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A business entity status is the state's one word summary of where a company stands on its register. It answers two questions: does the company still exist, and is it up to date with what the state requires? Each state picks its own words, so the same situation can appear under different names.
Common status words and what they mean
| Status you see | What it usually means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| Active, Current, Exists, In Existence | The company exists on the register and has not been closed. | Check if the state also shows a separate standing field. |
| Good Standing, In Good Standing | The company exists and is current with reports, fees and agent. | You can usually order a certificate of good standing. |
| Delinquent, Past Due, Report Due, Not in Good Standing | A report, fee or tax is late, but the company has not been closed yet. | File what is missing before the state takes the next step. |
| Pending Inactive, Notice Sent | The state has sent a warning and will act if nothing is filed. | Read the notice and file quickly. |
| Suspended, Forfeited | The state has removed some or all of the company's rights, often for tax or report problems. | Fix the cause and apply for revival or reinstatement. |
| Administratively Dissolved, Revoked, Void | The state closed the company or cancelled its local registration. | Reinstatement is often possible within the state's rules. |
| Dissolved, Cancelled, Terminated | The company was closed, usually by its owners. | Treat it as closed unless the history shows otherwise. |
| Withdrawn, Surrendered | A company from another state ended its registration here. It may still be active at home. | Check the home state record. |
| Merged, Converted | The company became part of another entity or changed form. | Follow the filing to the surviving entity. |
| Inactive | A catch-all for any record that is not active. | Open the filing history to see the reason. |
These meanings are general. Always read the state's own definition, which our state guides link where the state publishes one.
Examples from real state registers
- California splits suspensions by agency. A record can show SOS Suspended for a missing Statement of Information, FTB Suspended for tax problems with the Franchise Tax Board, or both. See the California guide.
- Texas uses In Existence for active entities and Forfeited Existence when a corporation or LLC fails to file its franchise tax return or pay the tax. See the Texas guide.
- Arizona uses Pending Inactive for a corporation that missed its annual report deadline and received a delinquency notice. See the Arizona guide.
Active is not always the same as good standing
In some states the status field only says whether the company exists. A separate field, or the certificate service, tells you if it is current. A company can be Active and still be behind on a report. If good standing matters, for a loan, a contract or a foreign registration, order a certificate of good standing or look for the standing field on the record.
Status in more than one state
A company has a separate status in each state where it is registered. It can be in good standing in its home state and revoked in a state where it stopped filing reports as a foreign entity. Check the record in the state that matters to you. Our foreign vs domestic entity guide explains why a company has more than one record.
How to read a status you do not recognise
- Open the filing history and find the most recent filing or notice. It usually names the reason.
- Look for the state's help page on status terms, often linked from the search page.
- Check the date the status changed. A recent change may not yet show on other records, such as a tax account.
- Ask the filing office if the meaning is still unclear.
What to do when your own status slips
Most problems come from three things: a missed annual report, an unpaid state tax or fee, or a registered agent who resigned. File the missing item, pay what is due and check the record again a few days later. If the company was dissolved or forfeited, see the dissolved business search guide for how reinstatement works.