Frequently Asked Questions

What is a registered agent in Pennsylvania?

A registered agent is an individual or company designated to receive legal documents, service of process, and official state correspondence on behalf of your business. Pennsylvania law generally expects every LLC and corporation to maintain a registered agent with a physical address in the state.

Why does my business need a registered agent?

The Pennsylvania Secretary of State maintains registered agent information for all business entities filed in the state. Having a properly designated agent ensures you receive important legal documents, compliance notices, and state correspondence reliably. Operating without proper registered agent designation may result in compliance violations.

Who can serve as a registered agent in Pennsylvania?

Individuals must be 18 years or older with a physical Pennsylvania address (Pennsylvania residency is not required). Business entities must be authorized to operate in Pennsylvania. An entity can appoint itself or use a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP). CROPs are officially recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of State.

What documents will my registered agent receive?

Your registered agent receives service of process, lawsuits, subpoenas, official state correspondence, tax notices, compliance reminders including annual report notifications, and other legal documents requiring an official point of contact for your business.

Can I be my own registered agent?

Yes, if you are 18 years or older with a physical Pennsylvania address. However, doing so places your personal address on public records with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. You also need to maintain availability during regular business hours to receive documents. Many Pennsylvania business owners prefer professional service for privacy and operational efficiency.

How do I change my registered agent in Pennsylvania?

Choose a new agent meeting state requirements, file the change form with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State, pay the filing fee, and confirm the change in state records. Pennsylvania charges $5 for domestic entities ($250 for foreign entities). When you enroll with us, we handle the filing process.

What is Pennsylvania's new annual report requirement?

Pennsylvania implemented a new annual report requirement effective January 1, 2025, replacing the former 10-year Decennial Report. The annual filing costs $7 and is due September 30 each year. Pennsylvania is providing a grace period through 2026 with no dissolution for non-filing during this transition period.

Where is the Pennsylvania Secretary of State website?

Access Pennsylvania business filing information at https://www.pa.gov/agencies/dos/.

Why is your service priced at $99 per year?

We provide comprehensive registered agent service at competitive pricing. The $99 annual fee covers your physical Pennsylvania address, SOP capture for Pennsylvania, compliance reminders, online portal access, and privacy protection. No additional fees or undisclosed charges.

What does the $99 annual fee include?

Comprehensive service: a physical in-state address for state filings, court documents imaged for Pennsylvania, secure online portal access, compliance reminders for annual report and other deadlines, and privacy protection for your personal information.

How quickly do you forward documents?

We scan and upload documents to your secure portal the same day they arrive at our office. You receive immediate notification and can download all materials without delay.

How do I enroll for service?

Visit our checkout page and provide your business information. We coordinate with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State and provide portal credentials within one business day.

Will you accept the Google or Amazon verification mail at this address?

Not at the registered office address. The Pennsylvania service is calibrated to what the Department of State expects a registered agent (or Commercial Registered Office Provider, CROP) to receive, and that scope determines how each category gets processed.

The question we field most often is, "Can I get regular mail here?" — and answering honestly requires sorting things into three groups.

Group one: legal service. When somebody serves your Pennsylvania entity through us — a complaint, a subpoena, a writ — the document is imaged on the day of service, the file goes into your portal that day, and we never invoice for the work. Annual count is unlimited. This is the protection the $99/yr fee is built around.

Group two: official agency mail. Items from the Pennsylvania Department of State, the Pennsylvania Department of Revenue, IRS notices, or analogous bodies all count toward the same allowance. Within a calendar year, three items get a complimentary same-day scan. Each item past the first three triggers per-letter billing — you either pay a fixed amount to scan, or you pay a fixed amount to ship the original. Customers decide for every letter individually, and the two charges never apply together.

Group three: everything else. Boxes and parcels of any size. Direct-mail advertising. Postcards from Google for confirming a Maps listing. Letters from Amazon for confirming a marketplace seller. Other identity-verification mail from third-party services. General business correspondence. None of it lands at the Pennsylvania registered office.

Outbound paper is its own line item across every group. The base plan does not bundle complimentary postal forwarding, including for legal documents that were imaged at no charge.

The good news for Pennsylvania businesses that genuinely need a regular mailing address: we run a virtual mailbox as a separate subscription. Reach out for the details on that product.

What is a Commercial Registered Office Provider (CROP)?

A CROP is an entity officially recognized by the Pennsylvania Department of State to serve as a registered agent for businesses. Pennsylvania specifically acknowledges this category of registered agent service providers.

How can I contact you with questions?

Contact us at support@paregisteredagent.org or call . Our business hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM Eastern Time.

Can I terminate service if needed?

Yes. You can change your registered agent at any time by filing the appropriate form with the Pennsylvania Secretary of State. We maintain client relationships through professional service delivery rather than restrictive contracts.

What happens when an important document arrives?

We maintain availability during business hours to receive all documents sent to our address. When correspondence arrives, we scan and upload it immediately with notification sent to you. This system ensures you stay informed about all important correspondence.

What happened to Pennsylvania's Decennial Report?

Pennsylvania replaced the 10-year Decennial Report with a new annual report requirement effective January 1, 2025. The annual filing costs significantly less ($7 versus the previous structure) and provides more regular compliance checkpoints.