Change LLC Name in DC

Can I change the name of my LLC in the District of Columbia?

Absolutely! You can easily change your District of Columbia LLC name.

The first step is to file a form called the Certificate of Amendment with the DLCP and wait for it to be approved. This is how you officially change your LLC name in Washington DC.

The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in DC is $220.

After the state approves your LLC name change, you should then notify the following 3 places:

• the IRS
• state tax department
• 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 the District of Columbia?

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 DC Office of Tax and 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 DC?

It costs $220 to change your LLC name in Washington DC. This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment form.

The fee is the same whether you file the form online or by mail.

How do I change my District of Columbia LLC name?

In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Certificate of Amendment with the DLCP. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.

Note: The District of Columbia Department of Licensing and Consumer Protection (DLCP) is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes. The DLCP was called the “Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs” until they reorganized in 2022.

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Certificate of Amendment online. (Technically, you can also file by mail. However, it’s slower and the state prefers online filings.)

Can I change my LLC name myself?

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

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

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

Before filing your amendment form (the Certificate of Amendment), you should check that your new LLC name is available in the District of Columbia.

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 Washington DC LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Step 2: File the DC LLC name change form

The Washington DC LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment for Domestic Limited Liability Company (Form DLC-2).

(It’s called this because you’re amending your DC Articles of Organization. And the District of Columbia LLC Articles of Organization are what officially created the company originally.)

How to file a Certificate of Amendment in the District of Columbia

First, go to the CorpOnline website. Login with your AccessDC credentials, or create an account if you don’t have one.

From your dashboard, click Other Online Services.

Find your LLC

Now you’ll look up your LLC’s record. Enter the first word or two of your LLC’s name and click Search.

Click on your LLC’s name in the search results.

Business Filings Online Services

Click on the form “DLC-2 Articles of Amendment Web”.

Information

Information Sheet
There’s nothing to do on this page. It simply gives you general information about the requirements for the Certificate of Amendment form.

Click Continue.

Business Information

Business Name
This shows your LLC’s current name. Delete the text in this field.

Then enter your new LLC name.

Business Suffix
Select the designator you want to use from the dropdown menu.

Tip: Most people choose “LLC”.

Click Continue.

Business Address

This page is optional. If your LLC’s address hasn’t changed, you can click Continue without making any edits here.

If you want to update your LLC’s principal office or registered mailing addresses, do that here.

Amendment

Description

Here, you’ll describe the amendment you’re making.

Enter this text:

Amending Article 1. Company Name. The legal name of the Limited Liability Company is amended to: [new name of LLC].

Just replace “[new name of LLC]” with the name you want to use. Make sure it matches what you entered on the Business Information page, and include the designator (like “LLC”).

For example: Jamal wants to change the name of his company to Lincoln Designs, LLC. In the Description box, he will type: “Amending Article 1. Company Name. The legal name of the Limited Liability Company is amended to: Lincoln Designs, LLC.”

Upload Amendment

You can skip this step. If you entered text in the Description box on the previous page, you don’t need to upload a file.

Note: If your business attorney provided you an Amendment document to upload, you would do that here. But that’s rare. Most people just skip this step and enter the text on the previous page.

Click Continue.

Amendment Effective Date

This is automatically set to the day you’re filing the Amendment. That means your Name Change will take effect when the DLCP approves your filing.

If you want to change the effective date, you can set it for up to 90 days in the future. Most people leave it set to the filing date.

Click Continue.

Member

Authorized Person
This page is simply asking you to confirm that you’re authorized to file a document for the LLC.

The system will list the LLC Member(s) or Manager(s) on file with the DLCP. You don’t have to be listed here to file the Amendment.

Click Continue.

Expedited Service

Your DC LLC name change will be processed in 5 business days. If you need it faster, you can choose to pay extra for expedited filing.

If you’re okay with the regular approval time, just leave the dropdown menu set to “None” and click Continue.

Validation

Check the information to be sure your LLC’s new name and other details are correct.

Click Continue.

Payment

Enter your credit card or debit card information and submit your payment for $220 (plus expedited fees, if applicable).

Congratulations! Your District of Columbia LLC Name Change has been submitted to the DLCP.

Wait for approval from the DLCP

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

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes 5 business days for your DC business name change to be approved.

When you file online, you’ll receive your name change approval by email.

Step 3: Change your DC LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your DC 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 Office of Tax and Revenue

After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the DC Office of Tax and Revenue).

Note: In most states, it’s called the Department of Revenue or Department of Taxation. However, in DC it’s called the Office of Tax and Revenue, and this is who you’ll update with your new LLC name.

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

• online through MyTaxDC
• by mail
• by phone

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

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

Besides updating your DC LLC name with the IRS and Office of Tax and 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 or Get New DC Business Licenses

Every LLC in Washington DC must have two business licenses: a Basic Business License and a Home Occupation Permit or Certificate of Occupancy. So after changing your LLC’s name, you must update your LLC’s Basic Business License and its Home Occupation Permit or Certificate of Occupancy.

Basic Business License

You must obtain a new Basic Business License for the new business name. Check out the DLCP’s Obtain a Basic Business License page for more information.

The Basic Business License is administered by the DLCP Business License Division. Contact them if you have questions about the process.

Certificate of Occupancy or Home Occupation Permit

The Certificate of Occupancy and Home Occupation Permit programs are administered by the Department of Buildings. You should contact the Zoning Division to find out whether you need a new permit or if you can update your existing permit.

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 District of Columbia 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 DC 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.

Change LLC Name in DC 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.