--- title: "Move Your LLC to Tennessee: Domestication (Conversion) Rules & Cost 2026 | LLC Attorney" description: "How to domesticate (move) an out-of-state LLC to Tennessee in 2026: why Tennessee law calls it a 'conversion' under §48-249-703, the Certificate of Conversion filing, and what happens to your EIN and formation date." canonical: https://llcattorney.com/states/tn/move-llc-to-tennessee image: https://llcattorney.com/images/share-cover.png source_path: /states/tn/move-llc-to-tennessee --- Key Takeaways - Tennessee allows incoming LLC domestication directly (Tenn. Code Ann. §48-249-703) — your LLC keeps its original formation date - Filing fee: Tennessee's Articles of Organization fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum, under §48-249-1007. Tennessee hasn't published a separate conversion-specific fee, so this per-member formula is the best available estimate for the conversion filing — most single-member and small multi-member LLCs land at the $300 minimum. - No new EIN is needed. A conversion under Tennessee law continues the same legal entity — the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged, though you should update your address on file with the IRS (Form 8822-B) once your Tennessee registered agent address is set. - No. Conversion is self-executing — your LLC automatically ceases to exist under its old jurisdiction's law once the Tennessee conversion becomes effective, so Tennessee's own filing doesn't require separate proof of withdrawal. Some prior states still expect a closing filing on their end; check that state's requirements directly. - 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 Tennessee to be its new legal home, Tennessee's conversion statute 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 a Tennessee LLC in 2026 — why Tennessee's own law calls this a "conversion" rather than a "domestication," the Certificate of Conversion filing, the per-member fee formula, and what happens to your EIN and formation date. YesStatutory conversion available $300+Filing fee (per-member formula) 3-5 daysTypical 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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee? Yes. Tennessee's LLC Act includes a statutory domestication provision (Tenn. Code Ann. §48-249-703), so an out-of-state LLC can become a Tennessee LLC directly while retaining its original formation date. ## How to Domesticate Your LLC in Tennessee - **Filing agency:** Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division - **Form:** Certificate of Conversion (Another Business Entity Converting to a Tennessee LLC), filed together with Articles of Organization (SS-4268 / SS-4270) - **Filing fee:** Tennessee's Articles of Organization fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum, under §48-249-1007. Tennessee hasn't published a separate conversion-specific fee, so this per-member formula is the best available estimate for the conversion filing — most single-member and small multi-member LLCs land at the $300 minimum. - **Processing time:** About 3-5 business days by mail; often same-day to next-business-day when filed online - **Certificate of Good Standing:** Required from your current state, dated within 60 days of filing. - **Plan of domestication:** Tennessee does not require a separate formal plan document beyond the standard filing. - **Member approval:** Tennessee's conversion statute (§48-249-703) doesn't impose its own fixed vote threshold on the converting entity — it defers to whatever your LLC's operating agreement requires for a conversion, or, absent that, to the approval rules of your current home state's LLC law, since that's the governing law under which the conversion decision is made. ## What Happens to Your EIN, Contracts, and Formation Date? Domesticating to Tennessee preserves your LLC's original formation date — the entity continues, it doesn't restart. No new EIN is needed. A conversion under Tennessee law continues the same legal entity — the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged, though you should update your address on file with the IRS (Form 8822-B) once your Tennessee registered agent address is set. All existing contracts, bank accounts, licenses, and pending liabilities carry over automatically once the conversion is effective — Tennessee's statute treats the converted LLC as a continuation of the same entity, not a new one stepping into its shoes. ## Do I Need to Close My LLC in My Old State? No. Conversion is self-executing — your LLC automatically ceases to exist under its old jurisdiction's law once the Tennessee conversion becomes effective, so Tennessee's own filing doesn't require separate proof of withdrawal. Some prior states still expect a closing filing on their end; check that state's requirements directly. If your business keeps operating in your old state after moving its legal home to Tennessee (an office, employees, or regular in-state activity there), you'll likely need to foreign-qualify in that state going forward — check its foreign-qualification rules once the Tennessee conversion is final. ## When Do Tennessee's Taxes and Filings Start? Tennessee's tax and compliance obligations begin once the conversion is effective. Tennessee LLCs are generally subject to the state's franchise and excise tax and must file an annual report with the Secretary of State — build both into your compliance calendar starting from the conversion date. 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. Tennessee's own LLC Act calls this process a "conversion," not a "domestication" — the operative citation is §48-249-703, not a separate domestication article, even though the practical result (out-of-state LLC becomes a Tennessee LLC, same entity, same formation date) is the same thing other states label domestication. ## How to Move Your LLC to Tennessee Step by Step ### If You Do It Yourself **Step 1 — Confirm your LLC is in good standing in its current state.** Tennessee 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.** Tennessee's conversion statute (§48-249-703) doesn't impose its own fixed vote threshold on the converting entity — it defers to whatever your LLC's operating agreement requires for a conversion, or, absent that, to the approval rules of your current home state's LLC law, since that's the governing law under which the conversion decision is made. **Step 3 — File the domestication paperwork.** File with Tennessee Secretary of State, Business Services Division using the Certificate of Conversion (Another Business Entity Converting to a Tennessee LLC), filed together with Articles of Organization, Tennessee's Articles of Organization fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum, under §48-249-1007. Tennessee hasn't published a separate conversion-specific fee, so this per-member formula is the best available estimate for the conversion filing — most single-member and small multi-member LLCs land at the $300 minimum.. **Step 4 — Confirm your EIN and contracts carry over.** No new EIN is needed. A conversion under Tennessee law continues the same legal entity — the IRS treats your EIN as unchanged, though you should update your address on file with the IRS (Form 8822-B) once your Tennessee registered agent address is set. All existing contracts, bank accounts, licenses, and pending liabilities carry over automatically once the conversion is effective — Tennessee's statute treats the converted LLC as a continuation of the same entity, not a new one stepping into its shoes. **Step 5 — Appoint a registered agent in your new state.** Tennessee 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. Conversion is self-executing — your LLC automatically ceases to exist under its old jurisdiction's law once the Tennessee conversion becomes effective, so Tennessee's own filing doesn't require separate proof of withdrawal. Some prior states still expect a closing filing on their end; check that state's requirements directly. 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.** Tennessee's tax and compliance obligations begin once the conversion is effective. Tennessee LLCs are generally subject to the state's franchise and excise tax and must file an annual report with the Secretary of State — build both into your compliance calendar starting from the conversion date. **Step 8 — Watch for Tennessee-specific domestication traps.** The most common Tennessee-specific mistake is searching for a "domestication" statute and not finding one — Tennessee's mechanism is legally a "conversion" under §48-249-703, and citing the wrong article (or assuming Tennessee lacks the option entirely because "domestication" doesn't appear in its code) is a frequent point of confusion for filers and even some advisors drafting the paperwork. Ready to Launch Your Business in Tennessee?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 Tennessee 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 Tennessee? Talk to an attorney before converting your LLC to Tennessee if your operating agreement doesn't clearly address conversion approval and you have multiple members, if your LLC has enough members that Tennessee's per-member filing fee formula climbs well above the $300 minimum, or if your old state has unusual final-tax-return requirements you want confirmed before you file. ## What You Actually Get With LLC Attorney's Tennessee Domestication Service The part of Tennessee LLC conversion that trips people up isn't the filing mechanics — it's the terminology. Tennessee's statute is titled "conversion," and citing a nonexistent "domestication article" is a common first-time mistake. LLC Attorney handles the correct filing under §48-249-703 from the start. - LLC domestication to Tennessee, 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 Tennessee is straightforward once you're filing under the right statute — LLC Attorney makes sure the Certificate of Conversion and Articles of Organization are both filed correctly the first time. ## Ready to Move Your LLC to Tennessee? LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing for LLCs moving to Tennessee, starting at $149. See our [full pricing](/pricing) for all service tiers. Ready to Launch Your Business in Tennessee?Follow our fast, easy process to get started right now.[Move My LLC to Tennessee](https://app.llcattorney.com/formation?intake_type=formation) ## Frequently Asked Questions ### Can I domesticate my out-of-state LLC directly into Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Yes, though Tennessee law calls it a "conversion" rather than a "domestication." Under Tenn. Code Ann. §48-249-703, an out-of-state LLC (or other business entity) can convert directly into a Tennessee LLC while retaining its original formation date. ### Does my LLC keep its original formation date after domesticating to Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Yes. Converting to Tennessee preserves your LLC's original formation date, EIN, and contracts — only the home state changes, since Tennessee's conversion statute treats it as a continuation of the same entity rather than a new one. ### How much does it cost to domesticate an LLC in Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Tennessee's Articles of Organization fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and $3,000 maximum — that formula applies to the conversion filing since Tennessee hasn't published a separate conversion-specific fee. Most single-member and small multi-member LLCs pay the $300 minimum. ### Do I need a new EIN after domesticating my LLC to Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) No. Your EIN stays the same — conversion continues the same legal entity rather than creating a new one. Update your address with the IRS via Form 8822-B once your Tennessee registered agent is set. ### Do I need to close my LLC in my old state after moving to Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) No separate withdrawal filing is required on the Tennessee side — conversion is self-executing, so your LLC's existence in its old state ends automatically once the Tennessee conversion takes effect. Some prior states still expect their own closing paperwork; check that state's requirements. ### When do Tennessee's taxes and annual report obligations start after domesticating? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Tennessee's franchise and excise tax and annual-report obligations begin once the conversion is effective. Build both into your compliance calendar starting from that date. ### Do all my LLC's members have to approve the move to Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Tennessee's conversion statute defers to your operating agreement's approval requirements, or, absent that, to your current home state's LLC law governing the conversion decision — there's no separate fixed Tennessee vote threshold imposed on top. ### How long does it take to domesticate an LLC in Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) About 3-5 business days by mail, often same-day to next-business-day online. The Certificate of Good Standing from your old state is often the slower step in practice — request it early. ### Does LLC Attorney help move LLCs to Tennessee? ![icon](/_next/image?url=%2Fimages%2Ficons%2FfaqPlus.png&w=128&q=75) Yes. LLC Attorney handles the domestication filing for LLCs moving to Tennessee, starting at $149. ## Related Tennessee Resources - [Tennessee LLC Formation](/states/tn/llc-formation-tennessee) - [Tennessee Registered Agent](/states/tn/registered-agent-tennessee) - [Tennessee EIN Number](/states/tn/ein-number-tennessee)