Virginia entity search: How to find your business information

Virginia business entity information is accessible through the Virginia State Corporation Commission's business search portal. This free database delivers data points required for compliance and business transactions.

In this article, we'll show you how to navigate Virginia's search system, locate each required piece of information, and identify the specific formats Virginia uses.

Summary table: Finding your Virginia entity information

How to search for Virginia business entities

Navigate to the Virginia State Corporation Commission's Clerk's Information System portal and enter your business name (exactly as registered) in the search field. Results appear immediately with all entity details visible.

Virginia's search interface provides three matching options via a dropdown menu: "Exact match," "Starts with," or "Contains." Choose "Contains" for the most thorough search when you're uncertain about exact spelling or formatting. 

For precise results when you know the complete legal name, use the exact match option with full designators like "LLC" or "Inc."

Click the blue hyperlinked entity ID number in search results to access complete details, including formation date, registered agent, principal office address, and filing history.

What you'll see in search results

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)
• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, LP, LLP, Business Trust, etc.)
• SCC Identification Number (typically starting with a letter followed by 7 digits)
• Status (ACTIVE, MERGED, TERMINATED, CANCELLED, etc.)
• Registered agent information
• Formation/registration date

How to find your entity number in Virginia

Your Virginia entity number (officially called your "SCC Identification Number" or "Entity ID") follows the format of a letter prefix followed by seven digits (like S1234567 or T0123456). 

Where to locate your Virginia entity number

1. Virginia business search (fastest method)

• Displayed in the search results table as a blue hyperlink under the Entity ID column
• Labeled as: "Entity ID" or "SCC Identification Number"
• Format: S1234567 or T0123456 or other letter prefix + 7 digits

2. Articles of Organization/Certificate of Incorporation

• Usually at the top of the document
• May be labeled as "Entity Number," "SCC ID," or "Identification Number"
• Stamped or printed by the Virginia State Corporation Commission

3. Annual registration confirmations and state correspondence

• Appears on all official Virginia SCC documents
• Used as your account identifier
• Listed on annual registration fee notices

Virginia entity number format

Format: One letter prefix followed by 7 digits

• Example: S1234567
• Pattern note: Different entities receive different letter prefixes

How to find your entity type in Virginia

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

Where to find your Virginia entity type

1. Virginia business search (most accessible)

• Displayed: Prominently in search results under the "Entity Type" column
• Listed as: "DOMESTIC LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY," "DOMESTIC STOCK CORPORATION," "FOREIGN LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY," "LIMITED PARTNERSHIP," etc.
• Always shown in capital letters in Virginia's system

2. Articles of Organization/Certificate of Incorporation

• At the top of your formation document
• May state "Articles of Organization of [Entity Type]" or similar
• Uses formal legal language (e.g., "Limited Liability Company" rather than "LLC")

3. Annual registration confirmations

• Listed in the entity information section
• Cannot be changed without a formal amendment and filing

How to find your formation date in Virginia

Your formation date (when the Virginia State Corporation Commission officially filed and approved your business entity) appears in Virginia business search results and on your Articles of Organization or Certificate of Incorporation.

Where your Virginia formation date appears

1. Virginia business search (easiest access)

• Listed as: "Formation Date" or "Date of Formation" (for domestic entities)
• Location: On the entity detail page after clicking the entity ID
• Note: Foreign entities will show a "Registration Date" instead, which is when they registered to do business in Virginia

2. Articles of Organization/Certificate of Incorporation

• Top of the document
• Says "Filed" or "Date of Formation" with the date stamped by the State Corporation Commission
• Sometimes includes both the filing date and the effective date if they differ

3. Annual registration confirmations

• References original filing date
• Used to determine annual registration fee due dates (due in the anniversary month of formation)

Formation date vs. effective date

Virginia allows businesses to specify a future effective date when filing formation documents, creating two different dates:

• Formation date (file date): When the Virginia State Corporation Commission processed your paperwork – use this one
• Effective date: When your entity officially began operations (if you specified a later date, which appears on your Certificate)

For most Virginia entities, the formation date and effective date are the same. The SCC entity detail page displays Date of Formation, which typically, but not always, matches the filing date.

Next steps: Onboarding your entity to Discern

Now that you have your Virginia entity details, let Discern handle the administrative burden. We automate Virginia's annual registration fees, manage deadline tracking, and coordinate registered agent services while you focus on running your business instead of chasing compliance paperwork.

Ready to simplify ongoing compliance? Book a Discern demo to get started.