Massachusetts · Registered agent · updated 2026

Registered Agent in Massachusetts

Massachusetts requires every LLC and corporation to keep a registered agent with a physical Massachusetts address. Incofile provides one for $119/year — free for the first year when we form your company — with same-day document scanning and compliance reminders.

Massachusetts at a glance

Registered agent requiredYes — LLCs & corporations
Address rulePhysical Massachusetts street address, no PO box
AvailabilityBusiness hours, in person
Filed withSecretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division
Incofile service$119/yr · first year free with formation

What Massachusetts requires from a registered agent

Every Massachusetts LLC and corporation must list a registered agent on its formation documents and keep one for as long as the company exists. The agent must have a physical street address in Massachusetts and be available during normal business hours to accept legal papers and official state mail.

Registered agent: Required; the certificate must name a resident agent who consents to serve

Should you be your own registered agent in Massachusetts?

Be your own agent

  • No annual fee
  • Your name and street address go on the public record
  • You must be at that Massachusetts address in business hours, every working day
  • Moving means a state filing to update the address
  • Not possible if you live outside Massachusetts or outside the US

Use Incofile

  • $119/year — first year free with any formation package
  • Your home address stays private
  • Documents scanned and emailed the same day they arrive
  • Annual report and compliance reminders for Massachusetts
  • Works for out-of-state and international owners

How Incofile's Massachusetts registered agent service works

  1. We are listed on your filing

    When Incofile forms your Massachusetts company, our Massachusetts address is entered as the registered office — no extra form, no gap. Existing companies can switch to us at any time.

  2. Mail and legal papers come to us

    Service of process, state notices and compliance mail are received at our Massachusetts address during business hours, as the law requires.

  3. You get it the same day

    Every document is scanned and uploaded to your Incofile client portal with an email alert, so nothing sits in a mailbox.

  4. We remind you before deadlines

    Your portal shows upcoming Massachusetts filings — including the annual report — with reminders ahead of time.

Changing your registered agent in Massachusetts

If your current agent is retiring, raising prices or simply unresponsive, you can switch. File a change-of-agent form with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division, pay any state fee, and make sure the new agent has consented. Incofile's change of registered agent service handles the filing for $119, which also includes a full year of our Massachusetts registered agent service.

Massachusetts LLC facts

State filing fee$500 ($520 online, including the $20 electronic filing fee)
Document filedCertificate of Organization
Annual report$500 a year
Annual report dueOn or before the anniversary date of your original filing
State income taxFlat 5% on owners' share of profit; a 4% surtax applies only to income above about $1.1 million
Entity-level taxNone for an LLC taxed as a sole proprietorship or partnership
Registered agentRequired; the certificate must name a resident agent who consents to serve

Figures checked against the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division, September 2026. State fees change — always confirm the current amount before filing.

Get a Massachusetts registered agent today

Form your Massachusetts LLC from $0 + state fee and the first year of registered agent service is on us. Already formed? Switch to Incofile in minutes.

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Massachusetts registered agent — frequently asked questions

Do I need a registered agent for my Massachusetts LLC?

Yes. Massachusetts requires every LLC and corporation to name a registered agent on its formation documents and to keep one continuously. The agent accepts service of process (lawsuits) and official notices from the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division on the company's behalf.

Can I be my own registered agent in Massachusetts?

You can if you are an adult with a physical street address in Massachusetts (not a PO box) and you are available there during normal business hours. Many owners prefer a service so their home address stays off the public record, nothing is missed while they travel, and the address does not have to change when they move.

How much does a registered agent cost in Massachusetts?

Incofile's Massachusetts registered agent service is $119 per year, and the first year is included free when you form your company with any Incofile package. Acting as your own agent costs nothing in fees but puts your address on the public record.

What happens if my Massachusetts LLC has no registered agent?

The state can refuse filings, mark the company as not in good standing and eventually administratively dissolve it. Worse, a lawsuit can proceed without you ever being properly notified. Keeping a registered agent on file is one of the cheapest forms of protection a company has.

Can I use a registered agent address as my business address?

A registered agent address is for legal and state mail only. If you need a business street address for banking, invoices or your website, add a virtual business address — Incofile offers one alongside registered agent service.

How do I change my registered agent in Massachusetts?

File a change-of-registered-agent form with the Secretary of the Commonwealth, Corporations Division and pay any state fee. Incofile can prepare and file it for you ($119, which includes a year of our registered agent service) so there is no gap in coverage.