Change Registered Agent in Utah

Read our guide about what changing a Utah Registered Agent entails and see why you should use our experts to do it for you.

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There are a number of reasons you might need to change your Utah LLC’s registered agent. Maybe your designated registered agent moved out of state, left the company, or no longer wants the responsibility. Maybe you had assigned the job to yourself, and you no longer want your address on public record. Maybe (hopefully) your business has expanded so much that you no longer have time to handle the registered agent responsibilities.

Whatever your reason may be, changing a registered agent in Utah might seem like a daunting task, with a mountain of paperwork and legal proceedings involved. However it’s actually quite simple, and this guide will help make the process quick and painless.

What the State of Utah Says about changing a Registered Agent

The state of Utah has certain requirements for changing your LLC’s registered agent. A business entity wishing to change its registered agent must do so through the online filing system or by submitting a “Registration Information Change Form.”

The state also makes a distinction between commercial and noncommercial registered agents. According to the Department of Commerce, the difference is that a commercial agent has registered with the state and a noncommercial agent has not.

Read more about registered agent laws in Section 16-17-206 of the Utah code, about filing on the online portal, and about registered agents on the Commercial Registered Agent page.

Who can be a Utah Registered Agent

You can’t pick just anyone to be a registered agent for your LLC. The state of Utah puts certain restrictions on who can serve as one. If you’re choosing or changing your registered agent, keep these requirements in mind. The registered agent in Utah must:

  • Be an individual Utah resident or a business entity located in Utah
  • Have a Utah street address (P.O. boxes are not allowed)

* If your registered agent is a foreign business entity, it must be authorized to transact business in Utah

How to Change Your Utah Registered Agent

Time to make your resident agent change. You have two options for how to go about it. The first – which is recommended by Utah’s Department of Commerce – is through the online filing portal. The D.O.C. prefers this option because it’s quicker, easier to process, and cuts down the paperwork for everyone involved.

Once you’re on the homepage, log in using your Entity number or Access ID. If your LLC doesn’t have an Access ID, you’ll need to request one by clicking “Recieve an Access ID.” After signing in, make the desired change to your registered agent, and it will be processed the next business day.

Even though the Department of Commerce prefers online filings, they still accept paper ones. If you’d like to go this route, download a “Limited Liability Company Registration Information Change Form.” Unless you’re making other changes to your LLC, your main focus will be #2 on the form. Click the bubble for “Yes” and enter your new registered agent’s information. You can find additional instructions here. When you’re finished, print the form, sign it, and send it to:

Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code

PO Box 146705

Salt Lake City, UT 84114-6705

Or, if you live in Salt Lake City and want some fresh air, you can drop it off in person at:

Heber M. Wells Building

160 E. 300 S, 1st Floor

Salt Lake City, UT 84111

One more option! You may also fax your form to (801) 530-6438, but you must include a “Fax Cover Letter.”

There is a $15 fee associated with a Utah registered agent change. For mailed or in-person filings, submit a check or money order made out to “State of Utah” (in-person, you can also pay in cash). For online and faxed documents, pay via credit or debit card.

If your need for a new registered agent happens to coincide with your business renewal filing period, you can submit the change form with your renewal free of charge.

If you’re too busy, or if you’d feel more comfortable letting someone else take the reins, you have the option of hiring a company or individual to file your paperwork for you. It’s a great way to save time and stress.

Submit your form? Pay your fee? Then you’re all set! Keep an eye on your record with the Department of Commerce and you should see your change take effect soon.

Consider a Registered Agent Service

Think of your registered agent as a mediator between you and the state of Utah, the person or business entity that handles some of your most important paperwork.

In case you thought the registered agent was just a formality, look at the documents they handle:

  • service of process notices
  • tax information
  • lawsuits
  • and other Secretary of State correspondence.

A lot of important stuff. Which is why a reliable registered agent is essential to every Utah business owner.

By handling high-priority and sensitive documents on your behalf, your registered agent takes care of your communications with the state, so you can spend more time building your business.

Plus, if you operate a Utah small business from out of state, a trustworthy registered agent is especially important, as the state requires a local contact for your LLC. Having this contact ensures your company will receive and respond to time-sensitive documents, so you won’t miss filings and get hit with penalties.

If you’re unsure where to find a good Utah registered agent, consider using a registered agent service. These companies provide you a reliable, professional registered agent so you can have peace of mind knowing you won’t ever miss a filing, tax deadline, or state correspondence.

Sure, you can jump online, search “registered agent service,” and get a ton of results. But the truth is that not all of these services are trustworthy. So, we’ve done some research for you. If you want to know you’re getting a top-quality registered agent, take a look at our comparison guide on the best rated registered agent services. Many of these providers can also form an LLC for you if you’re needing a fresh start. ZenBusiness is a very well known option.

Need to Resign your Utah Registered Agent?

There are numerous reasons you might need to give up your Utah registered agent role, but only one way to resign.

Registered agents play an important role in the life of an LLC, handling sensitive legal and tax documents, so it’s essential that agents follow proper resignation procedures. Otherwise, you could leave your company with unplanned fines or penalties, and you could be individually liable.

Fortunately, for Utah LLCs it is easy.

Follow these steps and the hardest part of your resignation won’t be the process itself, it’ll be saying “so long” to your former business.

Notifying the Utah LLC

Utah state law doesn’t require that you inform your LLC before filing your official resignation. The Department of Commerce will send a copy of your official resignation to the LLC as soon as they receive it, so giving prior notice is optional. That said, letting your company know beforehand can be beneficial for everyone involved. It will give the LLC time to come up with a succession plan to change its registered agent and ensure a smooth transition for everyone involved.

Submitting Your Resignation

Speaking with your LLC early on is helpful and courteous, but it’s not what kickstarts the resignation process. To get that ball rolling, head to the Department of Commerce’s domestic or foreign LLC pages. On the right side of the screen, you’ll see a box containing links to LLC forms. Click “Registered Agent Resignation” and you’ll be on your way.

Now that you’ve got your hands on the form, use a PDF editor (like Adobe Acrobat) to fill it out with the following information (it must be typed):

  • The LLC name
  • The LLC’s Entity Number
  • Your name
  • Your File Number (if applicable)
  • The name and address of the LLC representative to whom you sent or will send written notice
  • Your signature

And that’s it! There’s no filing fee for this form so you can stash your checkbook for now. When you’re ready, mail your original document plus two copies to the Department of Commerce at:

Utah Division of Corporations & Commercial Code
PO Box 146705
Salt Lake City, Utah 84114-6705

Live in Salt Lake City? Feel free to drop them off in person in the Heber M. Wells Building, located at 160 E 300 S, 1st Floor, Salt Lake City, Utah 84111.

Or you can fax them to (801) 530-6438, although faxed forms incur a fee of $5 per page.

Standard processing time for resignations is 3-10 business days, but if you need it done sooner, you can pay $75 for expedited processing (1-2 days). Your resignation will take effect as soon as it’s processed unless you indicated a later date on your form.

Handing off Your Responsibilities

When you put down your registered agent responsibilities, someone else has to pick them up, or your LLC will lose its good standing with the state. Help your LLC keep its momentum by carefully planning your transition.

This starts with finding a successor who’s ready to take over right away. Even a small gap in registered agent coverage can result in severe penalties. Once your resignation takes effect, your LLC has 30 days to appoint a replacement or it will be administratively dissolved by the state. This is why it’s important to give the company advance notice and help to facilitate a quick and smooth transition.

Whoever the LLC brings on as your replacement, the must meet Utah’s registered agent requirements, which means they must:

  • Be an individual or business entity residing in the state
  • Have a physical Utah address (P.O. boxes aren’t allowed)
  • Have a mailing address in Utah
  • Be authorized to do business in the state, if a foreign entity

The LLC is allowed to appoint one of its individual members as the registered agent. However, outsourcing those duties to a professional service and save time and prevent unnecessary stress.

We recommend using a registered agent service, which can take over registered agent duties, freeing up more time for the LLC’s managers to focus on running the business.

Finishing Up

You do a lot for your Utah LLC. You’re essentially the shield that protects it from fines, the filter that catches important documents, the conductor that keeps it on track with compliance.

Because you play such an important role, it’s crucial that you follow the resignation procedures exactly — and potentially provide a replacement agent for the business. Otherwise, you might find yourself and your LLC in hot water.

Follow this guide and you’ll be totally fine. Soon, you’ll be on to your next project, whether that’s starting a new business in Utah or something completely different.

If you need a fresh start and would like to form a brand new LLC, there are plenty of services that can take care of this for you. ZenBusiness and LegalZoom are two very popular options.

Disclaimer: The content on this page is for information purposes only and does not constitute legal, tax, or accounting advice. If you have specific questions about any of these topics, seek the counsel of a licensed professional.

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Written by Team ZenBusiness

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