Iowa business entity search

Office facts, status meanings and filing rules for Iowa. The steps below show how to search Iowa's official registry.

Federal filings only here. Iowa registry records are on the official site.

Iowa registry at a glance

Registry agency: Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services
Office: Secretary of State Paul D. Pate; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Phone: (515) 281-5204; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Address: First Floor, Lucas Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Mailing address: Business Services, First Floor, Lucas Building, 321 E. 12th Street, Des Moines, IA 50319; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Official search: Business Entities Search →; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Registry number: Business number; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06

The Business Entities Search searches by business name (first letters or words) and business number.

Open Business Entities Search on the Iowa Secretary of State site.Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Choose Search by Business Name or Search by Business Number.Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Enter the first few letters or words of the name, or the business number; results list every entity that begins with those letters.Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Select the business from the results list.Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Check the status, business number, registered agent, and filed documents on the business record.Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06

Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06

Asking for the wrong number is a common reason a search comes back empty.

Federal EIN: Internal Revenue Service; Identifies the business for federal tax. It is the same number in every state.; Source: irs.gov
Business number: Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services; Identifies the entity's record in the Iowa registry.; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Iowa Department of Revenue tax permit or account number: Iowa Department of Revenue; State tax permits come from the Department of Revenue, separate from the Secretary of State business number and from the federal EIN issued by the IRS.

LLC formation: $50 (Certificate of Organization); Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Corporation formation: $50 (Articles of Incorporation); Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Annual filing: Biennial Report; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Annual fee, LLC: $30 online or $45 on paper, every two years; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Annual fee, corporation: $60 every two years for profit corporations; nonprofits pay no fee; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
When it is due: Profit corporations file in even-numbered years and LLCs, LLPs, and nonprofit corporations file in odd-numbered years. The filing window opens January 1 and the report is due by April 1.; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Filed with: Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services, online or on paper; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Note: Iowa uses a biennial report. Many filings can be made online through Fast Track Filing.; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06

As published by the Iowa Secretary of State, Business Services, checked 2026-10-06. Fees change, and the official schedule decides.

Registered agent: Iowa entities keep a registered agent on file; a Statement of Change and an agent resignation are filed with no fee.; Source: sos.iowa.gov · checked 2026-10-06
Name availability: Check whether a name is available in Iowa →
Business forms and fees: Official Iowa business forms and fees →

A fact that could not be confirmed on an official page is left out.