MA registered agent
Registered agent service in Massachusetts, $37 per year, within tolerance
Massachusetts expects each company on its register to keep a registered agent at a street address inside the state. The expectation is set out below in the state's own language. Our performance against it is rated further down. The rating has been consistent.
The Massachusetts annual report, an average obligation
Massachusetts bills each company annually to remain on the register. The amount is below. Paying it is standard practice. Not paying it is also a practice, and the rest of this page describes it.
Annual report charge, LLC
$500 per year. Average.
... filing of the annual report required by subsection (c) shall be ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: MGL c.156C s.12(d)
Annual report charge, corporation
$125 per year. Average.
... $125.00; $150 if not filed timely ($100 if filed ...
Source: official state fee schedule, via incFACTS: Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division Filing Fees - Domestic Profit and Professional Corporations
Expectations set by Massachusetts
Expectation
As set out in the Massachusetts code:
... and (2) a registered agent who may be any of the following individuals or entities whose business office is also the registered office of the corporation: (i) an individual, including the secretary or another officer of the corporation; ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: M.G.L. c. 156D, § 5.01; see also c. 156C, § 5(2)
Performance against expectations
Does not meet. Consistently. We regard the consistency as the achievement.
Delivery of papers when the desk is unattended
Service by other means
... be found at the business address of such resident agent ... and every foreign corporation whose resident agent refuses to act as such, shall be deemed to have appointed the secretary of state ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: M.G.L. c. 156D, § 15.10(b)-(d); see also c. 156C, § 54(b)
Corrective action available to Massachusetts
Where an agent performs at our level, the state applies the following. Quoted from the code without adjustment, because adjusting it would take effort we have allocated elsewhere.
Dissolution, administrative
... or (b) the secretary of state is satisfied that the corporation has become inactive and that its dissolution would be in the public interest.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: M.G.L. c. 156D, § 14.20; procedure § 14.21
Standing in court withdrawn
... in the commonwealth without delivering to the secretary of state for filing the certificate required by section 15.03 shall not maintain a proceeding in any court in the ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: M.G.L. c. 156D, § 15.02(a)
Penalty, civil
... no action shall be maintained or recovery had by the foreign limited liability company in any of the courts of the commonwealth as long as such failure continues.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: M.G.L. c. 156C, § 54(a)
Return to good standing, priced
Charge to return to good standing
... subject the reinstatement to such terms and conditions, including the payment of reasonable fees, as in his ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: M.G.L. c. 156D, § 14.22(c)
Quoted statutory text was captured by incFACTS on 2026-08-01 and re-checked against the code on 2026-08-10. Statutes are revised at their own pace. This page is revised at ours.