Change LLC Name in New York

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Can I change the name of my LLC in New York?

Absolutely! You can easily change your New York LLC name.

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

The filing fee for a Certificate of Amendment in New York is $60.

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 New York?

  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 New York State Department of Taxation and Finance
  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 New York?

It costs $60 to change your LLC name in New York. This is the non-refundable fee for the Certificate of Amendment form.

And you’ll pay an additional fee of $5 to request a copy of your approved Certificate of Amendment. So the total fee is actually $65 to change your New York LLC name.

How do I change my New York LLC name?

In order to change your LLC name, you must file a Certificate of Amendment with the New York Department of State – Division of Corporations. This officially updates your legal entity (your Limited Liability Company) on the state records.

Note: The New York Department of State – Division of Corporations is responsible for LLC formation and administration, including name changes.

We provide step-by-step instructions on how to file the Certificate of Amendment by mail. (New York doesn’t accept online filings for this form.)

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 New York can be confusing and time consuming, many people choose to hire a company for help.

Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($99 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.

Step 1: Make sure your new New York LLC name is available

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

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 New York LLC name ahead of time using the state’s business entity search.

Check name availability: Our New York LLC Name page has information about how to use the business entity search tool. It also explains details about name rules in New York.

Step 2: File the New York LLC name change form

The New York LLC name change form is called the Certificate of Amendment.

(It’s called this because you’re amending your New York Articles of Organization. The LLC’s Articles of Organization are the legal documents that created the New York LLC.)

But wait: there are 3 different Certificate of Amendment forms for New York LLCs. In order to figure out which form you need, first you need to determine if you have Domestic or Foreign LLC.

A New York Domestic LLC is a Limited Liability Company that you originally formed in New York state by filing the New York LLC Articles of Organization. A Foreign LLC is a company that was originally registered in a different state, but that you also then registered in New York.

Most people on our site have Domestic New York LLCs (companies that they originally registered in the state of New York).

If you have a Domestic LLC and are only changing the LLC’s name, use this form:

Here are all 3 available forms:

Important: Many people mistakenly think that they can change their LLC name via the Certificate of Change (Form 1359). This is incorrect. You can’t use those forms for a New York LLC name change. Make sure you are using a Certificate of Amendment.

How to file a Certificate of Amendment in New York

Form 2120 Instructions
We recommend using the Certificate of Amendment Name Change Only (Form 2120) as it’s easier than Form 1358.

The instructions below are for Form 2120. Form 1358 will look similar, but have additional information to complete.

Insert Name of Domestic Limited Liability Company

On the first line, enter your existing/current LLC name. Make sure to include the designator, such as “LLC” or “L.L.C.”.

FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is:

Enter your existing/current LLC name again.

If the name of the limited liability company has been changed, the name under which it was organized is:
Most people leave this blank.

You’d only have something here if you’ve changed your LLC name before. In that case, enter the LLC’s original name here.

SECOND: The date of filing of the articles of organization is:

This is the date your LLC was approved by the New York Division of Corporations.

You can find this by doing a quick search of your LLC name on the Business Entity Database page. Click on your LLC name and look for the “Initial DOS Filing Date“.

THIRD: The amendment effected by this certificate of amendment is as follows:

The state has technically already filled this section in for you. It will read: “Paragraph FIRST of the Articles of Organization relating to the name of the limited liability company is hereby amended to read as follows:”

FIRST: The name of the limited liability company is:

Enter your new LLC name here. Use the exact capitalization and punctuation you want.

Make sure to include an allowable designator (ending). As per section 204 of the New York LLC Act, you can use these designators:

  • LLC
  • L.L.C.
  • Limited Liability Company

Signature

Sign here after printing the form.

Type or print name

Enter your name here.

Capacity of Signer

Circle your capacity as the signer.

  • If you’re an LLC Member (Owner) and the LLC is Member-managed, choose “Member
  • If you’re an LLC Manager and the LLC is Manager-managed, choose “Manager
  • If you’re not an LLC Member or Manager but are authorized to file the Certificate on the LLC’s behalf, choose “Authorized Person

If you’re not sure, or these terms are confusing, check out Member-managed vs. Manager-managed LLC and LLC Officer Titles for more information.

Page 2: Insert Name of Domestic Limited Liability Company

I know it’s repetitive, but enter your existing/old LLC name at the top of this page again. (Don’t enter your new LLC name here.)

Filer’s Name and Mailing Address

Enter your name, your existing/old LLC name, and your mailing address.

This address doesn’t have to be an address you used before. It also doesn’t have to be located in New York. This is the address where the New York Division of Corporations will send your Filing Receipt.

How to get an approved copy of your Certificate of Amendment

By default, the New York Division of Corporations will only send you back a Filing Receipt, which just shows that you paid for the filing. But you will need a stamped and approved copy of your Certificate of Amendment to update your LLC name with the IRS and other places.

For this reason, you must also submit a Request for Copies form to get a stamped copy of the filing. (See the New York Division of Corporations’ Copies of Business Entity Documents page for more information). There’s a $5 fee for each “plain” (stamped, approved) copy.

The New York Department of State doesn’t have a PDF form prepared for this written request. So we’ve created a form for you to make things easier.

Download the Request for Copies Form

NY LLC Request for Copies of Documents

How to complete the Request for Copies form:

  1. Enter the existing/current LLC name.
  2. Enter your LLC’s DOS ID and date of formation. You can search the state’s Business Entity Database to find this information.
  3. Enter “Certificate of Amendment“.
  4. Circle “Plain“. You won’t need a certified copy for this.
  5. Enter your name and mailing address.
  6. Circle “plain” in the first paragraph.
  7. Circle “$5” in the second paragraph.
  8. Enter your name, title (“Member” or “Manager“), and phone number at the bottom.

Print out the form. You’ll send this, plus the $5 fee, with the Certificate of Amendment filing to the Department of State.

Tip: You can also submit this Request for Copies online. But since you’re already mailing the Certificate of Amendment form, we think it makes sense to just do it all at once.

File by mail

First, prepare your payments. You can pay via check/money order or by credit card/debit card.

How to pay by credit card:
Complete a Credit Card Authorization form.

  1. At the top, enter your LLC’s current name (not what you’re changing it to).
  2. Check the box for Filing of Document or Certificate, and enter the $60 fee for the Certificate of Amendment.
  3. Then check the box for Plain Copy, and enter the $5 fee for the Request for Copies.
  4. Enter $65 on the Total line.
  5. Then complete your credit card information and sign the form.

How to pay by check or money order:

  1. Write a check or money order for $60 payable to the “Department of State” for the Certificate of Amendment fee.
  2. Then write a separate check or money order for $5 payable to the “Department of State” for the Request for Copies fee.

Prepare your mailing. The envelope should include the following:

  • Completed, signed Certificate of Amendment form.
  • Completed, signed Request for Copies form.
  • Either a Credit Card Authorization form or 2 checks.

Send everything to:

Department of State
Division of Corporations
One Commerce Plaza
99 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12231

Wait for approval from the Division of Corporations

After submitting your completed Certificate of Amendment and Request for Copies to the state, please wait for approval.

Approval times vary, but on average, it takes about a month for your New York business name change to be approved. There are expedited service options, but it costs extra to pay for expedited processing.

You can check the Business Entity Search periodically to see if it’s been approved, while you wait for the copies to come back in the mail.

Once it’s approved, the Division of Corporations will send back via mail a Filing Receipt and the stamped, approved copy of the Certificate of Amendment.

Reminder: Changing your LLC name with the Department of State still leaves your old LLC name in place everywhere else. Essentially, you’ve only changed your LLC name with one part of the state government, and you need to update it everywhere else.

Step 3: Change your New York LLC name with the IRS

After your new LLC name is approved, the next step is to update your New York 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 Taxation and Finance

After your new LLC name is approved, you need to update your business’s account with the state’s tax department (the New York Dept. of Taxation and Finance).

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

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

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

Step 5: Update financial institutions with your new LLC name

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

Financial institutions:

Matt Horwitz, founder of LLC University®
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 a New Business License

If you have a state business license or a local business permit, you’ll need to change the name on that license.

Sometimes that means applying for a new license and canceling the old one. Or sometimes you can just change the name on your existing license.

New York doesn’t have a general state business license requirement. But your LLC might have an industry- or occupation-specific license.

If that’s the case, contact your state licensing agency or licensing board for information on how to update the state business license: New York Division of Licensing Services.

And contact your local government (like a city clerk or county clerk) for the process to update any local business permits. You can find your county clerk on the New York Association of Counties website, and you’ll need to look up your town or city, too.

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

Tip: We recommend making a spreadsheet to keep track of everything. Enter the place you are changing your LLC name, their contact information, and maybe a notes section. Here’s an LLC name change checklist that you can use: Google Docs | Excel

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:

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 New York 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 New York 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 New York FAQs

How much does an LLC name change cost in New York?

An LLC name change in New York costs $60.

This is the filing fee for the Certificate of Amendment, the official form used to change your New York LLC name.

If you’d like to learn about all the New York LLC costs, please see New York LLC Costs.

Can I file my New York LLC name change online?

No, you can’t file the Certificate of Amendment online to change your New York LLC name.

The New York Department of State only offers certain forms via online filing. Unfortunately, you can’t change your LLC name using the online filing system yet.

How many times can I change my New York LLC name?

You can change the name of your New York LLC as many times as you want. The state doesn’t care, as long as you pay the filing fee.

You’re allowed to change the name of your Limited Liability Company for any reason. The Amendment form doesn’t ask you why you want to change the name. No New York law limits when you can file an Amendment to change the name of a company.

Who can change the New York LLC name?

Generally speaking, the LLC Members (owners) can change the LLC’s name.

So, as long as all the LLC Members agree, you can go ahead and file the Amendment.

Technically, the LLC Members should vote to agree on the new name. However, a vote can be something informal, like an email or phone call.

Do I need a new EIN if I change the name of my New York LLC?

No, you don’t need a new EIN number.

Getting a new EIN Number will actually cause confusion at the IRS, and that can create issues for your business.

So don’t get a new EIN number for your LLC.

Instead, you will simply change your New York LLC name with the IRS (see above for instructions).

Do I need a lawyer to change the New York LLC legal name?

No, you don’t need to hire a lawyer. You can file the Certificate of Amendment yourself or you can hire a company to do it for you.

If you want to hire a company, we recommend MyCompanyWorks.

Need to save time? We recommend hiring MyCompanyWorks ($99 + state fee) to file your LLC name change.

Do I have to publish a notice about my new LLC name?

No, you don’t have to publish anything about a new LLC name.

If you’re only changing your LLC’s name, you don’t need to repeat the New York Publication Requirement.

Source: New York LLC Act, Section 206.

How do I change my LLC name in another state?

You can change an LLC name in any state. Click the link below to learn how to change your LLC’s name in that state.

 
Matt Horwitz
Matt Horwitz
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.

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