State guides/Delaware/reinstate
How to reinstate a dissolved LLC or corporation in Delaware
What happened
Delaware voids entities for unpaid franchise tax — corporations that skip the March 1 report/tax, or LLCs that skip the June 1 $300 tax. A voided entity loses good standing, which blocks the financings, closings, and legal actions that made you incorporate in Delaware in the first place.
How to fix it, step by step
- 1Pull up your entity on the Division of Corporations site and check the balance due — it accrues 1.5% monthly interest plus penalties.
- 2Pay all back franchise taxes, penalties, and interest.
- 3File the Certificate of Revival (LLCs) or Certificate of Renewal & Revival (corporations) with the Division of Corporations.
- 4Order a Certificate of Good Standing to prove the fix to banks or investors.
- 5Calendar March 1 / June 1 permanently.
What it costs
The revival certificate runs about $200 for LLCs (corporation revival fees differ — confirm current amounts), on top of every unpaid year's tax ($300/yr for LLCs; $175+ minimum for corporations) plus $200 penalty and 1.5% monthly interest for corporations.
How long you have
Delaware allows revival at any time — but the tax meter keeps running the entire time you're void, so waiting is the most expensive option.
Worth knowing
Delaware doesn't publish standing on the free registry — many startups discover they're void only during a fundraise. Check proactively before your next round.
A compliance filing service can run the whole reinstatement — the back filings, the fees, the state paperwork — so you can get back to the actual business.
File directly with the state: corp.delaware.gov · Related: Delaware filing requirements
General information from public sources, not legal advice. Fees and procedures change and depend on your entity's history — confirm with the state before relying on them. Some links above are referral links that support this free tool.