You can find your West Virginia business entity information, including entity name, type, number, and formation date, through the WV Secretary of State's online search tools. The state runs two free databases, and neither requires an account: the business entity search at apps.wv.gov and the Business Organization Search at apps.sos.wv.gov.

Neither portal uses the label "Formation Date." This free online database provides access to the details you need for onboarding, compliance, or business transactions.

Summary table: finding your West Virginia entity information

Each data point you need sits in one of West Virginia's two portals, and the labels differ between them.

How to search for West Virginia business entities

The fastest way to look up any registered West Virginia business is the business entity search, which accepts searches by business name. The portal supports partial matches: you can enter a portion of the name, so searching "Mountain" returns names such as the example "Mountain View Consulting LLC." Using your complete legal name as registered gives you precise results.

No account creation or special formatting is required, and the search help page confirms there are no fees associated with viewing this information.

The state also maintains an older Business Organization Search with search modes for "Organization" and "Agent/Officer/Name."

What you'll see in search results

A completed search displays several details before you open any single record:

• Legal entity name (exact spelling and punctuation)

• Entity type (LLC, Corporation, Limited Partnership, PLLC, etc.)

• City

• Current status (for example, Active)

Click your entity name in the results to view complete details. The detail page adds the Organization Number, entity creation date, full principal office address, and registered agent contact information.

How to find your entity number in West Virginia

Your entity number sits on the Secretary of State's record for your business under three different labels, depending on where you look. The Business Entity Search detail page calls it the "Organization Number." The Online Data Services portal displays a "Control Number" field, and official filing forms such as the Articles of Organization label it "Control #."

Where to locate your West Virginia entity number

1. West Virginia business search (fastest method)

   • Located: on the entity details page

   • Labeled as: "Organization Number"

   • Format: 231603 (six to seven digits)

2. Certificate of Formation, Organization, or Incorporation

   • Form LLD-1, the Articles of Organization, has a "Control #" field at the top of the filing

3. Annual reports and state correspondence

   • The identifier appears on the Secretary of State's record for your entity, including its annual report filing history

West Virginia entity number format

The number is typically six to seven digits, for example 231603, shown on the entity details page as "Organization Number" and as "Control #" on paper filing forms such as Form LLD-1.

How to find your entity type in West Virginia

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

Where to find your West Virginia entity type

1. West Virginia business search (most accessible)

   • Displayed: in search results and on the entity details page

   • Listed as: "Type" (apps.wv.gov) or "Org Type" (apps.sos.wv.gov)

   • Shows the full designation: LLC, Corporation, Limited Partnership, Not-for-profit Corporation, etc.

2. Certificate of Formation, Organization, or Incorporation

   • At the top of your formation document

   • May state "Articles of Organization" (for LLCs) or "Articles of Incorporation" (for corporations)

   • Uses the complete legal designation

3. West Virginia annual reports

   • The name and type you report should match the designation on the Secretary of State's record

How to find your formation date in West Virginia

Your formation date, the date the West Virginia Secretary of State filed your business entity, appears under different labels depending on the portal: "Eff Date" and "Fil Date" on the Business Entity Search detail page, or "Effective Date," "Filing Date," and "Established Date" on an organization record in the Online Data Services portal.

Where your West Virginia formation date appears

1. West Virginia business search (easiest access)

   • Listed as: "Eff Date" or "Effective Date"

   • Location: the entity details page

2. Certificate of Formation, Organization, or Incorporation

   • The date appears as a filing stamp on the returned copy; Form LLD-1 instructs filers to submit two originals "if you want a filed stamped copy returned to you"

   • Form LLF-2, West Virginia's application for exemption from a certificate of authority, labels it "Date of Organization"

3. Annual report cycle

   • Your first annual report is due between January 1 and June 30 of the year after registration, with a $25 fee, per the SOS Annual Reports page

Formation date vs. effective date

West Virginia's formation date and effective date are typically the same, though the state permits delayed effective dates. For corporations, WV Code §31D-1-123(b) states a delayed effective date "may not be later than the ninetieth day after the date it is filed." For LLCs, WV Code §31B-2-206(d) caps the delay at 90 days as well; if a later date is specified, the record becomes effective on day 90.

The Effective Date is when a delayed-effective filing takes effect under those statutes. On an Online Data Services record, Filing Date and Established Date appear as separate fields alongside it.

Onboard your entity to Discern

Once you have your entity number, type, and formation date, Discern puts them to work. The platform pre-fills West Virginia annual reports from a centralized data model, files them ahead of the June 30 deadline, and provides registered agent service in the state. Deadline tracking runs automatically, so your entity stays aligned with West Virginia's requirements without anyone watching a calendar.

Discern's coverage extends across 51+ jurisdictions for teams managing entities in multiple states, combining registered agent service, annual report filings, foreign registrations, and Delaware franchise tax automation in one platform.

Book a demo with Discern to see how it handles your West Virginia annual reports automatically.

Frequently asked questions

Is the WV SOS business search free?

Yes. Neither the business entity search nor the Business Organization Search requires an account, and there's no charge to view entity name, type, status, organization number, or formation date. The only paid option is a Certificate of Existence or Certificate of Authorization, which costs $10 per certificate.

What's the difference between an Organization Number and a Control Number?

Nothing functional — they're the same identifier under different labels. The business entity search at apps.wv.gov calls it the "Organization Number," the Online Data Services portal at apps.sos.wv.gov labels the same number "Control Number," and paper filing forms like Form LLD-1 print it as "Control #."

When is my first West Virginia annual report due?

Between January 1 and June 30 of the year following the calendar year you registered, with a $25 filing fee due by 11:59 PM on June 30, per WV Code §59-1-2a.

Does my West Virginia entity number ever change?

No. Your organization or control number is assigned once, at formation, and stays with the entity for its entire life, even if the business name, registered agent, or address changes later.