How to look up Mississippi business entity information

You can find Mississippi business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, through the Mississippi Secretary of State business search portal. This free online database provides access to the key details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

In this article, we'll walk you through exactly how to search the Mississippi database, where to find each piece of information, and what format each data point takes in Mississippi's system.

Summary table: Finding your Mississippi entity information

How to search for Mississippi business entities

Navigate to the Mississippi Business Search portal and choose your preferred search method: business name is most common, but you can also search by business ID, registered agent, or officer name if you have that information.

For business name searches, Mississippi provides several matching options to help you find the right entity. You can select "Starting With" to find names beginning with your search term, "All Words" to ensure all your search terms appear in the name, "Any Words" for broader results, "Sounds Like" to catch phonetic matches or spelling variations, or "Exact Match" for precise results. 

While Mississippi's system supports these flexible searches, using your complete legal name as registered ensures the most accurate results.

The search returns results immediately with entity details visible in a comprehensive table format. Click your entity name in the results to view complete details, including your business ID number and formation date, plus additional information like registered agent details and filing history.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Not-for-profit Corporation, etc.)
• Business ID (unique state-assigned number)
• Formation/creation date
• Current status (Active, Inactive, Dissolved, etc.)
• Details link for accessing full entity information

How to find your entity number in Mississippi

Your Mississippi entity number, officially called your "Business ID," follows a numeric format like 1041500 and was assigned by the Mississippi Secretary of State when your entity was formed.

Where to locate your Mississippi Business ID

1. Mississippi business search (fastest method)

• Located: Prominently displayed in the search results table
• Labeled as: "Business ID"
• Format: Numeric sequence (e.g., 1041500)

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• Usually labeled as  "Business ID"
• Stamped by the Mississippi Secretary of State

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Mississippi Secretary of State documents
• Used as your account identifier for ongoing filings

Mississippi entity number format

• Format: Sequential numeric identifier
• Example: 1041500
• Pattern note: Mississippi uses a straightforward numeric system without prefixes or year indicators

How to find your entity type in Mississippi

Mississippi recognizes multiple business entity types, listed exactly as shown in your business search results and formation documents.

Where to find your Mississippi entity type

1. Mississippi business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Clearly shown in search results under entity type column
• Listed as: "Limited Liability Company," "Corporation," "Limited Partnership," etc.

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• States the specific entity type being formed
• Uses full legal terminology

3. Annual reports

• Listed in the entity information section
• Cannot be changed without formal amendment through the Secretary of State

How to find your formation date in Mississippi

Your formation date (when the Mississippi Secretary of State officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Mississippi business search results and on your Certificate of Formation.

Where your Mississippi formation date appears

1. Mississippi business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Create Date" or "Formation Date"
• Location: Displayed in the main search results table and the detailed entity page
• Format: MM/DD/YYYY

2. Certificate of Formation/Organization/Incorporation

• Top of the document
• Shows the official filing date stamped by the Mississippi Secretary of State
• May include state seal with filing date

3. Annual report confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to calculate annual report due dates

Formation date vs. effective date

Mississippi allows business entities to specify a delayed effective date (up to 90 days after filing), so the formation date and effective date may be different if a delayed date is selected; otherwise, they are the same.

Onboarding your entity to Discern

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Our platform coordinates Mississippi's annual report requirements alongside your other state obligations, tracking deadlines and managing registered agent services so nothing falls through the cracks.

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