You must elect someone or a company to serve as the registered agent for your LLC or corporation. The state recognizes this agent as the point of contact for your business. And it thus lists their address in public records to pave the way for the sending and receipt of official correspondence. If members of the public wish to reach you, they use the same address as the point of contact. So, your communication flows through this agent, and your choice is thus important.
What Does a Registered Agent Do?
We’ve stated that the registered agent handles communication between your business and official third parties. But what kind of correspondence is this?
- Tax Notices: You must pay your taxes on time to ensure you do not get into financial trouble. As much as your LLC has a corporate veil, its maintenance hinges on your compliance with tax obligations. As such, you want to ensure you receive all reports regarding your tax status so you can act accordingly. And hiring a good agent is the best place to start,
- Compliance Documents: You must file an annual report in the month you created your LLC. Failure to do so results in fines and can even lead to the automatic dissolution of your company. While it may seem easy to remember to file these reports, this is not always the case. And a registered agent steps in to receive and monitor these compliance notices to help you stay on track,
- Service of Process: Your business may be subject to lawsuits or court processes requiring your urgent attention. Your agent receives the service of process on its behalf, allowing you to figure out how best to handle the legal situation.
So, with an agent in place, you can rest assured that the state and other authorities will send these important documents to you.
Who Can Serve as a Registered Agent in Washington?
The state has stipulated the criteria for registered agents, which include:
- The agent must be aged 18 years and over. If you plan to hire a company, the company must have its incorporation in Washington,
- The agent must have a physical address in Washington to receive official correspondence. The state will not accept a P.O. Box as an alternative as this does not allow service of process,
- The agent must be available during regular office hours, enabling government authorities to serve you with paperwork, and
- The agent must be a Washington state resident.
As you may have noticed, these requirements are fairly easy to meet. That allows you more variety when deciding who can step into this role, including you!
Pros of Using a Registered Agent Service
While the state allows you to represent your business, doing so comes with the detriments of lack of confidentiality, reduced privacy, and increased paperwork. Let’s review how registered agent services can help you avoid this extra hassle:
- Privacy: Your registered agent’s address is available on public records, allowing anyone to find them. Divulging such data when you work from home is not ideal. And hiring a registered agent can thus allow you to maintain a high level of privacy,
- Confidentiality: Getting served with court orders in front of your employees and clients is not a good look. But with a registered agent, this issue will never suffice.
Passportology offers reliable registered agent services in Washington, enabling you to access your mail 24/7/. Plus, you get all the perks mentioned above and more! Talk to us about getting your business represented and switch to our services for free!