--- title: "Move Your LLC to Alabama: Domestication Requirements & Cost 2026 | LLC Attorney" description: "How to domesticate (convert) an out-of-state LLC to Alabama in 2026: the Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion filing, the roughly $150+ total cost, and what happens to your formation date." canonical: https://llcattorney.com/states/al/move-llc-to-alabama image: https://llcattorney.com/images/share-cover.png source_path: /states/al/move-llc-to-alabama --- Key Takeaways - Alabama allows incoming LLC domestication directly (Ala. Code §10A-1-8.04 ("Merger with or Conversion from a Foreign Entity"), a general cross-entity-type conversion statute in Article 8 rather than an LLC-specific chapter) — your LLC keeps its original formation date - Filing fee: $100 Secretary of State filing fee, plus a companion Probate Judge recording fee in the county of your registered office (commonly $50 or more, depending on the county) - No new EIN is needed. Alabama's Article 8 conversion framework continues the same legal entity, so the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged — update your address with the IRS (Form 8822-B) once your Alabama registered agent is set. - No. Alabama's conversion filing doesn't require proof of withdrawal from the LLC's prior state; the LLC must separately close out its old-state registration per that state's own rules. - Same-day LLC domestication filing available through LLC Attorney, at no markup on state fees If your LLC is formed in another state but you've relocated (or your business has) and want Alabama to be its new legal home, conversion (Alabama's term for domestication) lets you make that move without dissolving the company and starting over. This guide covers exactly how to convert an out-of-state LLC into an Alabama LLC in 2026 — the Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion filing, the roughly $150+ total cost, what happens to your EIN and formation date, and what you still need to handle in your old state afterward. YesStatutory conversion available ~$150+Total filing cost ~10 daysStandard processing time SameFormation date & EIN retained ## What Is LLC Domestication? Domestication (sometimes called continuance or statutory conversion) lets you move your LLC from one state to Alabama without dissolving it and starting over. Done correctly, the LLC keeps its original formation date, its EIN, and its contracts — only its home state changes. ## Can You Domesticate an LLC Into Alabama? Yes. Alabama's LLC Act includes a statutory domestication provision (Ala. Code §10A-1-8.04 ("Merger with or Conversion from a Foreign Entity"), a general cross-entity-type conversion statute in Article 8 rather than an LLC-specific chapter), so an out-of-state LLC can become a Alabama LLC directly while retaining its original formation date. ## How to Domesticate Your LLC in Alabama - **Filing agency:** Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division - **Form:** Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion, filed with new Alabama Articles of Organization (Rev. 1/2022) - **Filing fee:** $100 Secretary of State filing fee, plus a companion Probate Judge recording fee in the county of your registered office (commonly $50 or more, depending on the county) - **Processing time:** About 10 business days for standard processing; 3 business days with expedited service for an extra $100 - **Expedited option:** $100 for 3-business-day expedited processing - **Certificate of Good Standing:** Required from your current state, dated within 365 days of filing. - **Plan of domestication:** Alabama does not require a separate formal plan document beyond the standard filing. - **Member approval:** Alabama's conversion statute (§10A-1-8.01) tracks your LLC's own current home-state law and operating agreement rather than imposing a separate Alabama-specific vote threshold — confirm the required approval under the law of the state you're moving from. ## What Happens to Your EIN, Contracts, and Formation Date? Domesticating to Alabama preserves your LLC's original formation date — the entity continues, it doesn't restart. No new EIN is needed. Alabama's Article 8 conversion framework continues the same legal entity, so the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged — update your address with the IRS (Form 8822-B) once your Alabama registered agent is set. All existing contracts, bank accounts, licenses, and pending liabilities carry over automatically — Alabama's conversion statute is written around a continuation-of-existence framing, not a new entity stepping into the old one's shoes. ## Do I Need to Close My LLC in My Old State? No. Alabama's conversion filing doesn't require proof of withdrawal from the LLC's prior state; the LLC must separately close out its old-state registration per that state's own rules. If your business keeps operating in the old state after moving its legal home to Alabama (an office, employees, or regular in-state activity there), you'll likely need to foreign-qualify in that state instead of maintaining it as your domestic entity — check that state's foreign-qualification requirements once the move is final. ## When Do Alabama's Taxes and Filings Start? Alabama's obligations begin once the conversion is filed and effective. Plan for the state's Business Privilege Tax, including the Initial Business Privilege Tax return, which runs on a short post-formation clock — confirm the exact due date with the Alabama Department of Revenue rather than assuming it lines up with your old state's calendar. You'll typically owe a final-year return to your old state covering the period before the conversion took effect, prorated to the conversion date — confirm the exact filing requirement with that state's tax agency, since this varies based on where your prior state was. Alabama's certificate-of-existence requirement is confirmed for converting LPs, LLPs, and LLLPs specifically, but wasn't independently verified in LLC-specific Secretary of State instructions — request one dated within a year of filing regardless, since it's the safer assumption. ## How to Move Your LLC to Alabama Step by Step ### If You Do It Yourself **Step 1 — Confirm your LLC is in good standing in its current state.** Alabama will require a Certificate of Good Standing from your current state, so resolve any lapsed filings there first. **Step 2 — Get member approval for the move.** Alabama's conversion statute (§10A-1-8.01) tracks your LLC's own current home-state law and operating agreement rather than imposing a separate Alabama-specific vote threshold — confirm the required approval under the law of the state you're moving from. **Step 3 — File the domestication paperwork.** File with Alabama Secretary of State, Business Services Division using the Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion, filed with new Alabama Articles of Organization, $100 Secretary of State filing fee, plus a companion Probate Judge recording fee in the county of your registered office (commonly $50 or more, depending on the county). **Step 4 — Confirm your EIN and contracts carry over.** No new EIN is needed. Alabama's Article 8 conversion framework continues the same legal entity, so the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged — update your address with the IRS (Form 8822-B) once your Alabama registered agent is set. All existing contracts, bank accounts, licenses, and pending liabilities carry over automatically — Alabama's conversion statute is written around a continuation-of-existence framing, not a new entity stepping into the old one's shoes. **Step 5 — Appoint a registered agent in your new state.** Alabama calls this role a "Registered Agent" — required before or as part of the domestication filing. **Step 6 — Handle your old state's final obligations.** No. Alabama's conversion filing doesn't require proof of withdrawal from the LLC's prior state; the LLC must separately close out its old-state registration per that state's own rules. You'll typically owe a final-year return to your old state covering the period before the conversion took effect, prorated to the conversion date — confirm the exact filing requirement with that state's tax agency, since this varies based on where your prior state was. **Step 7 — Update your tax and compliance calendar.** Alabama's obligations begin once the conversion is filed and effective. Plan for the state's Business Privilege Tax, including the Initial Business Privilege Tax return, which runs on a short post-formation clock — confirm the exact due date with the Alabama Department of Revenue rather than assuming it lines up with your old state's calendar. **Step 8 — Watch for Alabama-specific domestication traps.** Alabama uses "conversion," not "domestication," and the authority for it lives in the state's general Article 8 conversion statute rather than inside the LLC Act itself — cite Ala. Code §10A-1-8.04, not an LLC-chapter-specific section. Also budget for the Probate Judge recording fee due in the county of your registered office in addition to the Secretary of State's $100 filing fee; skipping that step is a common reason Alabama conversion filings bounce back. Ready to Launch Your Business in Alabama?Follow our fast, easy process to get started right now.[Start My Business](https://app.llcattorney.com/formation?intake_type=formation) ### If LLC Attorney Does It for You 1. Submit your LLC's current-state details at llcattorney.com — name, formation date, and member information. 2. LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing, obtains your Certificate of Good Standing, and serves as your registered agent in Alabama once the move is complete. 3. Receive confirmation of your completed move, plus access to flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer) for any old-state wind-down questions. ## When Should You Talk to an Attorney About Moving Your LLC to Alabama? Talk to an attorney before domesticating your LLC to Alabama if you want confirmation you're citing the correct statute (§10A-1-8.04, not an LLC-chapter-specific section), if your LLC is more than a year old and you need help sequencing the certificate-of-existence request with your filing timeline, or if you're unsure how the county Probate Judge recording fee applies in your specific county. ### Is Alabama a State Where Domestication Complexity Matters More? Alabama doesn't have an LLC-specific domestication article — the operative law sits in Ala. Code §10A-1-8.04, a general cross-entity "Merger with or Conversion from a Foreign Entity" statute in the Alabama Business and Nonprofit Entities Code's shared Article 8, applying uniformly across LLCs, corporations, partnerships, and other entity types rather than being written just for LLCs. Some online guides read that generality as meaning Alabama "doesn't allow" LLC domestication — it's simply filed under conversion terminology rather than a dedicated LLC domestication chapter, and the Secretary of State's own "Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion" form confirms the path is real. An attorney can confirm your specific fact pattern qualifies and that you're citing the right section. ## What You Actually Get With LLC Attorney's Alabama Domestication Service The part of Alabama LLC domestication that trips people up isn't the filing itself — it's finding the right statute in a general cross-entity conversion article instead of an LLC-specific one, and remembering the county Probate Judge recording fee that catches first-timers off guard. LLC Attorney handles both correctly from the start. - LLC domestication to Alabama, starting at $149. - Certificate of Good Standing retrieval, filing prep, and registered agent service all handled in one order. - Old-state withdrawal and final-tax-obligation guidance specific to your prior state — not a generic multi-state template. - Access to professionally trained Business Success Advisors at no charge, plus flat-fee attorney consultations (no retainer) for move-specific questions. Moving your LLC's legal home to Alabama is straightforward once the right statute is cited and both required fees are accounted for — LLC Attorney makes sure nothing gets missed on either end of the move. ## Ready to Move Your LLC to Alabama? LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing for LLCs moving to Alabama, starting at $149. See our [full pricing](/pricing) for all service tiers. Ready to Launch Your Business in Alabama?Follow our fast, easy process to get started right now.[Move My LLC to Alabama](https://app.llcattorney.com/formation?intake_type=formation) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I domesticate my out-of-state LLC directly into Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Yes, though Alabama doesn't call it "domestication." Under Ala. Code §10A-1-8.04, a foreign LLC can convert directly into a domestic Alabama LLC, filed as a "Formation of Domestic Entity by Conversion" alongside new Alabama Articles of Organization — despite some sites claiming otherwise, this path is real and confirmed by the Secretary of State's own form. ### Does my LLC keep its original formation date after domesticating to Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Yes. Alabama's conversion statute is written as a continuation of the same legal entity, so your original formation date, EIN, and contracts all carry forward rather than resetting. ### How much does it cost to domesticate an LLC in Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) About $100 for the Secretary of State filing fee, plus a separate county Probate Judge recording fee (commonly $50 or more depending on the county) that catches a lot of first-time filers off guard. ### Do I need a new EIN after domesticating my LLC to Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) No. Your EIN doesn't change — Alabama's conversion statute continues your existing LLC rather than forming a new one for IRS purposes. ### Do I need to close my LLC in my old state after moving to Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) No. Alabama's conversion filing doesn't require proof you've withdrawn from your old state; you'll still need to close that registration out separately, under your old state's own rules. ### When do Alabama's taxes and annual report obligations start after domesticating? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Alabama's obligations start once the conversion is filed and effective. Plan for the state's Business Privilege Tax, including the Initial Business Privilege Tax return due on a short clock after formation/domestication — confirm the exact deadline with the Alabama Department of Revenue. ### Do all my LLC's members have to approve the move to Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Alabama's conversion statute tracks your LLC's own current home-state law and operating agreement rather than imposing its own vote threshold — check what your existing state requires to approve the move. ### How long does it take to domesticate an LLC in Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Expect roughly 10 business days for standard processing, with an expedited 3-business-day option available for an extra $100 if you need it faster. ### Does LLC Attorney help move LLCs to Alabama? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Yes. LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing for LLCs moving to Alabama, starting at $149. ## Related Alabama Resources - [Alabama LLC Formation](/states/al/llc-formation-alabama) - [Alabama Registered Agent](/states/al/registered-agent-alabama) - [Alabama EIN Number](/states/al/ein-number-alabama)