Search DC Corporate Records With Confidence
Find a District of Columbia LLC, corporation, nonprofit, partnership, statutory trust or trade name, then verify the file number, status, registered agent, addresses and filing history before you rely on the result.
This guide explains CorpOnline, the 2026 BOSS transition, biennial reports, good-standing certificates, trade names, name reservations, foreign registration and the separate licence and Clean Hands checks.
“DC SOS Business Search” Is a Search Phrase, Not the Agency Name
Washington, DC has an Office of the Secretary, but it does not maintain the ordinary business-entity database. The Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection, Corporations Division serves as the District’s corporate registrar.
Use DLCP Corporations for
- LLC and corporation records
- Domestic and foreign entity registration
- Biennial reports
- Registered-agent information
- Trade names or DBAs
- Good-standing certificates
- Certified corporate filings
Use another office for
- Business-licence verification
- Professional licence verification
- Clean Hands certification
- Tax registration and tax accounts
- Document apostille or authentication
- Federal EIN records
- Court cases and UCC research
What Are You Trying to Find or Fix?
Choose a task. This helper provides a practical route without pretending to perform a live District database search.
Find an LLC or corporation
- Search the distinctive words in the entity name.
- Compare entity type, file number and status.
- Open the matching record.
- Review the agent, addresses and newest filings.
Prepare the Search Before Opening CorpOnline
The current CorpOnline landing page provides a public Business Filings Search. Begin with the entity name and use the District file number whenever a later filing, report or certificate screen asks for a precise identifier.
Distinctive name words
Use the uncommon part of the legal or advertised name rather than a long exact phrase.
District file number
Save the number from the selected record for reports, certificates, support and later filings.
Trade name
Search the public-facing DBA when the invoice or storefront does not match a legal entity.
SCOUT
Use SCOUT after the entity lookup to see whether the business has an active District licence.
Name-search order that avoids false “no result” conclusions
- Search the complete business name once.
- Remove LLC, L.L.C., Inc., Corp., Corporation, LP, LLP or other suffixes.
- Remove punctuation and extra spacing.
- Keep only two or three distinctive words.
- Search a previous name shown on an older agreement or filing.
- Search the trade name or DBA.
- Use the file number when available.
What requires an Access DC account?
| Task | Account expectation | Practical preparation |
|---|---|---|
| View a public entity result | A basic search should not require buying a service. | Have the legal name, trade name or file number ready. |
| File a report, formation, amendment or trade-name action | Sign-in is required for online submission. | Use an email account you can access for confirmations and deadline notices. |
| Order good standing or a certified copy | Sign in, select the entity and complete payment. | Know the exact document the recipient requires before ordering. |
| Manage several entities | DLCP says one login can manage multiple business entities. | Do not create unnecessary duplicate accounts when login recovery can resolve access. |
Complete the Official DC Entity Lookup Step by Step
Use this sequence to identify the correct record and avoid confusing a similar business, expired trade name or Washington State company with a District entity.
Open the current official Corporations route
Start from DLCP’s Corporations page or CorpOnline. During the August 2026 BOSS transition, the DLCP page is the safer fallback because direct portal links and labels may change.
Locate Business Filings Search
A public lookup should not require you to buy formation, legal or registered-agent services. Do not enter payment information merely to view a public entity result.
Enter the smallest reliable name
For “Capitol Corridor Property Management, LLC,” begin with “Capitol Corridor Property.” Remove the suffix and punctuation when the full name fails.
Compare every plausible result
Check the complete legal name, entity type, file number, jurisdiction, registration or effective date and status. Similar names can belong to unrelated organizations.
Open the selected entity
The result row is only the beginning. Open the record to review addresses, registered agent, governors or authorized people, and filing images or history when available.
Save the file number
The file number is the most useful reference for biennial reports, certificates, certified-copy orders, correction requests and calls to Corporations staff.
Open the newest relevant filing
A recent BRA-25 report, amendment, registered-agent change, reinstatement, dissolution, withdrawal or trade-name filing may explain information that looks inconsistent.
Choose the correct next system
Stay in CorpOnline for corporate filings and certificates. Switch to SCOUT for a business licence, OTR for Clean Hands or tax matters, and the Office of the Secretary for apostille or authentication.
After preparing the name and knowing what fields to compare, use the official live system.
What the DC Corporate Database Includes—and What It Cannot Prove
CorpOnline is a corporate-registration and filing system. It is not a complete consumer background report, tax database or licensing search.
Commonly available
- Domestic DC filing entities
- Foreign entities registered to conduct business in DC
- Entity name and file number
- Entity type and jurisdiction
- Public status
- Registered agent and registered office
- Principal office and reported people
- Biennial reports and other filing records
- Trade names
Not established by one entity result
- An active Basic Business License
- A current professional licence
- Clean Hands compliance
- Tax-return filing or payment history
- Federal EIN ownership
- Insurance coverage
- Complete litigation, lien or complaint history
- Authority of the person who contacted you
- Financial stability or reputation
Read a DC Entity Record in the Right Order
Use a five-part review to decide whether the record matches the party on a contract, invoice, grant application, lease or licence filing.
| Record item | What it tells you | Common mistake | Useful follow-up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entity name | The legal name held in the District corporate record. | Assuming the storefront or invoice name is the legal contracting party. | Search trade names and name-change filings. |
| File number | The District identifier assigned to the entity or trade-name record. | Confusing it with an EIN, licence number or tax account. | Save it for reports, certificates and support. |
| Entity type | LLC, corporation, nonprofit, LP, LLP, cooperative association, statutory trust or another registered structure. | Applying LLC rules to a nonprofit or corporation. | Use the entity-specific fee and form page. |
| Domestic or foreign | Domestic entities were formed in DC; foreign entities were formed elsewhere and registered in DC. | Thinking “foreign” always means outside the United States. | Check the home-jurisdiction record. |
| Status | The entity’s current condition in the Corporations Division record. | Treating active corporate status as proof of licensing, tax compliance or Clean Hands. | Review reports, agent information and any revocation or reinstatement filing. |
| Registration or effective date | When the District record or filing became effective. | Assuming the business operated continuously from that date. | Look for dissolutions, withdrawals and reinstatements. |
| Principal office | The main business address reported in the latest applicable filing. | Assuming it is open to customers or located in DC. | Compare it with the newest BRA-25 and contract. |
| Registered agent | Who receives service of process and official notices in DC. | Treating the agent as the owner. | Review governors, officers, managers and ownership/control disclosures. |
| Registered office | The agent’s physical street address in the District. | Treating it as the company’s store or headquarters. | Compare the principal office and licence address. |
| Governors or authorized people | People identified in formation, registration, report or amendment filings. | Assuming every listed person is a current owner or authorized signer. | Open the newest filing and request private authority documents when necessary. |
| Filing history or images | The sequence of public corporate filings and available copies. | Reading only the summary row. | Open the document that changed the disputed field or status. |
Verify a DC Business Before You Sign or Pay
Use the corporate record to identify the legal party, then complete the separate checks needed for the particular transaction.
Match these details
- Legal name on the contract
- District file number
- Entity type and jurisdiction
- Current public status
- Principal-office information
- Registered agent
- Newest BRA-25 or amendment
- Trade-name relationship
- Applicable business or professional licence
Do not infer this
- The payee bank account belongs to the entity
- The contact can bind the company
- The company carries insurance
- There are no court cases or liens
- Every tax return has been filed
- The company has Clean Hands
- The registered agent is the owner
- A valid record makes the transaction safe
Worked example: the public name differs from the legal entity
“Capitol Home Fix”
No legal entity appears under that exact wording.
The DBA is owned by “CHF District Services LLC.”
Search the LLC, then verify the Basic Business License in SCOUT.
Understand DC Status Labels Before Acting
Status wording can vary by entity type and filing history. Read the exact live label and the filing that produced it instead of relying on a generic “active/inactive” summary.
Core corporate obligations appear current
Continue with licence, Clean Hands, tax and transaction-specific checks. Corporate good standing is not a blanket government endorsement.
A domestic entity lost active status
Common issues include missing biennial reports, fees or a registered-agent problem. Open the dissolution record and prepare GN-5 reinstatement requirements.
A foreign registration or entity status ended
Check whether the entity later reinstated, re-registered or withdrew. Do not rely on an old registration for present authority.
The organization filed to end or withdraw
Review the effective date and look for a later reinstatement or new registration.
The DBA protection ended
Check whether a later trade-name registration exists and verify the current owner.
The public record may not yet show the final result
Save the submission receipt and allow the posted processing period, especially during the BOSS transition.
No DC Entity Found? Use This Recovery Order
Work from broad name searches to stronger identifiers and separate systems before concluding that the operation is unregistered.
DC Good Standing, Clean Hands and Business Licensing Are Different
These records are issued by different systems and answer different compliance questions.
| Question | Correct record | What it proves | Important limit |
|---|---|---|---|
| Is the filing entity in corporate good standing? | DLCP Certificate of Good Standing | Corporate status as of issuance. | Not available for a trade name by itself. |
| Does the business meet the District’s debt and tax-return threshold? | OTR Certificate of Clean Hands | Compliance with the Clean Hands mandate at validation. | Not a corporate-status certificate. |
| Is the business licensed for a particular activity? | SCOUT business-licence search | Licence status and details available in the licence system. | Not proof of corporate good standing. |
| Is a professional individually licensed? | Occupational and Professional Licensing verification | Professional credential status. | Does not replace entity or BBL verification. |
What a DC Certificate of Good Standing legally confirms
District law describes the certificate as evidence that the entity’s formation or foreign registration is on record, required filing fees and penalties reflected in the corporate record have been paid, the most recent required biennial report has been delivered, and the record does not show dissolution or a pending dissolution process, subject to any qualifications stated on the certificate.
How to request the corporate good-standing certificate
- Sign in to the current CorpOnline or successor BOSS system.
- Select Certificates & Certified Copies.
- Choose the Good Standing Certificate tile.
- Search the entity and select the correct legal name and file number.
- Submit payment.
- Open the Certificates and Filing Images area to retrieve the certificate.
Current certificate amounts depend on entity type
| Entity category | Good-standing certificate | Certified filing copy |
|---|---|---|
| For-profit corporation or LLC | $50 | $50 |
| Nonprofit corporation | $40 | $40 |
| General cooperative association | $40 | $40 |
| Statutory trust and many other for-profit entities | $50 | $50 |
| Trade name only | Not issued | Use trade-name document options |
After deciding which proof the recipient requires, use the correct official action page.
File the DC BRA-25 Biennial Report Correctly
Every domestic or foreign filing entity registered with the Corporations Division must file the periodic BRA-25 report and maintain a registered agent to remain active and in good standing.
Due-date rule with examples
April 1 of the next calendar year
An entity registered at any point in 2026 generally files its first report by April 1, 2027.
Every second calendar year
After the first report, file by April 1 every two years based on the last required report year.
The deadline still applies
The BRA-25 instructions say failure to receive a form does not remove the duty to file and pay on time.
Information requested by the official BRA-25 form
- Entity name and file number, when known
- State or country of formation
- Principal-office address
- Registered-agent name, address and email
- A specific description of business conducted in DC
- People with more than 10% ownership or people with financial, operational or day-to-day control
- Foreign entity’s home-jurisdiction good-standing statement
- Authorized signer’s name and signature
DC ownership reporting is separate from federal FinCEN BOI
The BRA-25 still asks for people who hold more than 10% ownership or who exercise financial, operational or day-to-day control. That is a District filing requirement and should be answered using the form’s definitions.
Federal beneficial-ownership reporting changed in 2025. FinCEN currently exempts entities created in the United States from federal BOI reporting, while certain entities formed under foreign law and registered to do business in the United States may still have federal obligations. Do not use an older Corporate Transparency Act summary to decide the current federal requirement.
Current common report fees
| Entity type | Biennial report | Late fee | Practical note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business corporation | $300 | $100 | Domestic and registered foreign corporations. |
| Limited liability company | $300 | $100 | DC LLCs do file a biennial report. |
| Statutory trust | $300 | $100 | Use the trust-specific fee page. |
| Nonprofit corporation | $80 on the nonprofit-specific page | $50 | Confirm the live amount for a foreign nonprofit because official summary pages are not perfectly consistent. |
| General cooperative association | $80 | $50 | Use the cooperative-specific fee page. |
| Limited cooperative association | $300 for-profit / $80 nonprofit | $100 / $50 | Fee follows for-profit or nonprofit classification. |
How to verify that the report was accepted
- Complete the report and payment in the current portal.
- Save the submission confirmation and filing summary.
- Check the email account used for the filing.
- Open Certificates and Filing Images to retrieve the filed report.
- Recheck the public entity record after processing.
Use the official report instructions and current portal after confirming the report year, file number, agent and entity-specific fee.
Find, Register or Renew a DC Trade Name
A District trade name is a DBA used instead of the true name of an individual or registered entity. It is optional to have a trade name, but a business that uses one in DC must register it.
TN-1 • $55
An entity owner must be in good standing. Sole proprietors and general partnerships can also register a trade name.
Every two years by April 1
The renewal fee is $55. A late renewal adds another $55.
August 31
If the trade name remains unrenewed, it is cancelled September 1 and must be registered again if still available.
TN-1 asks for
- Individual or entity using the trade name
- Proposed trade name
- Type of organization
- Governor or authorized person
- Complete business address
- Registered-agent name and DC address
- Authorized signature
A trade name cannot
- Be the same as an individual’s true legal name
- Use entity suffixes such as LLC, Corp, Ltd or LP
- Replace formation of an LLC or corporation
- Replace a business or professional licence
- Give rights outside the District automatically
- Remain protected after cancellation
Which trade-name action should you use?
Register
Create a new District trade-name record.
Renew
Renew the existing name during the required biennial cycle.
Cancel
End the registration; cancellation is effective on filing.
Amend
Change ownership, address, registered agent for qualifying nonfiling owners, or the trade name.
After confirming the owner, expiration year and required action, use the official trade-name service or form.
Check and Reserve a DC Entity Name
Name searching, reservation, formation and trade-name registration are four different tasks.
| Task | What it does | What it does not do |
|---|---|---|
| Public entity search | Screens existing records for similar names. | Guarantee approval or trademark clearance. |
| GN-3 name reservation | Temporarily reserves or transfers a domestic filing-entity name for 120 days. | Create the entity. |
| Formation filing | Creates the domestic entity when accepted. | Automatically issue a business licence or tax registration. |
| TN-1 trade name | Registers a DBA used in the District. | Create an LLC or corporation. |
GN-3 form details
- Reservation is valid for 120 days.
- The form can transfer an existing reservation to another person.
- The proposed name must include the appropriate entity qualifier.
- The form requests the reserving person’s name, address and signature.
- A transfer also requires the new person’s name and address.
Common current reservation fees
LLC or business corporation
Reservation or transfer under the entity-specific fee pages.
Nonprofit corporation
Reservation or transfer under the nonprofit fee page.
Understand the DC Registered Agent Before You Rely on the Name
The registered agent receives service of process, statutory notices and government correspondence. The agent is not automatically an owner, manager or operating address.
Commercial registered agent
An individual or eligible entity that has filed the required commercial-agent listing.
Required when representing more than 50 entitiesNoncommercial registered agent
An eligible individual or entity serving one or more organizations without commercial-agent status.
Must meet District requirementsDC Bar member
A member in good standing of the DC Bar with an office in the District can qualify in the circumstances described by DLCP.
Agent role is not ownershipAddress rules
- The registered-agent address must be a physical street address in the District of Columbia.
- It cannot be only a P.O. box.
- It cannot be a third-party mailbox such as a UPS or FedEx mailbox.
- It cannot be an address outside DC.
- A foreign entity acting as an agent must itself be registered with the Corporations Division.
Register an Out-of-State Entity to Do Business in DC
A company formed in another state or country generally uses the foreign-registration process when it will transact business in the District. Corporate registration does not itself issue a licence, permit or tax account.
FN-1 information and attachment checklist
- Exact home-jurisdiction entity name and type
- Alternate DC name when the true name is unavailable or lacks a required qualifier
- State, province or country of formation
- Date of organization
- Date the entity began or will begin transacting business in DC
- Principal address
- DC registered-agent name, address and email
- Specific description of proposed DC activity
- Ownership or control information requested by the form
- Home-jurisdiction Certificate of Good Standing dated within 90 days
- Authorized signer
Correct, Update or Reinstate a DC Entity Record
Match the filing to the problem. A biennial report may update some fields, while an amendment, correction, registered-agent filing or reinstatement is required for others.
Periodic update
Addresses, agent information, business activity and reportable ownership/control information.
Statement of Correction
Correct qualifying information in the most recent filed record, including certain updated ownership information after a report exists.
Registered-agent change
Use the appropriate registered-agent service or form rather than assuming another filing automatically changes the agent.
Domestic reinstatement
Used for a domestic filing entity that was administratively dissolved.
GN-5 reinstatement checklist
- Confirm the legal name and date of administrative dissolution.
- File the missing biennial report.
- Appoint or restore the registered agent.
- Pay all required fees and penalties.
- Use an alternate name when the original name is no longer available.
- Have the governor or authorized person sign.
- Save the filing receipt and recheck the public status.
Processing and expedited-service conflict
DLCP’s registration FAQ says ordinary online filings are generally processed within five business days. It describes $50 three-day service and $100 one-day service by the end of the next business day. The general fee page labels the $100 option “same-day.” Because the official descriptions differ, read the exact live service promise before paying an expedited fee.
Choose the Correct DC Document and Budget the Full Fee
Entity type changes the fee. Confirm the legal structure before relying on a dollar amount from a generic business-search article.
| Action | For-profit corporation / LLC | Nonprofit corporation | Important note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Initial domestic filing | $99 base for LLC; business corporation amount can depend on authorized capital | $80 | Formation is separate from licensing and tax registration. |
| Name reservation | $50 | $40 | Valid 120 days; does not form the entity. |
| Biennial report | $300 | $80 on the entity-specific page | Late fee commonly $100 or $50 by classification. |
| Good-standing certificate | $50 | $40 | Not issued for trade names. |
| Certified filing copy | $50 | $40 | Request each needed filing separately. |
| Registered-agent change | $50 | $40 | Use the correct agent service or form. |
| Reinstatement | $300 | $80 | Back reports, late fees and other amounts may also apply. |
| Trade-name registration, renewal, amendment or cancellation | $55 | $55 | Late renewal adds another $55. |
| Expedited service | $50 three-day / $100 faster option | Same add-on structure | Confirm current timing and availability. |
Use the Correct DC Tool After the Entity Search
Do not keep searching CorpOnline for information maintained by another District or federal system.
Washington, DC Is Not Washington State
Queries such as “WA DC SOS business search” often mix two jurisdictions. Use the District system only for entities registered in Washington, DC.
| Jurisdiction | Business-record agency | Identifier | Use when |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington, DC | DLCP Corporations Division | District file number | The entity is formed or registered to conduct business in the District. |
| Washington State | Washington Secretary of State Corporations and Charities | UBI | The entity is formed or registered in Washington State. |
For the state on the West Coast, use the Washington Secretary of State’s official Corporations and Charities system rather than DC CorpOnline or BOSS.
Contact DC Corporations With a Useful Question
Prepare the entity name, file number and exact task before calling. This reduces transfers between corporate registration, licensing, tax and Access DC support.
Have these details ready
- Complete legal or trade name
- District file number
- Entity type and jurisdiction
- Exact status displayed
- Search wording already tried
- Form number or portal tile
- Report year or trade-name expiration year
- Submission, receipt or payment number
- Error message or screenshot with payment data removed
- The exact result you need
Final DC Entity Verification Checklist
Complete this before signing, paying, filing for the organization or ordering an official document.
DC Business Entity Search FAQs
Does Washington, DC have a Secretary of State business search?
The common search phrase is “DC SOS business search,” but ordinary DC entity records are maintained by the Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection’s Corporations Division. The DC Office of the Secretary handles other functions, including authentication of District documents.
Is the DC business entity search free?
Yes. The public Business Filings Search is free. Accounts and fees are required for filings, biennial reports, good-standing certificates and certified copies.
What is a DC business file number?
It is the identifier assigned to the District entity or trade-name record. Save it for reports, certificates, certified-copy orders, corrections and support. It is not the federal EIN, a Basic Business License number or a tax-account number.
Why can’t I find a DC LLC or corporation?
The search may be too exact, the legal suffix or punctuation may differ, the entity may have changed names, the public-facing name may be a trade name, the filing may still be processing, or the operation may be a sole proprietor or general partnership without a separate entity record.
Do DC LLCs file annual reports?
DC LLCs file a biennial report rather than an annual report. The first BRA-25 report is due by April 1 of the calendar year after registration, and later reports are due every two years.
How much is a DC Certificate of Good Standing?
The current base fee is generally $50 for LLCs and for-profit corporations and $40 for nonprofit corporations. Other entity types can have different amounts. Confirm the live entity-specific fee before paying.
Can a DC trade name receive a Certificate of Good Standing?
No. DLCP’s Corporations FAQ states that a good-standing certificate cannot be issued for a trade name. Search the owning individual or entity and order the document appropriate to that record.
How often must a DC trade name be renewed?
A trade name is renewed every two years by April 1 of the renewal year. A late renewal can be filed through August 31 with a late fee. An unrenewed trade name is cancelled September 1.
Is a DC registered agent the owner?
Not necessarily. The registered agent receives legal process and official notices at a physical District address. An owner, employee, attorney or commercial registered-agent service may fill the role without the role proving ownership.
What is the DC Corporations Division phone number?
The Corporations Division number is 202-442-4432. The broader DLCP and Business License Center number is 202-671-4500. Prepare the legal name, file number, status and exact form or portal task before calling.
Source and freshness note: this page was checked on August 4, 2026 against current DLCP Corporations and CorpOnline guidance, the BOSS transition notice, entity-specific fee pages, the BRA-25, GN-3, TN-1 through TN-4, FN-1 and GN-5 forms, DC Code good-standing requirements, OTR Clean Hands guidance and current FinCEN BOI information. Portal labels, URLs, fees and service availability may change during the mid-August BOSS transition; confirm the final live screen before filing or paying.