How to search Pennsylvania records
- Search the Business Filing Services portal by name or entity number.
- The record shows status, registered office, and filing history with downloadable images.
- Fictitious names are filed with the Department of State too and appear in the same search.
Open the official Pennsylvania search
Pennsylvania SOS, corporation and LLC search
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Business Search
The Pennsylvania Secretary of State business search is run by the Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations through its Business Search (Business Filing Services). Related queries such as "PA SOS business entity search" reach the same free database. Search by name first, then reopen the record by its entity number so you are reading one exact entity. The step-by-step instructions above walk through the screens.
Pennsylvania Entity Search
An entity search of the Pennsylvania business registry returns every registered type at once: domestic and foreign LLCs, corporations, partnerships and nonprofits. Read the status first, then the formation date and the registered agent. Because Pennsylvania expects an annual report yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Pennsylvania Secretary of State Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "PA corp search" land here too. The record shows whether it is a for-profit corporation or a nonprofit, and the entity types guide explains how each one appears. Corporations are formed by filing articles of incorporation, so the formation date on the record is the date those articles took effect.
Pennsylvania LLC Lookup
Run the Pennsylvania LLC lookup with the exact name, then note the entity number. Forming a Pennsylvania LLC costs $125 and the annual report is $7. Whether members appear depends on the filings; our LLC lookup guide covers what the state shows, and the business owner lookup covers what it does not. A state record never shows an EIN; use the EIN lookup for that.
PA Business Name Search
A PA business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Pennsylvania lets you hold a name for 120 days for $70. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names. Pennsylvania fictitious names are registered with the Department of State and searchable in the same business search.
PA Business License Search
A Pennsylvania entity record is not a business license. Licenses come from the state board for a regulated trade or from the city or county where the business operates, so check those separately. The business verification checklist lists which official records to pull and in what order.
Pennsylvania UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Pennsylvania businesses are filed with the Department of State. A filing shows a lender's claim on the company's assets, and it must be searched under the exact legal name on the entity record. The UCC lien search guide explains how to read one.
Pennsylvania Tax ID Lookup
A Pennsylvania tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Pennsylvania tax agency for sales or payroll tax. Neither appears in the business entity record. The EIN lookup covers the federal number; the state tax agency confirms its own accounts.
Annual reports are new in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania replaced its old decennial report with an annual report starting in 2025. Each entity type has its own deadline; LLCs file by September 30. The fee is $7 for most for-profit entities and free for nonprofits. From 2027, entities that skip the report can be administratively dissolved, so the next year will thin out the register considerably.
Pennsylvania filing facts
| Record number | Entity number |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $125. Certificate of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual report, $7, yearly |
| Due | September 30 for LLCs. Annual reports began in 2025; administrative dissolution for non-filers begins in 2027. |
| Name reservation | $70 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 717-787-1057 |
What a Pennsylvania LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $125 | $0 | $125 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $7 | $7 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $7 | $7 |
| Three-year state total | $139 | ||
Open data with one row per officer
Pennsylvania publishes about 2.3 million registered businesses on its open-data portal, updated weekly, with one row for each officer and no status field. The live name check here removes duplicate rows before showing results; see data downloads by state. Fictitious names are filed with the Department of State and appear in the same search; see DBA.
Preparing for 2027 dissolutions
Pennsylvania entities that skip annual reports will face administrative dissolution from 2027. If you depend on a Pennsylvania company, check that its 2025 and 2026 reports were filed. If you own one, file the $7 report each year to keep your name protected.
How Pennsylvania compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pennsylvania | $125 | $7 | Yearly | $70 |
| New Jersey | $125 | $75 | Yearly | $50 |
| New York | $200 | $4.50 | Every 2 years | $20 |
| Ohio | $99 | $0 | None | $39 |
Before you rely on a Pennsylvania result
- The annual report fee is $7 for most for-profit entities and free for nonprofits.
- A name reservation in Pennsylvania costs $70, one of the higher reservation fees.
Bulk Pennsylvania business data
Free full register. Format: Socrata API/CSV, weekly. About 2.3 million entities; one row per officer; no status field. Official source
Searching beyond Pennsylvania
Registries next to Pennsylvania: New Jersey business search, New York business search, Ohio business search.
Pennsylvania business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Pennsylvania?
The state filing fee is $125. Certificate of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $7 a year in state fees.
When is the Pennsylvania annual report due?
Pennsylvania calls it the annual report. It costs $7, it is filed yearly, and it is due September 30 for LLCs. Annual reports began in 2025; administrative dissolution for non-filers begins in 2027.
Can I reserve a business name in Pennsylvania?
Yes. A name reservation costs $70 and holds the name for 120 days.
When is the Pennsylvania LLC annual report due?
September 30 each year. The fee is $7, and dissolution for non-filers begins in 2027.
Is the Pennsylvania business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Business Search (Business Filing Services) costs nothing. The Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Pennsylvania?
The Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. Its business line is 717-787-1057, and its free search is the Business Search (Business Filing Services).
What number identifies a business in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania assigns each entity an entity number. It is different from the federal EIN and from the number the same company holds in any other state, and searching by it returns exactly one record.
Can I download a list of all Pennsylvania businesses?
Yes. Pennsylvania publishes its full business register free (Socrata API/CSV, weekly). About 2.3 million entities; one row per officer; no status field.
Sources
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Business
- Pennsylvania business search
- Pennsylvania Department of State, Registered Businesses dataset (data.pa.gov)
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