ($25), same-day ($75) and 2-hour ($150) expedite available |
You'll need | A certificate of existence (good standing) from your home state, dated within one year |
Registered agent | Not required; the Department of State accepts legal papers for you, but most companies also name an agent |
Ongoing filing | Biennial statement every two years ($9); LLCs must publish within 120 days of registering |
Do you need to register in New York?
You generally need to register if your company is "doing business" in New York, for example if you:
Have an office, store or warehouse in New York
Employ people who live and work in New York
Regularly sell to, or provide services for, New York customers
Activities that usually don't count on their own include holding a bank account in New York, holding internal meetings there, and isolated one-off transactions. If you're unsure, check with your attorney or book a call with us.
Hiring a remote employee in New York always means opening New York payroll tax accounts, even when Secretary of State registration isn't required. See the payroll section below.
How to register, step by step
Get a certificate of existence from your home state. New York accepts one dated within the past year.
File the Application for Authority. Corporations pay $225 and LLCs $250. Mail it to the Department of State, Division of Corporations, One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231, or file online. Corporations that have already been doing business in New York first need consent from the State Tax Commission.
LLCs: publish your notice within 120 days. Run a notice once a week for six weeks in two newspapers chosen by the county clerk, then file a Certificate of Publication ($50). Newspaper costs vary widely by county and can run over $1,000 in New York City.
Save your filing receipt and DOS ID. You'll need them for payroll and tax registrations.
Registered agent rules in New York
New York names the Secretary of State as your agent for lawsuits, which forwards papers to the address you list. You can also name a registered agent in New York, and most companies do, so legal papers reach a person who will act on them quickly.
Using an employee as your agent is allowed, but it means legal papers go to one person's home, and they're lost if that person leaves. A commercial registered agent avoids that. Every AbstractOps plan includes registered agent service.
Biennial statements: every two years
New York doesn't have an annual report. Instead, corporations and LLCs file a biennial statement every two years, in the month they registered. The fee is $9.
LLCs also have the one-time publication requirement: if it isn't completed within 120 days of registering, the LLC's authority to do business in New York is suspended until it is.
New York payroll accounts
If you have employees in New York, you'll also need:
One registration (Form NYS-100) for state income tax withholding with the Department of Taxation and Finance and unemployment insurance with the Department of Labor. New York City and Yonkers income taxes are withheld through the same account.
Disability and Paid Family Leave insurance, bought through an insurance carrier.
The MCTMT, a payroll tax for employers in the New York City metro area, where it applies.
Our New York payroll tax registration guide walks through the details.
New York registration FAQ
How much does it cost to register a foreign LLC or corporation in New York?
$225 for a corporation or $250 for an LLC. LLCs also pay $50 to file proof of publication, plus the newspaper costs.
How long does New York take?
Typically more than 4 weeks. Expedited service costs an extra $25 (24 hours), $75 (same day) or $150 (2 hours).
Does New York require a certificate of good standing?
Yes. New York asks for a certificate of existence from your home state, dated within one year.
Does New York have an annual report?
No. Corporations and LLCs file a biennial statement every two years, in the month they registered. The fee is $9.
Let us handle New York for you
AbstractOps files your New York registration, acts as your registered agent, opens your payroll accounts and tracks your annual filings, from $250 per state per year. Start a 7-day free trial or book a 15-minute call.
This guide is for general information and isn't tax or legal advice. Fees and rules change; confirm current requirements with the New York Department of State, Division of Corporations.