Iowa Code 504.1502 – Consequences of transacting business without authority
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1. A foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority shall not maintain a proceeding in any court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority.
Terms Used In Iowa Code 504.1502
- Corporation: means a public benefit, mutual benefit, or religious corporation. See Iowa Code 504.141
- Corporation: A legal entity owned by the holders of shares of stock that have been issued, and that can own, receive, and transfer property, and carry on business in its own name.
- Foreign corporation: means a corporation organized under laws other than the laws of this state which would be a nonprofit corporation if formed under the laws of this state. See Iowa Code 504.141
- Proceeding: includes a civil suit and criminal, administrative, or investigatory actions. See Iowa Code 504.141
- state: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the territories, and the words "United States" may include the said district and territories. See Iowa Code 4.1
2. The successor to a foreign corporation that transacted business in this state without a certificate of authority and the assignee of a cause of action arising out of that business shall not maintain a proceeding on that cause of action in any court in this state until the foreign corporation or its successor obtains a certificate of authority.
3. A court may stay a proceeding commenced by a foreign corporation, its successor, or assignee until the court determines whether the foreign corporation or its successor requires a certificate of authority. If it so determines, the court may further stay the proceeding until the foreign corporation or its successor obtains the certificate.
4. A foreign corporation is liable for a civil penalty of an amount not to exceed a total of one thousand dollars if it transacts business in this state without a certificate of authority. The attorney general may collect all penalties due under this subsection.
5. Notwithstanding subsections 1 and 2, the failure of a foreign corporation to obtain a certificate of authority does not impair the validity of its corporate acts or prevent it from defending any proceeding in this state.