Whether you’re starting a new LLC or updating the registered agent for your existing business, it’s important to choose the best Idaho registered agent for your needs.

This article will help you to choose the registered agent that best fits your business, go over the basic functions of registered agents, and answer common questions about registered agents.

If you haven’t yet formed your LLC, you can get one year of registered agent services for free if you form your LLC with Northwest Registered Agent ($29 + state fees). (This is a great deal!).

Best Idaho Registered Agent Service

When choosing a registered agent service, you want someone who understands the importance of staying compliant and being diligent about legal processes and paperwork. That’s why Northwest Registered Agent is our #1 registered agent service choice for Idaho businesses.

We recommend Northwest Registered Agent, which offers everything that you need to form your LLC along with Registered Agent services. The company boasts over 20 years of operations helping small businesses start or grow.

Northwest has a 100% Error-Free Guarantee with outstanding customer support, exceptional services, and high prices to match. If data privacy and access to customer support are top on your list, the extra costs of working with Northwest Registered Agent may be well worth it for you and your business.

What Does an Idaho Registered Agent Do?

A registered agent does a few things for a company. Their main task is to be present when or if the company needs to receive tax or legal paperwork. These would be documents that can’t be sent to a mailbox or delivered to a front desk; rather, documents that must be handed directly to the person who represents the company.

A simple example would be a service of process, which is the delivery of legal documents in a lawsuit. These service documents must be delivered directly to the company’s representative – the registered agent – to ensure they are received.

This may seem like a small task, but the caveat that makes this a critical position is that the registered agent is required to be at the documented location to receive these papers during all “regular business hours.” This is the main reason that most people choose to use a registered agent service rather than operating as their own agent.

Other forms that your registered agent may receive on your behalf are:

• Tax forms
• Legal documents
• Official government correspondence
• Service of process

Another function of a registered agent is to file official documents with the state in which the LLC or corporation is established. In most states, businesses are required to file an annual report once per year to keep the business in “good standing” with the state.

Can I Be My Own Registered Agent in Idaho?

The short answer is yes, you can be your own registered agent.

Whether or not that’s the best plan for you or your company is another question entirely. If you are looking to spend the absolute, bare minimum amount of money on your business, then being your own registered agent may not be a terrible choice. Still, even in that scenario, we don’t recommend it.

Benefits of Using a Registered Agent Service

There are only a few realistic options when it comes to whom you file as your registered agent:

• Yourself
• An attorney
• A registered agent service

As mentioned above, being your own agent has pitfalls and isn’t recommended. What’s more, an attorney in this position would be quite expensive and is generally only a viable option if you had them form your business for you.

So, that leaves you with the option of using a service. Here are the biggest benefits of using a professional registered agent service:

Privacy

When you form an LLC or corporation, your formation data goes into a state database which is open and searchable to the public. The information in this database can include:

• Business name
• Formation date
• Registered agent name
• Registered agent address

While you can’t stop the state from publishing this information, you can retain the privacy of your name and your address by using a registered agent service. Since this information is public, marketing companies use these databases to gather information to market their products and services to business owners. Your mailbox will thank you for keeping your business address private.

Another major privacy benefit is having legal documents delivered to your agent and not you personally. If, for some reason, someone brings a lawsuit against your company, would you rather have your agent call you with these documents or have them served to you in front of your customers, clients, or employees?

Easy Compliance

Along with privacy, another of the main benefits of using a registered agent service is that they will help to keep your business in “good standing” with the state.

Some states require LLCs and corporations to file annual reports or other timely documents. While these generally aren’t difficult tasks, they are often easily forgotten or lost in the day-to-day work that your business hands you.

Your registered agent will send you reminders that this work needs to be completed, and some will even provide you with the proper documents to make your work even easier.

How Do I Elect a Registered Agent in Idaho?

All LLCs located in Idaho are mandated by state law to have a registered agent. Not having a registered agent is grounds for dissolution by the state, but it’s easy to select one. If you’d prefer, you can have an LLC formation service take care of selecting a registered agent and all other filing requirements. This is the simplest way to take care of Idaho’s registered agent requirement.

If you’d rather not use a service, you can alternatively go through the registered agent selection process yourself. You simply have to fill out the registered agent section of the Certificate of Organization, which is the main Idaho LLC formation document.

The registered agent that you select must have a street address somewhere in the state. They should be generally available during standard business hours, and comfortable accepting (and possibly signing) for official mailings.

Once you find your registered agent, you will need to choose one of the following formation processes:

1. File your LLC’s Certificate of Organization online with the Idaho SOSBiz portal. You’ll need to create an account using the name of your business, an active email address, and a credit card that you’ll use to complete the transaction.
2. You can also file by mail by downloading and completing the Certificate of Organization Limited Liability Company. You must complete the certificate before printing because the document must be typed. Article 3 has space for the name and full street address of your LLC’s registered agent. The document can be mailed to the Office of the Secretary of State, whose address is printed at the end of the instructions.

The Idaho LLC filing fee is $100 plus $20 for manual processing. Expedited manual processing is available for another $40.

How Can I Change My LLC’s Registered Agent in Idaho?

There are a few ways how to change and update your registered agent in Idaho.

• File Change of Registered Office or Registered Agent

The online form can be accessed by accessing the Idaho SOSBiz Portal. Select “Update Registered Agent,” and enter your business information to begin the process. There is no fee for making the change online. You’ll have to provide your old registered agent’s and new registered agent’s information. The new one will also have to grant consent.

The Statement of Change of Registered Agent, Registered Office, or Both form can be downloaded from the Idaho Secretary of State and must be typed when being filled out. The form can be printed out once it’s completed, and then mailed to the Secretary of State. You can find the address below. A representative of your LLC must sign the form, and so too must the new registered agent to indicate that they’ve given consent. There is no filing fee for changing a registered agent by mail, but a $20 manual processing fee does apply.

• File Your Idaho LLC Annual Report

Idaho requires LLCs to file annual reports with the Secretary of State. This can be done online through the Idaho SOSBiz portal. You can change your previous registered agent and update it to a new one if you’re within your annual report filing period.

• File Idaho Articles of Amendment

Filing an Idaho Articles of Amendment can change your registered agent. The fee is $50 to file a paper document. You can file the Idaho Articles of Amendment by mail, in person, or online. Paper filings must be paid with a check made payable to the Idaho Secretary of State.

To file online, you must log in to your Idaho SOSBiz account or create one by clicking “Create an Account.” Once you’re signed in, select “My Records.” Then, click on the name of your business and select “File Amendment.” The filing fee is $30 to complete the form.

If you have other changes to make to your business besides changing your registered agent, making business updates on the Articles of Amendment form could be a good option.

If you choose to use or switch to a registered agent service, they should complete and file the changes for you. For more information about our recommended Registered Agent service for your LLC, check out our Northwest Registered Agent review.

Idaho Secretary of State Contact Information

Mailing Address

Idaho Secretary of State
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 83720
Boise, ID 83720-0080

Physical Address

Idaho Secretary of State
Corporations Division
450 North 4th Street
Boise, ID 83720-0080

Hours: Monday – Friday, 8:00 am – 5:00 pm

Phone: (208) 334-2301

Email: Idaho SOSBiz Portal