How to search Virginia records
- Search CIS by entity name or SCC ID; no account is needed to search.
- The record shows registered agent, principal office, and status.
- Use the "Filing History" tab for document images.
Open the official Virginia search
Virginia SOS, corporation and LLC search
Virginia Secretary of State Business Entity Search
Virginia does not keep its business register in a Secretary of State office. People who type "Virginia Secretary of State business entity search" are looking for the Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office and its Clerk's Information System (CIS). It is free to search by name or SCC ID, and the step-by-step instructions above walk through it.
Virginia Entity Search
An entity search of the Virginia 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 Virginia expects an annual registration fee yearly, a lapsed filing usually shows up as a status change before the entity is dissolved.
Virginia Corporation Search
A corporation search uses the same index as LLCs, so filter by entity type if the name is common. Searches typed as "VA SOS corporation 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.
Virginia LLC Search
Run the Virginia LLC search with the exact name, then note the SCC ID. Forming a Virginia LLC costs $100 and the annual registration fee is $50. 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.
Virginia Business Name Search
A Virginia business name search shows names already on file, not names the state will accept. Virginia lets you hold a name for 120 days for $10. The name claim guide lists the checks to run before you file, including trademarks and DBA names.
Virginia SCC Entity Search
In Virginia the State Corporation Commission, not the Secretary of the Commonwealth, keeps business entity records. The SCC Clerk's Information System is what people mean when they type "VA SOS business search". For other checks, see the business verification checklist.
Virginia UCC Search
UCC financing statements against Virginia businesses are filed with the State Corporation Commission. 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.
Virginia Tax ID Lookup
A Virginia tax ID can mean the federal EIN from the IRS or a state account number from the Virginia 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.
A commission and the Clerk's Information System
Virginia, like Arizona, registers business entities through a State Corporation Commission rather than a Secretary of State. The Clerk's Information System lets anyone search without an account by entity name or SCC ID, and shows the registered agent, principal office and filing history.
Virginia filing facts
| Record number | SCC ID |
|---|---|
| LLC formation fee | $100. Articles of Organization. |
| Recurring filing | Annual registration fee, $50, yearly |
| Due | Last day of the anniversary month |
| Name reservation | $10 for 120 days |
| Agency phone | 804-371-9733 |
What a Virginia LLC costs in its first three years
First recurring filing assumed in year 2; state charges only.
| Year | Formation | Recurring filing | Total |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $100 | $0 | $100 |
| Year 2 | $0 | $50 | $50 |
| Year 3 | $0 | $50 | $50 |
| Three-year state total | $200 | ||
A fee instead of a report
Virginia LLCs do not file an annual report, but they pay a $50 annual registration fee by the end of the anniversary month. Unpaid fees lead to automatic cancellation, so a canceled Virginia LLC usually missed a payment. Fictitious names are filed with the SCC for entities; see DBA. A free open-data copy exists but is reported to be out of date; see data downloads by state.
Automatic cancellation
A Virginia LLC that does not pay its annual registration fee is automatically canceled. It can be reinstated within a set period by paying what is owed, but in the meantime it cannot get a certificate of good standing.
How Virginia compares with its neighbors
| State | LLC filing | Yearly upkeep | Report cycle | Reservation |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Virginia | $100 | $50 | Yearly | $10 |
| Maryland | $100 | $300 | Yearly | $25 |
| North Carolina | $125 | $200 | Yearly | $30 |
| West Virginia | $100 | $25 | Yearly | $15 |
Before you rely on a Virginia result
- Unpaid annual registration fees lead to automatic cancellation of an LLC.
- Virginia fictitious names are filed with the SCC for LLCs and corporations.
Bulk Virginia business data
Terms unclear. An open-data copy on data.virginia.gov is reported unchanged since late 2024; SCC does not maintain an official extract.
Searching beyond Virginia
Registries next to Virginia: Maryland business search, North Carolina business search, West Virginia business search.
Virginia business search questions
How much does it cost to form an LLC in Virginia?
The state filing fee is $100. Articles of Organization. Keeping the LLC on file then averages $50 a year in state fees.
When is the Virginia annual report due?
Virginia calls it the annual registration fee. It costs $50, it is filed yearly, and it is due last day of the anniversary month.
Can I reserve a business name in Virginia?
Yes. A name reservation costs $10 and holds the name for 120 days.
Do Virginia LLCs file annual reports?
No. They pay a $50 annual registration fee instead, due by the end of the anniversary month.
Is the Virginia business entity search free?
Yes. Searching the Clerk's Information System (CIS) costs nothing. The Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office charges only for certified copies and certificates of good standing.
Who keeps business records in Virginia?
The Virginia State Corporation Commission, Clerk's Office. Its business line is 804-371-9733, and its free search is the Clerk's Information System (CIS).
What number identifies a business in Virginia?
Virginia assigns each entity a SCC ID. 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 Virginia businesses?
No bulk download is offered. An open-data copy on data.virginia.gov is reported unchanged since late 2024; SCC does not maintain an official extract. Individual records can still be searched for free.
Sources
Data Updated Recently