Form 250 is the Certificate Of Authority application that a foreign non-profit corporation files with the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division, under R.I. Gen. Laws 7-6-74 to conduct affairs in Rhode Island. It is for non-profits formed in another state or country, and it must be accompanied by a Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status from the place of formation. On this page you can fill out the form online on FillingPDF and download or print the completed PDF; the Business Services Division publishes the form and receives the filing.
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What is 250?
Form 250, Certificate Of Authority (Foreign Non-Profit Corporation R.I. Gen. Laws Chapter 7-6) is the Rhode Island Department of State form, titled "Application for Certificate of Authority for a Non-Profit Corporation," that a foreign non-profit corporation uses to apply for authority to conduct affairs in Rhode Island.
The form is issued by the Department of State, Business Services Division, and cites Section 7-6-74 of the General Laws of Rhode Island, 1956, as amended (RIGL 7-6-74). The Division describes it as designed to meet minimal statutory filing requirements; it is not a substitute for the advice of an attorney or tax specialist.
The application asks for:
- the corporation's name, and the name it elects to use in Rhode Island if different;
- the state or country of incorporation, the date of incorporation and the period of duration;
- the principal place of business;
- the initial registered agent and office in Rhode Island;
- the purposes the corporation proposes to pursue in Rhode Island;
- the names and addresses of its directors and officers.
A Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status from the state or country of formation, dated within 60 days of the filing date, must accompany it. The form also includes a Filer Contact Information page. All filings are public records under RIGL 38-2-1, et seq. Form 250 is for foreign corporations; it is not the Articles of Incorporation form the Department of State uses to start a new Rhode Island non-profit.
Who needs to file 250?
A foreign non-profit corporation, meaning one incorporated under the laws of another state or country, files Form 250 when it wants to conduct affairs in Rhode Island. The form is signed on the corporation's behalf: the President or Vice President AND the Secretary or Assistant Secretary must both sign and date it, and the form states that two signatures are required.
Conditions that apply to the filer:
- The corporation needs a Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status from its state or country of formation, dated within 60 days of the filing date.
- It needs a registered agent in Rhode Island: an individual who is a Rhode Island resident, or an entity qualified to do business in the state, with a Rhode Island street address (not a P.O. Box).
- If its corporate name is not available in Rhode Island, it must elect another name and file a Fictitious Business Name Statement, Form 626, with the application.
Do not use this form for a corporation formed in Rhode Island; the Department of State's page on starting a non-profit corporation covers that process, which uses Articles of Incorporation instead.
When to file 250
File Form 250 when a foreign non-profit corporation is ready to conduct affairs in Rhode Island and holds a current Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status. That certificate must be dated within 60 days of the date of the filing, so order it close to the time you submit the application. The form prints no separate due date.
After the filing, the corporation has continuing duties. Under the Division's instructions, the entity must file an annual report each calendar year, excluding the year of incorporation, between February 1 and May 1. A courtesy reminder is mailed to the registered agent before February 1. Failure to file the annual report or to maintain a registered agent/office results in revocation proceedings. Registered entities also have filing requirements with the Rhode Island Division of Taxation. The form gives no processing time.
Documents you need
- Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status from the state or country of formation, dated within 60 days of the date of filing; the corporation name on it must match the name on line 1.
- Fictitious Business Name Statement, Form 626, only if the corporate name is not available in Rhode Island and you elect another name to use.
- Attachment sheet for line 6 (purposes), only if you check the box indicating an attachment instead of listing the purposes on the form.
- Attachment sheet for line 7 (directors and officers), only if you check the box indicating an attachment.
- Completed Filer Contact Information page: name, date, proposed entity name, street address, city, state, ZIP code, email address and phone number; all fields are required.
- Filing fee, paid by check payable to RI Department of State when mailing, or by cash, credit card or check in person.
How to fill out 250
Enter the corporation name
On line 1, type the corporation's name exactly as it appears on the Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status from the state or country of formation.
Add an elected name if needed
On line 1a, enter the name you elect to use in Rhode Island if it differs from line 1. If the corporate name is unavailable, list the fictitious name and prepare Form 626 to file with the application.
State where it was incorporated
On line 2, enter the state or country under whose laws the corporation was incorporated.
Enter incorporation date and duration
On line 3, enter the date of incorporation in the state of formation. Check only one box: Perpetual (on-going), or Date certain for dissolution only if a dissolution date is designated there.
List the principal place of business
On line 4, enter the address of the corporation's principal place of business.
Name the Rhode Island registered agent
On line 5, enter the agent name and a Rhode Island street address, city/town, state and ZIP code. A P.O. Box is not accepted.
State the purposes
On line 6, state the specific purpose or purposes the corporation proposes to pursue in Rhode Island. Check the attachment box if you attach a separate sheet.
List directors and officers
On line 7, enter the office, name and address for each director, the president, vice president, treasurer and secretary. Check the attachment box if you attach a list.
Confirm the good standing attachment
Line 8 requires a Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status dated within 60 days of the filing date. Have it ready to accompany the application.
Type names and dates for signers
Enter the corporation's name, the name of the President or Vice President with the date, and the name of the Secretary or Assistant Secretary with the date.
Complete Filer Contact Information
On the last page, enter your name, the date, the proposed entity name, street address, city, state, ZIP code, email address and phone number. All fields are required.
Review, sign and download the PDF
Check names, dates and the registered agent address. Both required officers sign the printed form; download or print the completed PDF from FillingPDF and assemble the package described under How to submit.
How to submit 250
The Business Services Division accepts the filing by mail or in person; the Department of State's non-profit page also refers to registering online, with a scanned PDF of the certificate of good standing ready for upload.
- By mail: Division of Business Services, 148 W. River Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2615. Include a check payable to RI Department of State for the filing fee.
- In person: Business Services Division, 148 W. River Street, Ste. 1, Providence, RI 02904. You can pay by cash, credit card or check.
- Online: the agency's page mentions online registration; follow the Department of State's website at www.sos.ri.gov.
A filing fee applies; the amount is printed on the form and the Division can confirm it at (401) 222-3040. Attach the Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status, any Form 626 and the completed Filer Contact Information page. Type the form: illegible documents are rejected.
No confirmation is mailed. To confirm the filing, search the Corporate Database on the Department of State website by entity name or ID number, open the entity record, select All Filings, then View Filing. Filings that cannot be processed are posted online and then returned. Questions: (401) 222-3040, Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., or [email protected]. FillingPDF lets you fill out and download the PDF; submission follows the channels above.
Common mistakes to avoid
- Handwriting the form or submitting illegible pages; the Division states that the document should be typed and that illegible documents will be rejected.
- Entering a corporation name on line 1 that does not match the name on the Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status.
- Attaching a certificate of good standing dated more than 60 days before the filing date.
- Giving a P.O. Box for the registered agent on line 5; a Rhode Island street address is required.
- Signing with only one officer; the President or Vice President AND the Secretary or Assistant Secretary must both sign and date.
- Checking "Date certain for dissolution" when the state or country of formation sets no dissolution date; check "Perpetual (on-going)" in that case, and check only one box.
- Filing under an unavailable corporate name without electing a name on line 1a and submitting Form 626.
- Leaving fields blank on the Filer Contact Information page, where all fields are required.
- Waiting for a mailed confirmation; successful filings do not produce one, so check the Corporate Database instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is a certificate of authority for a foreign non-profit in Rhode Island?
It is the authority a non-profit corporation formed outside Rhode Island applies for to conduct affairs in the state. Form 250 is the application, filed with the Rhode Island Department of State, Business Services Division, under RIGL 7-6-74.
Who has to sign Form 250?
Two officers must sign and date it: the President or Vice President AND the Secretary or Assistant Secretary. The form states that two signatures are required, and the signers declare under penalty of perjury that the statements are true and correct.
What do I have to attach to Form 250?
A Certificate of Good Standing/Letter of Status from the state or country of formation, dated within 60 days of the filing date. Add Form 626 if you elect a name because yours is unavailable, and the Filer Contact Information page.
Is there a fee to file Form 250, and how do I pay?
Yes, a filing fee applies. By mail, pay by check made payable to RI Department of State; in person, you can pay by cash, credit card or check. Call (401) 222-3040 to confirm the current amount.
Where do I mail Form 250?
Mail it to Division of Business Services, 148 W. River Street, Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2615. To file in person, go to the Business Services Division at 148 W. River Street, Ste. 1, Providence, RI 02904.
How do I confirm that my certificate of authority filing went through?
The Division does not mail a confirmation. Search the Corporate Database on the Department of State website by name or ID number, open the entity record, select All Filings and then View Filing. Unprocessable filings are posted online and returned.
What if my corporate name is not available in Rhode Island?
List an elected name on line 1a and file a Fictitious Business Name Statement, Form 626, with the application. Your name must be distinguishable from names on file, and a name-availability check does not guarantee it will still be available at filing.
Can I fill out Form 250 online on FillingPDF?
You can fill out the PDF online on FillingPDF and download or print it. FillingPDF is an independent service and does not file the form with the Rhode Island Department of State; you submit it through the Division's channels.
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