When you form or register a business in Indiana, you need a registered agent. This person or company acts as your official contact for state matters, courts, and tax authorities. No agent? The Secretary of State rejects your filing, and your business falls out of compliance.
Indiana law requires every business entity to continuously maintain an agent with a physical street address in Indiana. This is so that legal papers and government notices never get lost.
Indiana is strict about this rule: every registered business needs a qualified agent who meets all these criteria. Miss even one requirement and you risk rejected filings or losing your good standing.
Being your own agent costs nothing upfront, but the hidden costs add up fast. You'll need to stay physically available every business day, watch for legal notices without fail, and accept your personal address becoming public information.
Professional registered agent services solve these headaches. They maintain the required office, accept legal documents regardless of timing, scan everything, and email you files within hours.
Every Indiana business entity must have a registered agent with a physical state address. This requirement is built into state law and filing systems. Abandoning this obligation later creates even more serious problems, including:
Setting up or switching your registered agent in Indiana is straightforward, but small mistakes can cause rejection. Here’s what you need to do:
Initial appointment during formation:
Changing your existing agent:
Online filings process almost instantly, while paper forms take longer. Your previous agent remains on record until the new one is approved, ensuring continuous coverage.
How do Indiana registered agents manage compliance information?
A registered agent receives legal and state documents at their physical Indiana address. Professional services keep staff onsite during business hours, scan documents when they arrive, and email you digital copies, often with deadline reminders.
What happens if you don't maintain an Indiana registered agent?
The consequences hit fast. Without an agent, the Secretary of State can revoke your good standing and start administrative dissolution. Lawsuits delivered to outdated addresses proceed anyway, resulting in default judgments. Fines, reinstatement costs, and personal liability often follow.
Can you be your own registered agent in Indiana?
Yes, if you live in Indiana and have a business office at the registered address. Someone must be available at that address during business hours to accept legal documents. If you move or change offices, you need to update the state immediately to stay compliant.
How does Indiana's annual report requirement affect registered agents?
Indiana businesses must file a Business Entity Report every two years. The Secretary of State sends reminders to your agent's address, making them first to know when deadlines approach or filings get rejected. Professional agents typically send reminder emails and track filing status online.
What if my registered agent resigns?
An agent can resign by filing with the Secretary of State. The resignation takes effect 31 days later, and you must appoint a new agent before that window closes by submitting the free Statement of Change through INBiz to maintain good standing.
Indiana requires a registered agent with a physical address where someone can receive legal papers during business hours. Use your own address, and it becomes public, exposing your information. Miss important documents while traveling, and you could face default judgments, complications that multiply when expanding beyond Indiana.
Discern eliminates these problems with professional registered agent services across all U.S. jurisdictions. Our multi-state team provides guaranteed availability, keeps your personal address private, and ensures you never miss critical legal documents regardless of your location.
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