Change LLC Name in Alaska

Can I change the name of my LLC in Alaska?

Absolutely! You can easily change your Alaska LLC name.

The first step is to file a form called the Articles of Amendment with the Division of Corporations and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in Alaska.

The filing fee for the Articles of Amendment in Alaska is $25.

After the state approves your LLC name change, you should then notify the following 4 places:

• the IRS
• state tax department
• state business license
• your business bank account

And finally, you can update your LLC name in other places like your website and marketing materials.

This page will guide you through the process and include helpful tips along the way.

Note: We’ve changed the names of our own LLCs over the years. So we have first-hand experience with filing the paperwork as well as dealing with the IRS and financial institutions.

What are the steps for changing an LLC name in Alaska?

1. Check if your new LLC name is available
2. File the Amendment form (and wait for approval)
3. Update the IRS
4. Update the Department of Revenue
5. Update financial institutions (credit card companies, banks)
6. Update business licenses
7. Update other places (branding materials, business accounts, etc.)

How much does it cost to change an LLC name in Alaska?

It costs $25 to change your LLC name in Alaska. This is the filing fee for the Articles of Amendment form.

You’ll also pay $50 for a new Alaska Business License with your new LLC name.

How do I change my Alaska LLC name?

In order to change your LLC name, you must file the Articles of Amendment with the Alaska Division of Corporations. This officially updates your legal entity (your LLC) on state records.

Note: The Alaska Division of Corporations is part of the Department of Commerce. The Division of Corporations is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes.

The Articles of Amendment form is a PDF download. After you complete the form, you will mail it to the Division of Corporations.

At this time, Alaska does not offer online filing for the Articles of Amendment form.

Can I file the LLC Name Change myself?

You can file the company’s Articles of Amendment yourself or you can hire a company to do this for you.

Because the Amendment filing in Alaska can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Step 1: Make sure your new Alaska LLC name is available

Before filing your amendment form (the Articles of Amendment), you’ll want to check that your new LLC name is available in Alaska.

This is important because two businesses in the state can’t have the same name, or be too similar. This is called LLC name distinguishability.

If you file an amendment for a name that’s already taken, the state will reject your filing. And if that happens, you’ll need to re-file with a different name.

To avoid that, look up your desired Alaska LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Step 2: File the Alaska LLC name change form

What’s the form called?

The Alaska LLC name change form is called the Articles of Amendment.

(It’s called this because you are amending your Alaska LLC Articles of Organization.)

How to file the Articles of Amendment in Alaska

Download the Articles of Amendment (Form 08-485).

Item 1: Name and Entity Number

Enter the name of the entity. This is your LLC’s current name (don’t enter the new name).

Enter the Alaska Entity # for your LLC.

Item 2: Formation Date

Enter the date the original Articles of Organization were filed.

This is the “AK Formed Date” from your LLC’s business entity details.

Item 3: Amendment of LLC Name

On these lines, you’ll list the article being amended and the new information (the new LLC name). In the original Articles of Organization filing, the entity name is Article 1. Enter this text:

Article 1. Name of the Limited Liability Company. New Legal Name: [new name of LLC].

Just replace “[new name of LLC]” with the name you want to use. And make sure to include an appropriate designator (like “LLC”) at the end of your LLC’s name.

For example: Mariah wants to change the name of her company to Destiny Desserts LLC. In Item 3, she will type: “Article 1. Name of the Limited Liability Company. New Legal Name: Destiny Desserts LLC.”

Item 4: Signer Name & Signature

The Articles of Amendment must be signed by a Member, Manager, or Attorney-in-Fact.

Learn more about Member-managed vs. Manager-managed LLCs and LLC Officer Titles.

Enter the Printed Name of the person signing the form, and their Title (Member or Manager).

After you print out the completed form, don’t forget to sign and date this page.

Contact Information

The next page asks for contact information. None of the information you enter here will go on public record, so don’t worry.

Name of entity as it appears on filing:
This should be the old name of your LLC (what’s currently on state records).

To resolve questions with this filing, contact:
Provide the name, email address and mailing address for someone in your LLC that can answer questions about this filing. Usually, this is just the person who filed the form.

Return Documents to:
Provide the name and mailing address for where you want the approved copy of your Articles of Amendment to be sent.

OPTIONAL: Credit Card Payment Form

If you want to mail a check or money order, you don’t need to complete this page and can ignore it.

If you want to pay by credit card or debit card (you don’t want to send a check or money order), fill out this page and include it with the Articles of Amendment filing.

Name of Applicant:
We recommend entering the old LLC name (what’s currently on the state’s records).

Program Type and License Number
Leave these blank. These fields are used for other filing types.

For the payment information, check the box for “Other“. Enter “Articles of Amendment – Name Change” on the first line. And enter “$25” on the second line for the fee amount.

Fill out the contact information for the credit card holder, and then enter the credit card details

Alaska Articles of Amendment Filing Method

You must file the Alaska Articles of Amendment by mail.

File by mail

1. Prepare a check or money order for $25 payable to the “State of Alaska/CBPL“.
2. Send the payment, and the signed Articles of Amendment, to:

State of Alaska
Corporations Section
PO Box 110806
Juneau, AK 99811-0806

Wait for approval

After submitting your Articles of Amendment to the state, please wait for approval.

Approval times vary, but on average, it can take up to 10-15 business days (plus mail time) for your Amendment to be approved.

Once your new name is approved, you’ll get a stamped and approved copy of your filing back in the mail.

Step 3: Change your Alaska LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your Alaska LLC name with the Internal Revenue Service (IRS). This updates the name connected to your LLC’s EIN number.

We have step-by-step instructions here:
How to change LLC name with IRS

Step 4: Update your LLC’s Account with the Department of Revenue

After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the Alaska Department of Revenue.

Note: In Alaska, the Tax Division is part of the Department of Revenue. This is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.

Typically, you can update your LLC name in one of three ways:

• online
• by mail
• by phone

But it differs from state to state, so we recommend you call the Alaska Department of Revenue. You can ask about the process to update your Alaska business name.

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your Alaska LLC name with the IRS and Alaska Department of Revenue, you’ll also want to contact the following places and let them know about the name change.

Financial institutions:

• LLC business bank account
• business checks
• business debit card
• business credit cards
• Paypal or other online banking solutions
• business loans or lines of credit
• brokerage accounts
• bookkeeping software, like Quickbooks

Pro Tip: You don’t have to rush to update these the same day or even the same week. Your existing checks and credit cards will still work, but it’s important to eventually get everything updated to your new LLC name.

Step 6: Update your Alaska Business License

Every LLC in Alaska must have an Alaska LLC Business License. So after changing your LLC’s name, you must update that state Business License. This license is administered by the Department of Commerce.

And if your LLC also has an occupation- or industry-specific license or a local business permit, you’ll need to change the name on that license too. Professional licensing is done by specific agencies and boards.

New Alaska Business License

You must obtain a new Alaska LLC Business License for the new business name. Check out the Division of Corporations’s Business Name Change page for more information.

How to get a new Alaska Business License

Go to the Business Licensing Division and click the button to apply for a “New Business License“.

The fee for a new Alaska Business License is $50.

Update Professional Licenses & Local Permits

If your LLC has a professional license, you can submit this Name Change Form: Form 08-4291.

You’ll need to contact your local government (usually the borough clerk) for the process to update any local business permits.

Step 7: Update marketing materials and other places with your new LLC name

Below are some examples of places to update with your new LLC name.

Branding and online presence:

• online stores (like eBay, Shopify, Amazon)
• website, domain registrar, hosting company
• letterhead, logos, invoices, contracts, and important documents
• social media accounts

Professional services:

• Registered Agent Service (if you hired one)
• accountant
• attorney

Other government agencies:

• local tax office (ex: city, county, township)
• business licenses and permits
• sales tax permit
• utility companies
• Department of Labor (if you have employees)

Stay calm: Don’t stress out thinking you have to change your LLC name everywhere right away. That’s not the case. Take your time and do the important ones first. Give yourself a few days or a few weeks to get them all done. Technically, your old business name will still work for quite some time.

Update your Alaska LLC Operating Agreement

It’s a good idea to update the name on your LLC’s Operating Agreement. Don’t worry, this is a simple process. You can either:

• You can make a new version of the Operating Agreement you already have. Update the document with your new LLC name, and have the LLC Member(s) sign.
• Or, you can use our free template on Alaska LLC Operating Agreement to create a new Operating Agreement with the new LLC name.

Tip: This is a good opportunity to review the other sections in your Operating Agreement and make any needed updates there, too. Have the LLC Member(s) sign, and distribute copies like you did with your initial LLC Operating Agreement.

Alaska Limited Liability Company Name Change FAQs

Matt Horwitz

Founder & Educator, LLC University®

Matt Horwitz has been the leading expert on LLC education for the past decade. He founded LLC University in 2010 after realizing people needed simple and actionable instructions to start an LLC that other companies weren't offering. He's cited by Entrepreneur Magazine, Yahoo Finance, and the US Chamber of Commerce, and was featured by CNBC and InventRight.
 
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.