(a) A foreign corporation may apply for a certificate of authority to transact business in this state by delivering an application to the secretary of state for filing. The application must set forth:

Need help reviewing 501c forms?
Have it reviewed by a lawyer, get answers to your questions and move forward with confidence.
Connect with a lawyer now

Terms Used In Tennessee Code 48-65-103

  • Business: includes every trade, occupation, profession, investment activity and other lawful purpose for gain or the preservation of assets whether or not carried on for profits. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Code: includes the Tennessee Code and all amendments and revisions to the code and all additions and supplements to the code. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • Confirmation of good standing: means confirmation by the commissioner of revenue issued through electronic communication to the secretary of state or a certificate of tax clearance that at the time such confirmation is issued an LLC or a foreign LLC is current on all taxes and penalties to the satisfaction of the commissioner. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • 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.
  • Directors: means natural persons, designated in the charter or bylaws or elected or appointed by the incorporators, and their successors and natural persons elected or appointed to act as members of the board, irrespective of the names or titles by which such persons are described. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Document: means :
    (A) Any tangible medium on which information is inscribed, and includes any writing or written instrument. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Foreign corporation: means a corporation for profit incorporated under a law other than the laws of this state. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Mutual benefit corporation: means a domestic corporation which becomes by operation of law a mutual benefit corporation pursuant to §. See Tennessee Code 48-51-201
  • Principal office: means the office (in or out of this state) so designated in the annual report where the principal executive offices of a domestic or foreign corporation are located. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Registered office: means the place in this state designated in the articles as the registered office of the LLC. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • Secretary: means the corporate officer to whom the bylaws or the board of directors has delegated responsibility under §. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Secretary of state: means the person who holds the office of secretary of state of Tennessee. See Tennessee Code 48-202-101
  • State: when applied to the different parts of the United States, includes the District of Columbia and the several territories of the United States. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
  • United States: includes district, authority, bureau, commission, department, and any other agency of the United States. See Tennessee Code 48-11-201
  • Year: means a calendar year, unless otherwise expressed. See Tennessee Code 1-3-105
(1) The name of the foreign corporation, and, if different, the name under which the certificate of authority is to be obtained pursuant to § 48-65-106;
(2) The name of the state or the country under whose law it is incorporated;
(3) Its date of incorporation and period of duration, if other than perpetual;
(4) The street address, including the zip code, of its principal office (and a mailing address such as a post office box if the United States Postal Service does not deliver to the principal office);
(5) The street address, including the zip code, of its registered office in this state, the county in which the office is located, and the name of its registered agent at that office;
(6) The names and business addresses, including the zip code of its current directors and officers;
(7) Whether the foreign corporation has members;
(8) A statement that the corporation is not for-profit; and
(9) Whether the corporation, if it had been incorporated in this state, would be a public benefit or mutual benefit corporation.
(b) The foreign corporation shall deliver with the completed application a certificate of existence (or a document of similar import) duly authenticated by the secretary of state or other official having custody of corporate records in the state or country under whose law it is incorporated. The certificate shall not bear a date of more than two (2) months prior to the date the application is filed in this state.
(c) If the secretary of state determines upon application that a foreign corporation has been transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority for a period of one (1) year or more, then the application shall not be issued by the secretary of state until the foreign corporation submits a confirmation of good standing relative to such foreign corporation.