If your company was not incorporated in Georgia, but you wish to do business there, you need to apply for a Georgia Certificate of Authority. Acquiring Georgia Foreign Qualification allows a company formed in Delaware or any other state to legally transact business in Georgia.
To obtain your Georgia Certificate of Authority, you will submit an Application for Certificate of Authority, along with required certificates or certified copies from your home state. You will need to appoint a registered agent in order for your filing to be approved.
A letter of authority can only be obtained from the Master of the High Court when a person has died and the death has been reported. In that case, you and your siblings must agree on whom to nominate to represent you and receive the letter of authority.
You must file a Georgia Application for Certificate of Authority for Foreign Corporation with the Georgia Secretary of Georgia, Corporations Division if you want to conduct business legally within Georgia. You can submit this document online, by mail, or in person. It costs $230 to file (add $5 for paper filings).
Online: Georgia's Secretary of State (SOS) will process online applications in about 7 to 10 business days. In Person: Filings submitted by mail or in person are processed in about 15 business days after receipt of paperwork by Georgia's SOS.
Certificate of Authority: Definition A Certificate of Authority shows that you are authorized to do business in a state other than your original formation state.
A certificate of authority grants permission to collect sales taxes, use sales tax proceeds, and file tax returns ing to the guidelines of that state. A business license allows a business to operate in a specific jurisdiction.
If your company was not incorporated in Georgia, but you wish to do business there, you need to apply for a Georgia Certificate of Authority. Acquiring Georgia Foreign Qualification allows a company formed in Delaware or any other state to legally transact business in Georgia.