Domestic vs. foreign entities
Updated . General information, not legal or tax advice.
In state registry terms, “foreign” just means “from another state,” not another country. A domestic entity was formed in that state. A foreign entity was formed somewhere else and registered (or “qualified”) to do business there.
One company, several records
A company formed in Delaware that operates in Texas and Ohio has three records: its Delaware formation record and a foreign registration in each other state. Each record has its own number, its own status and its own filings. A company can be in good standing at home and delinquent in a state where it forgot an annual report, or the reverse.
Because of that, we never treat two records as the same business just because the names match, and we show each one as the registry describes it.
Dates mean different things
On a foreign registration, the date shown is usually when the company registered in that state, not when it was formed. To find the formation date, look up the record in its home state. Our results label dates with the wording the source uses and point out when a record is foreign.
Names can differ too
If a company’s name is already taken in a state where it registers, that state may require it to use an alternate (fictitious) name there. The record will show both.
When you need a foreign registration
Generally when your company is “transacting business” in a state: having an office, employees or regular in-person operations there. Each state defines this differently, and registering usually means paying that state’s fees every year as well. How that affects where to form.