SC registered agent
Registered agent service in South Carolina, $37 per year, within tolerance
South Carolina 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 South Carolina annual report, an average obligation
Annual report charge, LLC
South Carolina bills no annual report fee, per the guidance quoted below. There is nothing to economize on here, which we found unremarkable.
... companies, and associations are not subject to the annual report or the License Fee: A Limited Liability ...
Source: official state fee schedule, via incFACTS: SCDOR Corporate FAQs (annual report / License Fee exemptions)
Annual report charge, corporation
South Carolina bills no annual report fee, per the guidance quoted below. There is nothing to economize on here, which we found unremarkable.
... must submit the names of directors on Annual Reports filed with ...
Source: official state fee schedule, via incFACTS: SC SOS FAQs About Business Entities #14
Expectations set by South Carolina
Expectation
As set out in the South Carolina code:
... and (2) a registered agent, who may be: (i) an individual who resides in this State and whose business office is identical with the registered office; ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-5-101
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
... fails to appoint or maintain an agent for service of process in this State or the agent for service of process cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the agent's address, the Secretary ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-44-111(b)
Corrective action available to South Carolina
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
... (4) the corporation does not notify the Secretary of State that its registered agent or registered office has been changed, that its registered agent has resigned, or that its registered office has been discontinued...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-14-200(a)(3)-(4)
Additionally
... continues its corporate existence but may not carry on any business except that necessary to wind up and liquidate its business and affairs under Section 33-14-105 and ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-14-210(b), (d)
Authority revoked, foreign entities
... (4) the foreign corporation does not inform the Secretary of State under Section 33-15-108 or 33-15-109 that its registered agent or registered office has changed, that its registered agent has resigned, or that its registered office has been discontinued;
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-15-300(a)(3)-(4)
Standing in court withdrawn
... business in this State without a certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any court in this State until ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-15-102(a)
Penalty, civil
... The Attorney General may collect all penalties due under this subsection.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-15-102(d)
Return to good standing, priced
Charge to return to good standing
... (4) contain a certificate from the South Carolina Department of Revenue reciting that all taxes, penalties, and interest owed by the corporation, whether assessed or not, have been paid.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-1-220(a)(16); § 33-14-220(a)(4)
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.