How to Reinstate an LLC in Alabama
A dissolved Alabama LLC can be reinstated through the Alabama Secretary of State. $100 Secretary of State processing fee for the Domestic LLC Certificate of Reinstatement; card payments add a convenience fee of 3% plus $2. Any unpaid business privilege tax is a separate matter handled with the Department of Revenue. Time limit: The Secretary of State form lists no deadline; reinstatement must satisfy the conditions of Code of Alabama 10A-5A-7.07.
How reinstatement works in Alabama
Alabama is unusual because the Secretary of State does not administratively dissolve LLCs for missed privilege tax filings. A delinquent LLC stays on the record while tax, penalties and interest build up with the Department of Revenue, and it cannot get the Certificate of Compliance needed to withdraw. Fixing that is a tax matter: file the missing returns and pay. Reinstatement through the Secretary of State applies to an LLC that was actually dissolved, for example by member vote or by having no members. The Domestic LLC Certificate of Reinstatement costs $100, is accepted only by mail or courier, must be typed, and needs a certified copy of the certificate of formation attached. The consent required comes from the LLC agreement or, by default, from Code of Alabama 10A-5A-7.07. If another entity has taken the name, the LLC adds the word 'reinstated' to it.
Steps to reinstate an Alabama LLC
- Consent to reinstatement as required by the LLC agreement or, if silent, by Code of Alabama 10A-5A-7.07
- A certified copy of the LLC's certificate of formation attached to the filing
- An Alabama registered agent with a street address in Alabama
- A name that complies with 10A-5A-7.09 (the word 'reinstated' is added if the original name is no longer available)
- Form to use: Domestic Limited Liability Company (LLC) Certificate of Reinstatement.
- Paper only: mail two typed copies with a self-addressed stamped envelope to Secretary of State, Business Services, P.O. Box 5616, Montgomery, AL 36103, or deliver by courier. Email is not accepted.
What happens to the LLC and its name
- Effect: The Secretary of State form states that reinstatement is effective on the date filed under Code of Alabama 10A-5A-7.10; that section also protects third parties who relied on the dissolution before learning of the reinstatement.
- Your LLC name: A dissolved LLC's name can become available to others; if it has been taken, the reinstated LLC must add the word 'reinstated' to its name.
The most common cause is a missed Annual Report. See the Alabama Annual Report guide for deadlines so it does not happen again.
Reinstatement in Alabama and nearby states
| State | Reinstatement fee | Time limit |
|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $100 | The Secretary of State form lists no. |
| Mississippi | $50 | No time limit |
| Tennessee | $70 | Not published |
| Georgia | $260 | 5 years |
| Florida | $100 | No time limit |
Mistakes that slow down an Alabama reinstatement
- Filing a Certificate of Reinstatement to cure unpaid privilege tax, when tax delinquency is resolved with the Department of Revenue rather than the Secretary of State.
- Emailing the reinstatement form, which the Secretary of State does not accept by email.
- Forgetting to attach a certified copy of the certificate of formation, which the form requires.
Alabama LLC reinstatement: questions
Will Alabama dissolve my LLC for not filing privilege tax returns?
The Secretary of State does not administratively dissolve LLCs for this. Instead, the unpaid tax, penalties and interest remain owed to the Department of Revenue, and the LLC cannot obtain the Certificate of Compliance it needs to withdraw or close cleanly. The fix is filing the missing returns and paying the balance.
How much does it cost to reinstate a dissolved Alabama LLC?
The Secretary of State charges a $100 processing fee for the Domestic LLC Certificate of Reinstatement. Paying by card adds a convenience fee of 3% plus $2. A certified copy of the certificate of formation must be attached, which carries its own copy and certification charges.
Can I file an Alabama LLC reinstatement online?
No. The Secretary of State accepts the Certificate of Reinstatement only by mail or courier. Send two typed copies with a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment to Business Services in Montgomery. The form states that reinstatement takes effect on the date it is filed.
Related: Alabama annual requirements · Starting an LLC in Alabama · Reinstatement in every state
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Last reviewed October 30, 2026 against the sources listed above. Figures marked † could not be confirmed on an official page. General information, not legal or tax advice.