Georgia Registered Agents for Corporations
Yes, every Georgia corporation must have a registered agent with a physical Georgia address. Learn who qualifies, what they do, how to change agents, and what happens if you don't have one.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Georgia registered agent requirements at a glance
Filing fee: $100 (online) / $110 (paper) for Articles of Incorporation
Processing time: Typically 7–10 business days (online); expedited options available
State agency: Georgia Secretary of State, Corporations Division
Annual report due: Annual registration due between January 1 and April 1 each year; $50 filing fee
State tax rate: 6% corporate income tax (flat rate)
Do you need a registered agent for a Georgia corporation?
Yes. Every Georgia corporation — whether a C Corp or S Corp — is required by law to designate a registered agent as part of the formation filing with the Georgia Secretary of State. You must name the registered agent and provide their physical Georgia address in your Articles of Incorporation before the state will approve your corporation.
This isn't a one-time formality. Georgia law requires your corporation to maintain a registered agent continuously — not just at formation. The registered agent's name and address become part of the public record and are updated each year through your annual registration filing.
What a registered agent does
A registered agent is the official point of contact between your Georgia corporation and the state. Their primary job is to receive service of process — meaning lawsuits, subpoenas, and other legal notices — along with official correspondence from the Georgia Secretary of State and other government agencies.
The registered agent must be physically present at their Georgia address during normal business hours to accept these documents. That's the part people underestimate — it's not enough to have an address on file. Someone has to actually be there to receive legal mail when it arrives.
Service of process (lawsuits, subpoenas, court notices)
Official correspondence from the Georgia Secretary of State
State and federal government notices
Annual registration reminders and compliance documents
Who can serve as a registered agent in Georgia
Georgia allows an individual or a registered agent company to serve in this role, as long as they meet the state's requirements. The rules are specific, and a P.O. box won't cut it.
Individual registered agent
An individual can serve as the registered agent for a Georgia corporation — including the business owner — if they meet 3 requirements: they must be at least 18 years old, have a physical street address in Georgia (not a P.O. box), and be available at that address during normal business hours.
Note that Georgia does not permit a corporation to appoint itself as its own registered agent.
Registered agent company
A company can serve as your registered agent if it is authorized to do business in Georgia and maintains a physical Georgia address. Using a registered agent service means you don't have to be tied to a desk during business hours, and your personal address stays off the public record.
What happens if you don't maintain a registered agent
Not maintaining a registered agent puts your Georgia corporation at real risk. If your corporation loses its registered agent and doesn't replace one, the Georgia Secretary of State can begin administrative dissolution proceedings under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-1420 — meaning the state can dissolve your corporation entirely.
The same risk applies if you miss your annual registration, which is where you report your registered agent's current name and address each year. Late filings trigger fees, and continued delinquency can lead to administrative dissolution.
A dissolved corporation loses the exclusive right to its corporate name and can run into problems entering contracts, securing financing, or maintaining certain licenses. Staying current with your registered agent and annual registration is one of the simplest ways to protect your standing.
How to change your registered agent in Georgia
You can change your registered agent in Georgia at any time by filing an amendment through the Georgia Secretary of State's online system or by mail. The filing fee for changing a registered agent through an amended annual registration is $30.
The new registered agent must meet the same requirements as the original: a physical Georgia street address, availability during business hours, and — if a company — authorization to do business in Georgia. The change takes effect once the Secretary of State processes the filing.
File online through the Georgia Secretary of State's system or by mail
Pay the $30 amendment filing fee
New agent must have a physical Georgia street address and be available during business hours
New agent company must be authorized to do business in Georgia
Georgia does not allow a corporation to appoint itself as its own registered agent
FAQ
Yes. Georgia law requires every corporation — C Corp or S Corp — to designate a registered agent with a physical Georgia address before the Secretary of State will approve the formation filing. You must maintain a registered agent continuously, not just at formation. The registered agent's name and address are part of the public record and must be updated each year through your annual registration.
Yes, but there are trade-offs. You can serve as your own registered agent if you're at least 18, have a physical Georgia street address, and can be present there during normal business hours every business day. The downside: your address becomes part of the public record, and you have to be available to receive legal documents in person — which isn't practical if you travel or work off-site.
Yes. The registered agent must have a physical street address in Georgia — a P.O. box is not acceptable. If you use a registered agent company, that company must also be authorized to do business in Georgia. The address is used by the state and courts to deliver legal notices and official correspondence to your corporation.
If your Georgia corporation loses its registered agent and doesn't replace one, the Secretary of State can begin administrative dissolution proceedings under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-1420. A dissolved corporation loses its exclusive right to its corporate name and can face obstacles entering contracts, securing financing, or maintaining licenses. Staying current with your registered agent is one of the simplest ways to keep your corporation in good standing.
You can change your registered agent by filing an amendment through the Georgia Secretary of State's online system or by mail. The filing fee is $30. The new agent must have a physical Georgia street address, be available during business hours, and — if a company — be authorized to do business in Georgia. The change takes effect once the Secretary of State processes the filing.
Yes. The Georgia Secretary of State maintains the registered agent's name and address as part of your corporation's public record. This information is used by the state and courts to contact your business. You update it each year through your annual registration filing, which is due between January 1 and April 1 and carries a $50 filing fee.
