State guides/North Carolina/reinstate
How to reinstate a dissolved LLC or corporation in North Carolina
What happened
North Carolina administratively dissolves entities that ignore the annual report after notice. Dissolved entities can't maintain lawsuits, and the name is only protected for 5 years.
How to fix it, step by step
- 1File the Application for Reinstatement with the Secretary of State.
- 2File all delinquent annual reports ($200/yr for LLCs) and pay accumulated fees.
- 3Confirm Current-Active status and calendar April 15.
What it costs
A $100 reinstatement application fee plus every missed year's $200 LLC annual report (corporations less) — the per-year report fee is what stacks up fast here.
How long you have
No statutory cutoff on reinstating, but the name is only reserved 5 years — after that someone else can take it even if you reinstate.
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: www.sosnc.gov · Related: North Carolina 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.