Moving to Arizona from California is exciting. The weather is different, the culture is new and welcoming, and you are ready to build your new life in Arizona. Once you move there, you and your business will have to start over when dealing with ownership issues. If you’re planning on leaving California for Arizona, here are some tips for moving LLCs from California to Arizona that may help you make your transition as smooth as possible.
File Notice of Your Move
If you are moving from California to Arizona, you will need to file a notice of your move with the California Secretary of State. This form is called a Certificate of Amendment and is used when moving from one state to another.
The Certificate of Amendment can be filed online or by mail, but it must be filed within 30 days of your move date if you are moving from California to Arizona. If you are moving from one state to another within that same state, then the certificate can be filed within 30 days before or after the move date.
Once you have filed this form, it takes up to 30 days for the new state’s tax office to issue your new driver’s license and vehicle registration.
Register Your LLC in Its New State
If you’re moving to Arizona from California, you’ll need to register your LLC in Arizona. To do so, you’ll need to file documents with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office.
Registering your LLC in its new state can be confusing. To help, we’ve compiled this guide on registering your LLC in Arizona. Follow the following steps:
- File Your Articles of Organization: To register a new company in Arizona, you must apply with the Arizona Secretary of State’s office. You can do this by visiting their website and following the instructions.
- Pay Fees: Once you’ve filed your articles of organization with the Secretary of State’s office, you will have to pay fees for each filing. The minimum fee is $25 per page; however, if you’re filing more than one page at once (for example, if you’re doing multiple amendments), then there will be additional fees based on the number of pages being filed at once.
Check Whether You Still Must File Taxes With the Old State
If you moved to Arizona and are a Limited Liability Company (LLC) owner, you may still need to file your state taxes in California.
The good news is that the IRS has created a form called Form 1120-F to help owners of LLCs with this issue. This form allows you to file your taxes as if you’re still in California, even if you have moved to Arizona.
If your LLC is doing business in both states, you must follow all state requirements for this form. Otherwise, the IRS could come after you for back taxes and penalties.
Change the Registered Agent on Your LLC Formation Documents
Your formation documents are the documents created when you file for a new limited liability company in California. They include basic contact information such as an address, phone number, and email address. You also can update this information once you move from one state to another. For example, if you moved to Arizona after filing for an Arizona LLC formation document, it would be wise to change the registered agent on those documents to reflect your new home address in Arizona.
Update Your LLC’s Business Address
The most important thing to do before transferring your business to Arizona is to update your company’s business address. This is because you need to have a physical address where you will be doing business in Arizona.
If you are operating a business out of an office, it is better to stick with this address as it will make it easier for people to find your business and contact you if there is anything urgent or important that needs to be done.
When it comes to manufacturing and production businesses, however, it is not recommended that they operate from the same address as those who are running their businesses from home or offices. This is because when these businesses need supplies or equipment located outside their premises, they may not be able to get them as quickly or easily as if they were available in their yard or office space.
Update Banking Information for Your LLC
You must notify your financial institution of the change in your business name and address. Most states and banks require this, so it should be done before you file your Articles of Organization or begin doing business under your new name. If you do not update the bank information, your bank may refuse to open a new account for your LLC. Banks will also charge fees to process this update, so check with them before proceeding.
Modify Your Membership Certificates
The most common way members get paid is through checks issued by the LLC. However, members can opt to receive payments directly from the company instead of checks if they wish. To do this, you will need to modify all of your membership certificates to show how much money each member has agreed to receive at any given time. You should also print out new copies of all these documents and send them out to each member so that they can see how much money they are entitled to receive from their share of the profits generated by their investment in the company’s assets and operations.
Update Your Operating Agreement
When moving from California to Arizona, staying on top of your company’s operating agreement is important. This is where you and your members agree to the terms and conditions of how the company will be organized, operated, and managed. The operating agreement should include provisions for how shares are transferred between members, who can sell their shares, what changes in the ownership need to be approved by shareholders and how decisions are made when there is a shareholder conflict.
Inform Employees and Contractors About the Move
If you have employees or contractors in both states, they must know about your move as soon as possible to prepare for the transition. You may also want to update their resumes with current contact information in case an opportunity arises at another company. If you have employees working remotely, you can send them a message through Slack or email if necessary, so they don’t miss out on important information about your new location.
Final Thought
If you plan to relocate to Arizona or California, making sure that your LLC can move along with you is essential. While this will depend on the type of LLC and what areas it is registered in, certain things must be considered before you can pack up and head across the border. This article has provided informative tips on successfully moving LLCs from California to Arizona.