CT SOS Business Search 2026: Entity & LLC Lookup

Connecticut entity search • ALEI • agents • filings • annual reports

Find and Understand a Connecticut Business Record

Search a Connecticut LLC, corporation, nonprofit, partnership or statutory trust by business name, ALEI or filing number, then verify the entity type, status, agent, principals, addresses and public annual reports.

This guide also explains free name searches, Current/Overdue/Delinquent sub-statuses, forfeiture, trade names, certificates of legal existence, annual-report fees and the exact next action after the lookup.

Independent user guide. This website is not Connecticut’s Office of the Secretary of the State and does not operate Business.CT.gov.

Fast Answer: The Connecticut Business Search Is Free

The public search covers domestic entities formed in Connecticut and foreign entities registered to transact business in Connecticut. You can search without paying or ordering a certificate.

Use a paid filing or certificate only after the free record tells you the exact legal name, Business ID/ALEI, entity type, status and document you actually need.

Public lookup fee$0
Exact identifierBusiness ID / ALEI
Annual reportsView as PDF
Certificate freshnessSet by the recipient

Choose the Connecticut Search Path That Matches Your Evidence

This helper does not run a live state search. It shows the shortest official path and what to verify once the result opens.

Find an LLC or corporation

  1. Search the distinctive legal-name words.
  2. Compare the Business ID/ALEI, entity type and formation date.
  3. Open the matching record.
  4. Review status, sub-status, agent, principals and annual-report PDFs.

Complete the Official Connecticut Business Records Search

Use this sequence to avoid choosing a similarly named entity or mistaking a trade name for the legal business.

Open the Business Records Search

The official search is hosted through Connecticut’s Business.CT.gov service. You do not need to buy a formation package or certificate to view the public record.

Choose the strongest search value

Use the legal business name when that is all you know. Use the Business ID/ALEI for one exact entity. Use a filing number when you are tracing a particular document.

Enter only reliable name wording

Start with distinctive words. If the full name fails, remove punctuation and entity endings such as LLC, L.L.C., Inc., Corp. or Limited Partnership.

Compare every plausible result

Do not select the first similar name automatically. Compare Business ID, business type, status, formation date and address.

Open the Business Inquiry record

Confirm the legal name, ALEI, entity type, date formed, agent, principals, addresses, status and next annual-report due date.

Open annual reports and filing history

Use “View as PDF” for annual reports when available. Review newer filings for name, agent, address, principal, dissolution, reinstatement or merger changes.

Complete any separate verification

Use a different official system for professional licenses, UCC liens, Connecticut taxes, federal EINs, court records, trademarks or trade names.

After choosing the correct identifier and verification order above, use the state’s live lookup.

When the search page fails on a phone

  • Return to the main search page instead of repeatedly refreshing an old results URL.
  • Try one identifier at a time: name, ALEI or filing number.
  • Remove punctuation and entity endings from a name search.
  • Open the page in a private browser tab if a saved session loops or displays stale results.
  • Do not pay a third-party directory merely because the free state page temporarily fails.

Business Name, ALEI or Filing Number: Which Search Should You Use?

Choose the identifier based on the decision you are making, not merely the keyword you typed into Google.

Broad discovery

Business name

Use when you have a contract, invoice, website footer or advertised name. Try fewer distinctive words if no result appears.

Exact entity

Business ID / ALEI

Use the Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier to reopen one exact Connecticut registry record without relying on name spelling.

Specific document

Filing number

Use when a state notice, receipt or filing image identifies one document rather than the entity generally.

Person clue

Principal name

Use available person-search controls when the company name is unknown, but verify each result carefully because names are not unique.

Legal notices

Agent information

Use the record’s agent and address fields to identify the recipient for service of process—not to prove ownership.

Bulk research

Open-data records

Use Connecticut’s free business master and subsidiary data sets when research requires many entities, towns, dates or statuses.

Identifier language: Connecticut uses both “Business ID” and “ALEI.” ALEI means Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier. It is a state registry identifier, not an IRS EIN.

How to Read a Connecticut Business Inquiry Record

Read several fields together before relying on a result. A matching name alone does not establish identity or good standing.

1. Legal name
2. ALEI and type
3. Status and sub-status
4. Agent and principals
5. Annual reports and filings
Record fieldWhat it tells youCommon mistakeBest follow-up
Business nameThe current legal name on the Secretary of the State’s record.Using a storefront, brand or trade name as the legal contracting party.Check name history and Connecticut trade-name records.
Business ID / ALEIThe unique state identifier assigned to the entity.Confusing it with an EIN, tax number or filing number.Use it for exact searches, support tickets and filings.
Business typeLLC, stock corporation, nonstock corporation, LP, LLP, statutory trust or another entity type.Assuming every registered business is an LLC.Apply the correct annual-report fee and closing procedure.
Date formedThe Connecticut formation date or relevant registration date shown by the record.Assuming uninterrupted activity since that date.Review forfeiture, dissolution, revocation and reinstatement filings.
StatusThe overall state of the entity or Connecticut registration.Treating Active as a professional license, tax clearance or financial endorsement.Read Public Sub Status and the next annual-report due date.
Public Sub StatusWhether an active entity is Current, Overdue or Delinquent with Secretary of the State obligations.Ignoring an overdue filing because the main status still says Active.Open the filing history and annual-report action.
AgentThe Connecticut resident or eligible entity appointed to receive service of process.Assuming the agent owns or manages the company.Compare principals and annual-report PDFs.
PrincipalA reported officer, director, member, manager or other principal, depending on entity type.Treating the list as a complete beneficial-owner register.Read the newest annual report and transaction documents.
Business addressA public street or mailing address reported for the entity.Assuming it is a walk-in customer location.Compare the latest annual report, contract and company website.
Annual report due dateThe current system-calculated filing deadline for that entity.Using a generic March 31 rule for every entity.Use the record’s displayed date and save the reminder email.
Filing numberIdentifies a specific document accepted into the record.Using it as the Business ID for every transaction.Open or order that document when its contents matter.
Annual-report PDFThe public information reported for a particular year.Assuming the oldest or first available report is current.Open the newest year and compare changes over time.

Agent, Principal, Signer or Owner? Do Not Treat Them as the Same

Connecticut records can show several people or organizations, but each name appears for a particular filing role. The public record is not automatically a complete ownership register.

RoleWhat the role usually meansWhat it does not proveBest follow-up
Registered agentReceives service of process and official notices at the recorded Connecticut address.Ownership, management authority or a customer-service location.Compare principals, annual reports and the contract signer.
PrincipalA reported officer, director, member, manager or other principal, depending on the entity type and filing.That the displayed list contains every current owner or beneficial owner.Open the newest annual report and relevant formation or amendment documents.
Member or managerAn LLC role that can indicate ownership, management or both.The percentage owned, voting rights or whether unlisted members exist.Use the operating agreement or transaction documents when legal ownership matters.
Officer or directorA corporate governance or executive role reported in a filing.Share ownership or authority for every transaction.Request a corporate resolution or other authorization for a high-value transaction.
Organizer, incorporator or signerThe person who prepared, signed or submitted a filing.Ongoing ownership; the person may be an attorney or filing service.Check later annual reports and governing documents.
Beneficial ownerThe person who ultimately owns or controls an interest.That the public Connecticut record contains a complete federal beneficial-ownership list.Use authorized company, transaction or federal compliance records when required.
Authority check: even when a person appears as a principal, ask for transaction-specific authority before sending money, transferring property or signing a major agreement.

Current, Overdue or Delinquent: Read the Public Sub Status

Connecticut’s Public Sub Status applies to active businesses and gives a faster view of filing obligations than the main Active label alone.

Current

The business does not have an outstanding obligation to the Office of the Secretary of the State represented by this sub-status.

Overdue

A filing is past due, but the office has not yet taken administrative action against the business.

Delinquent

The filing problem has progressed and administrative action has been taken. Open the newest notice or filing immediately.

Important: a business can still show Active while its sub-status is Overdue or Delinquent. Check both fields and the annual-report due date.

Connecticut Entity Status Decoder and Next Actions

The correct response depends on whether the business is domestic—formed in Connecticut—or foreign—formed in another state or country.

Status or eventPlain-English meaningWhat to do next
Active + CurrentThe entity is active and the public sub-status shows no represented SOTS filing obligation.Continue with license, tax, insurance, authority and transaction checks as needed.
Active + OverdueThe entity remains active, but a required filing is past due and administrative action has not yet occurred.File the missing report or first report before the matter progresses.
Active + DelinquentThe entity is active, but the filing default has reached the administrative-action stage.Open the notice and cure every missing filing within the stated period.
Notice of Intent to Dissolve or RevokeThe business is still active but owes one or more filings, commonly annual reports or a corporate first report.Have the missing filings accepted within 90 days of the notice date.
ForfeitedA domestic entity was administratively dissolved. It may only wind up its affairs, and the name becomes available to others.File a reinstatement promptly if the business should continue.
RevokedA foreign entity’s Connecticut authority was revoked. Its status in the formation state is a separate question.Re-register in Connecticut before continuing to transact business here.
DissolvedA domestic entity filed or completed a dissolution.Check for a later revocation or reinstatement before treating it as active.
WithdrawnA foreign entity ended its Connecticut registration while it may continue to exist elsewhere.Check the home-jurisdiction record and any later Connecticut registration.
MergedThe entity participated in a merger and may not be the surviving legal party.Open the merger filing and identify the surviving entity.
Cancelled or terminatedThe entity or registration ended under the filing applicable to that entity type.Search for a later reinstatement, conversion or replacement entity.
Status limitation: Active or Current is not proof of financial health, professional licensing, insurance, tax compliance, ownership or authority of the person contacting you.

No Connecticut Entity Found? Follow This Recovery Order

A no-result screen often reflects search wording, a trade name, a recently filed record or a structure that is not a Secretary of the State entity.

Confirm spelling from a reliable document. Use a contract, invoice, tax form, license or state notice.
Remove punctuation. Search without commas, periods, apostrophes, ampersands and hyphens.
Remove the entity ending. Try the distinctive wording without LLC, Inc., Corp., LP or LLP.
Use fewer words. Remove generic terms such as services, solutions, group, holdings or company.
Try a previous legal name. Review older contracts, websites and filing copies.
Use the Business ID/ALEI. It is the safest way to reopen one exact record.
Use a filing number. A notice or receipt may point to one accepted document.
Search a principal or agent when the interface allows it. Verify the result because personal names are not unique.
Check the statewide trade-name search and town-clerk records. The advertised name may be a DBA.
Consider a sole proprietorship or unincorporated group. The legal record may be a trade-name filing rather than an entity record.
Check another jurisdiction. The business may be formed elsewhere and not currently registered in Connecticut.
Allow for processing. A newly submitted formation, amendment or reinstatement may not yet show its final status.
Contact Business Services. Provide all attempted names, dates, entity type, filing number and ALEI clues.

Find a Connecticut Trade Name, DBA or Sole Proprietor

A Connecticut trade name—often called a DBA—is a public notice that an individual, group or registered business organization uses another name. It does not create a new legal entity, liability protection or exclusive name rights.

Filed before January 1, 2025

Older filings remain important

Pre-2025 trade names remain effective through December 31, 2029 unless changed or canceled. Some evidence may still be found only through the filing town.

Filed January 1, 2025 or later

Five-year filing term

A current-law trade name expires five years after filing unless renewed. Amendment and cancellation filings are also available.

Statewide transition

The registry is not complete yet

Connecticut’s transition guidance says the statewide system will not contain every active trade name until January 1, 2030. A no-result screen is not conclusive.

Current filing rules

  • File in the one town where the business is principally transacted.
  • For a domestic registered entity, use the town connected to the business address on the Secretary of the State record.
  • For a foreign entity with no principal Connecticut location, use the town of its Connecticut registered agent.
  • Individuals and registered business organizations use different official forms.
  • A registered business organization must show Active status.
  • The organization name, ALEI and address must match the entity record.
  • The filing fee is $20 and is paid to the town clerk.
  • The current form must be hand-signed and acknowledged before an authorized officer, such as a notary or town clerk.

Do not assume this

  • A trade name is not a corporation or LLC.
  • It does not provide liability protection.
  • The name does not have to be unique.
  • It does not create state or federal trademark rights.
  • The business does not file the same name in every town under the one-town rule.
  • An entity using its exact registered legal name does not need a separate trade-name filing merely for that name.

What to prepare before visiting the town clerk

  • The exact trade name and the business purpose.
  • The principal Connecticut business address.
  • For an entity filer, its exact legal name and ALEI.
  • The authorized signer’s title and signature.
  • Identification and notarization or acknowledgment arrangements required by the town.
  • The $20 town-clerk filing fee and the town’s accepted payment method.
No-result recovery: search spelling variations, then contact the appropriate town clerk—especially for a filing made before 2025 or while town records are still being added to the statewide system.

After identifying the correct filing town and whether the filer is an individual or registered organization, use the official search and forms.

Verify a Connecticut Business Before You Pay or Sign

Use the entity record to identify the legal party behind a contract, invoice, lease, donation request or service proposal. Then complete the checks the registry cannot answer.

Match these items

  • Legal entity name on the contract
  • Business ID/ALEI
  • Entity type
  • Main status and Public Sub Status
  • Formation or registration date
  • Agent and business addresses
  • Newest annual-report PDF
  • Trade-name relationship when a DBA is used

Verify these elsewhere

  • Professional or occupational license
  • Insurance coverage
  • Tax-account status
  • Complete beneficial ownership
  • Authority of the person contacting you
  • Bank-account ownership
  • UCC liens and court judgments
  • Financial stability or consumer reputation

Worked example: the invoice uses a DBA

Invoice says

“Elm City Property Care” requests payment.

Entity search

No exact entity appears under the advertised name.

Trade-name check

The DBA identifies “ECP Maintenance LLC” as the registered organization.

Final check

Search ECP Maintenance LLC, match the ALEI and status, then verify any required license and the payee.

Payment-name warning: ask why the requested payee differs from both the legal entity and the filed trade name.

Connecticut Annual Reports: Exact Due Date, Fees and Rejection Prevention

An annual report updates public entity information; it is not a financial statement. Connecticut requires covered entities to file online, and the safest deadline is the exact “next annual report due” date displayed in the Business Inquiry record.

How to confirm the due date

SituationWhat to rely onPractical action
Normal annual filingThe exact due date shown in the public Business Inquiry record.Record the date before leaving the search result and file through the linked annual-report action.
Reminder receivedConnecticut generally emails about one month before the deadline when a valid email is available; otherwise it may mail a postcard.Confirm the entity and ALEI independently rather than paying through an unfamiliar reminder link.
Notice of Intent receivedThe notice date and the missing filing listed in the notice.Have all missing filings accepted within 90 days of the notice date.
Report already filedThe newest report year, acceptance email and future due date in the public record.Do not submit a duplicate report; use an amendment when the current portal permits it.

Verified domestic online filing fees

Domestic entity typeOnline annual-report feeWhat to confirm
Stock corporation$150Correct entity and reporting year before payment.
Nonstock corporation$50Current principals and registered-agent information.
Limited liability company$80Required member or manager information for the entity’s management structure.
Limited liability partnership$80Required partner and office information.
Limited partnership$80General-partner and address information.
Foreign entities: fees can depend on the entity type. Use the foreign-entity fee page after confirming the exact type in the Business Inquiry record rather than applying a domestic fee automatically.

Information to prepare before signing in

  • Exact legal name and Business ID/ALEI
  • Business email, street address and mailing address
  • Six-digit NAICS classification when requested
  • Registered-agent name and contact details
  • Required principals, officers, directors, members, managers or partners
  • Foreign jurisdiction and principal-office information when applicable
  • A Business.CT.gov account and identity-verification access
  • Mastercard, Visa, Discover or American Express

Common rejection or eligibility problems

  • Wrong entity or ALEI selected
  • Required principal or agent field left incomplete
  • Physical address entered as only a P.O. box
  • Wrong reporting year or entity type
  • The report was already filed for that period
  • Another filing is still pending acceptance or rejection
  • The entity is forfeited, revoked or dissolved and needs another process
  • A private reminder is mistaken for the government portal

Portal changes that affect the workflow

  • Identity verification is required before filing through the current business portal.
  • Only one filing can be pending for a business at a time; wait for acceptance or rejection before starting another.
  • The portal can allow an annual-report amendment before the due date for a $25 fee.
  • Businesses can follow records and receive email notifications when filings are completed.

How to file and verify completion

  1. Search the entity and confirm its ALEI, status and sub-status.
  2. Record the exact next annual-report due date.
  3. Sign into the official portal and complete identity verification.
  4. Select the annual-report action and confirm the same entity again.
  5. Review every public field before payment.
  6. Save the receipt and acceptance or rejection email.
  7. Reopen the public record and confirm the new report year and future due date.
Overdue consequence: an overdue business cannot obtain a Certificate of Legal Existence. Extended default can progress to a Notice of Intent and eventual forfeiture or revocation.

Certificate of Legal Existence or “Good Standing”?

Connecticut calls the document a Certificate of Legal Existence. Banks, lenders and other states may refer to the same general proof as a Certificate of Good Standing.

What it proves: the entity is registered with the Office of the Secretary of the State and is current with the filing obligations represented by that office. It does not prove tax clearance, licensing, insurance or financial strength.
Certificate optionRoutine feeUse it whenImportant limit
Express corporation certificate$50A requester needs a standard corporation certificate.Paper expedited pricing is higher; confirm the order method.
Short-form corporation certificate$80The requester needs a corporation certificate showing name changes.Not the same as a certified copy of a filing.
Long-form corporation certificate$120A domestic corporation needs expanded recorded details.Domestic only and cannot be expedited.
Express LLC certificate$50A bank or transaction requests a standard LLC certificate.Annual reports must be current.
Short-form LLC certificate$50The requester needs an LLC certificate showing all name changes.Confirm whether short or long form is requested.
Long-form LLC certificate$100A domestic LLC needs expanded recorded details.Domestic only and cannot be expedited.
Certificate of no record$50Formal proof is required that no qualifying record was found.Cannot be expedited.
Verify an existing certificate$0You already have a Connecticut certificate and need to authenticate it online.The receiving bank or agency sets how recently issued it must be.

Routine versus expedited paper requests

The official request form describes routine processing of approximately three to five business days and expedited processing within 24 business hours. Expedited paper pricing is document-specific—for example, a corporation or LLC express certificate can total $100—while long-form and no-record certificates cannot be expedited.

Ask the requester: “Do you need a Connecticut Certificate of Legal Existence, a long-form certificate, a certified copy of one filing, or only the free public Business Inquiry record—and how recently must it have been issued?”
No universal 90-day expiry: the Secretary of the State’s certificate pages do not state one universal expiration period. A bank, lender, licensing agency or foreign state may impose its own freshness requirement.
Private-mailing warning: Connecticut has warned about companies charging much more for certificates and implying that every business must buy one. A certificate is not automatically required after formation.

View Free Annual-Report PDFs or Order Filing Copies

Start with the free Business Inquiry record. Many annual reports can be opened directly as PDFs, so a paid document order may be unnecessary.

Free

Business Inquiry record

Use for legal name, ALEI, type, status, agent, principals, addresses and next due date.

PDF

Annual report

Select “View as PDF” beside an available year to compare public information over time.

$40

Plain filing copy

Use when the free image is unavailable or insufficient and the recipient does not require certification.

$55

Certified filing copy

Use when a court, bank, agency or transaction requires a copy with state certification.

Choose the lowest-cost document that works

  1. Search the entity and open the Business Inquiry page.
  2. Locate the annual-report year or filing entry.
  3. Record its filing number and filing date.
  4. Open the free PDF when available.
  5. Ask the recipient whether an uncertified image is acceptable.
  6. Order a $40 plain copy or $55 certified copy only when needed.
Document-selection tip: a certified filing copy proves the copy matches a state record. A Certificate of Legal Existence answers a different question—whether the entity is current with represented filing obligations.

Follow a Business and Detect Filing Changes

The current portal allows users to follow business records and receive email notifications when filings are completed. Monitoring is useful for company owners, attorneys, lenders and anyone waiting for an amendment, reinstatement or annual report.

Use monitoring for

  • Annual-report acceptance
  • Agent or address changes
  • Name amendments
  • Reinstatement or re-registration
  • Dissolution, withdrawal or merger filings
  • Unexpected changes requiring review

Monitoring does not replace

  • Reading the acceptance or rejection email
  • Checking the public status after filing
  • Verifying who was authorized to submit a change
  • Professional licence or tax-account monitoring
  • Reviewing contracts and internal company records

Unauthorized-change response

  1. Save the unexpected notification and public filing number.
  2. Download or order the related filing.
  3. Compare the signer, filing date, agent, principals and addresses with authorized records.
  4. Contact Business Services promptly and explain why the filing may be unauthorized.
  5. Seek legal advice when ownership, authority, fraud or property rights are disputed.
Portal control: identity verification and the one-pending-filing rule can affect how quickly another correction can be submitted. Wait for the current filing’s acceptance or rejection unless Business Services instructs otherwise.

Check and Reserve a Connecticut Business Name

The public search helps screen a proposed name, but a no-result search does not guarantee that the Secretary of the State will accept the formation filing.

Search these variations

  • Full proposed legal name
  • Distinctive words without the entity ending
  • Singular and plural forms
  • Punctuation and abbreviation variations
  • Connecticut trade names
  • Connecticut and federal trademarks

Do not assume this

  • No search result guarantees approval.
  • A reservation does not create a business.
  • A state entity name does not create federal trademark rights.
  • A domain-name purchase does not prove availability.
  • A trade name is not exclusive.

BUS-002 Application for Reservation of Name

The current form reserves an eligible name for 120 days, beginning with the filing date as day one. The filing fee is $60.

Entity typeRequired name wording
CorporationCorporation, Incorporated, Company, Limited, Societa per Azioni or an accepted abbreviation such as Corp., Inc., Co., Ltd. or S.p.A.
LLCLimited Liability Company, L.L.C., LLC, Limited Liability Co., Ltd. Liability Company or Ltd. Liability Co.
Limited partnershipThe words “limited partnership” without abbreviation.
LLPLimited Liability Partnership, L.L.P. or LLP.
Statutory trustStatutory Trust, Limited Liability Trust, Limited, LLT, L.L.T. or Ltd.
Form preparation: include the proposed name, applicant’s full legal name and street address, sign under penalties of false statement and do not alter the prefilled effective-date-and-term language.

Respond to a Notice, Forfeiture, Revocation or Dissolution

Read the exact letter and public status before choosing a filing. A Notice of Intent, domestic forfeiture, foreign revocation and voluntary dissolution require different actions.

Document or statusLegal effectCorrect response
Notice of Intent to Dissolve or RevokeThe entity is still active but owes one or more filings.Have every missing filing accepted within 90 days of the notice date.
Forfeited—domestic entityThe entity was administratively dissolved and may only wind up its affairs; its former name becomes available.Use reinstatement promptly if the business should continue.
Revoked—foreign entityThe entity may not legally transact business in Connecticut under that registration.Re-register as a foreign entity and accurately report when Connecticut activity began.
Accidental corporate dissolutionThe corporation filed a voluntary dissolution.A stock or nonstock corporation generally has 120 days to file a revocation of dissolution.
Dissolved LLCThe LLC ended under a dissolution filing.Use the LLC reinstatement guidance when legally eligible; court-dissolved entities are excluded.
Business stopped operatingInactivity or a final tax return alone does not close the state record.File the proper dissolution, cancellation, withdrawal or renunciation for the entity type.

LLC reinstatement form: rejection-prevention checklist

  • Enter the exact business name and ALEI shown in the state record; a mismatch can cause rejection.
  • The current combined LLC reinstatement fee is $120 and includes the annual report.
  • If the old name is no longer available, include the required Certificate of Amendment with the reinstatement.
  • Use a six-digit NAICS code where the form requires one.
  • Enter a physical principal-office street address; a P.O. box alone is not accepted there.
  • A mailing address may be a P.O. box when separately requested.
  • The LLC cannot appoint itself as registered agent.
  • The registered agent must be eligible and must accept the appointment as the form requires.
  • Do not enter “same as above” where the form requires a complete address.
Processing: current guidance describes expedited review within one business day and routine staff review in approximately three to five business days.
Name risk: after forfeiture, the former business name is available to another filer. Check name availability before submitting reinstatement documents.

Business ID/ALEI, EIN, Filing Number or CT Tax Number?

Each identifier belongs to a different function. Using the wrong number can lead to a false no-result search or the wrong filing.

IdentifierWho maintains itWhat it is used forPublic in entity search?
Business ID / ALEIConnecticut Secretary of the StateExact entity searches, annual reports, filings and support.Yes
Filing numberConnecticut Secretary of the StateOne specific accepted business document.Searchable when available
EIN / FEINInternal Revenue ServiceFederal taxes, payroll, banking and other authorized business uses.No
Connecticut tax account numberConnecticut Department of Revenue ServicesState tax registration, filing and payment.No
License numberThe responsible licensing agency, often DCP or another boardVerifying authority to perform regulated work.Not through the entity search

How a business finds its own EIN

Check the IRS EIN confirmation notice, prior tax returns, payroll records, business-bank records or an authorized IRS account process. The Connecticut entity search does not publish ordinary private-company EINs.

Entity identity, ALEI, status or filingsUse the Connecticut Business Records Search.Entity search
Trade name or DBAUse the statewide trade-name search and the appropriate town clerk.Trade-name guidance
Professional licenseUse Connecticut eLicense or the responsible board.Verify a license
UCC lien recordUse the separate Business.CT.gov UCC search, not the ordinary entity record.Search UCC records
Federal EINUse authorized IRS or company records.IRS EIN guidance

Avoid Unofficial Annual-Report and Certificate Charges

Public entity details can be used by private companies to create mailers that resemble government notices. A private filing service may charge far more than the state fee.

Before paying

  • Confirm the domain is ct.gov or an official Connecticut service domain.
  • Match the business name and ALEI.
  • Identify the exact filing or certificate.
  • Compare the official fee with the amount requested.
  • Determine whether a private service fee is optional.
  • Save the official state confirmation.

Pause when a notice

  • Looks like an invoice but names a private company.
  • Claims every business must buy a certificate.
  • Charges much more than the official annual-report fee.
  • Uses urgent “final notice” wording without an official filing number.
  • Requests payment to a non-government address.
  • Does not clearly disclose that it is offering an optional service.

Contact Connecticut Business Services With a Useful Question

Prepare the exact entity and filing details before contacting the Business Services Division. This reduces back-and-forth and makes the support ticket easier to route.

Prepare these details

  • Exact legal or advertised business name
  • Business ID/ALEI
  • Entity type
  • Status and Public Sub Status
  • Annual-report due date
  • Filing or certificate number
  • Date and method of submission
  • Error message or screenshot with payment details removed
Support script: “I am trying to locate or correct the Connecticut record for [legal name]. The Business ID/ALEI is [number]. The record shows [status and sub-status], and I already tried [search or filing steps]. Which filing, certificate or support process applies next?”
Support limit: Business Services maintains filings and records. It cannot decide private ownership disputes, interpret contracts or provide legal advice.

Final Connecticut Entity Verification Checklist

Complete this review before signing, paying, filing or describing a business as current or in good standing.

Match the exact legal business name.
Record the Business ID/ALEI.
Confirm the entity type.
Check domestic or foreign registration.
Read the main status.
Read the Public Sub Status.
Check the annual-report due date.
Open the newest annual-report PDF.
Compare agent and business addresses.
Review reported principals carefully.
Check name and filing history.
Connect a DBA to the legal entity.
Verify professional licensing separately.
Use DRS or IRS for tax identifiers.
Order a certificate only when requested.
Confirm the official domain before paying.

Connecticut SOS Business Search FAQs

Is the Connecticut Secretary of State business search free?

Yes. The public Business Records Search is free and covers domestic entities formed in Connecticut and foreign entities registered in Connecticut. Filing annual reports, ordering certificates and submitting other business filings can require fees.

How do I search a Connecticut business by name?

Enter the legal name or its most distinctive words. If no result appears, remove punctuation and entity endings such as LLC, Inc. or Corp. Compare the Business ID/ALEI, type, status and formation date before selecting a result.

What is a Connecticut Business ID or ALEI?

It is the Authoritative Legal Entity Identifier assigned to a Connecticut entity record. Use it for an exact search, annual reports, support tickets and many business filings. It is not an EIN.

Can I download Connecticut annual reports for free?

Many entity records list annual reports with a “View as PDF” option. Open the newest available year before paying for a copy request, because the public PDF may contain the information you need.

What is the difference between Active and Current?

Active is the entity’s main status. Current is a Public Sub Status for an active business and means no represented obligation to the Secretary of the State is outstanding. An active business can instead show Overdue or Delinquent.

What does Forfeited mean in Connecticut?

Forfeited generally means a domestic entity was administratively dissolved. It may only wind up its affairs, and its former name becomes available. A business that should continue must use the reinstatement process.

How much is a Connecticut LLC annual report?

The current online annual-report fee for both domestic and foreign LLCs is $80. Confirm the live filing screen before payment because fees and eligibility can change.

What is a Connecticut Certificate of Good Standing called?

Connecticut calls it a Certificate of Legal Existence. It verifies that the entity is registered and current with the filing obligations represented by the Secretary of the State. There is no universal state-stated 90-day expiration; the receiving bank, agency or other state decides how recently issued the certificate must be.

Why can’t I find a Connecticut sole proprietor or DBA?

A sole proprietor may appear through a trade-name filing rather than the entity registry. Search the statewide trade-name tool and the town clerk where the business is principally transacted, especially for older pre-2025 records.

Can I find a company’s EIN in the CT business search?

No. The federal EIN is issued by the IRS and is not an ordinary public field in the Connecticut entity search. A business should use its IRS confirmation, tax records, payroll documents or authorized banking records.

Freshness note: Search fields, annual-report fees, certificate options, trade-name rules, status guidance, contact details and official forms were checked against Connecticut government sources on August 4, 2026. Final fees, due dates, identity-verification steps and filing eligibility can change, so confirm the live official action screen before payment.