How to Transfer or Move a Corporation from Rhode Island to Florida

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Redomestication, also known as redomiciling, refers to the lesser-known legal process of transferring or moving the “home state” of an existing corporation, partnership, or LLC, from one state to another state. It means keeping your existing company name, credit, and federal employer identification number (FEIN) without wasting time and money creating a new business entity, applying for foreign registration, or moving assets between companies.

— Prof. Chad D. Cummings, Esq., CPA

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Ready to get started? Redomicile your corporation now.

Flat-fee pricing available to transfer your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.

Click the button below to get started.

Redomesticate Your Rhode Island corporation to Florida Now.

Download our free E-Book: “Moving your Business to Florida: A Comprehensive Guide”

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Domestication vs. Foreign Registration vs. Merger for your Rhode Island corporation: A Comparison

Domestication is, in many circumstances, far preferable to registering a corporation as a foreign entity, especially where the corporation has permanently moved its operations and will not be returning to Rhode Island in the near future.

Some attorneys, unfortunately, confuse their clients by recommending a foreign entity registration in Florida, or worse, a merger, where a redomestication would have accomplished the client goals of moving their business efficiently and effectively.

The top seven benefits of moving your Rhode Island corporation to Florida via redomestication include:

1. Maintaining your existing federal employer identification number, eliminating the tax headaches of forming a new company in Florida or transferring assets between companies (and inadvertently triggering a hefty tax bill from the IRS) when you move your business to Florida.
2. Keeping your existing business credit history and track record from Rhode Island, safeguarding your reputation with clients, vendors, and creditors when moving your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.
3. Continuing your existing business name (in almost every case), protecting your most important assets when moving your corporation to Florida: your brand, reputation, and time you have already invested in search engine optimization.
4. Maintaining your existing contracts with customers and vendors because moving your corporation to Florida via redomestication does not create a new corporation: it maintains your existing corporation, saving you dozens (or even hundreds) of hours re-writing (and re-negotiating) contracts.
5. Eliminating the need to continue paying registration fees and taxes in Rhode Island (assuming you have discontinued your operations there and have permanently relocated), potentially saving you tens of thousands of dollars (or more) in Rhode Island taxes every quarter when you move your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.
6. Avoiding unnecessary IRS scrutiny because moving your corporation via redomestication is a tax-free transaction under the Internal Revenue Code.
7. Reducing the amount of time you spend on administrative filings, saving you untold hours annually, by moving your Rhode Island corporation to Florida: one of the most pro-business state in the Union.

Before taking the “penny wise and pound foolish” approach of foreign entity registration or spending countless hours and exorbitant legal fees (and possibly taxes) on a merger or merger-gone-wrong to move your Rhode Island corporation to Florida, ensure you understand your options.

Comparison of Three Approaches

	Redomestication to Florida	Foreign Entity Registration in Florida	Merger
Need to Continue Paying & Filing Registration Renewals in Former State	✓ No	✗ Yes	✗ Sometimes
Stop Paying Taxes in the Former State*	✓ Yes	✗ No	Varies
Initial Complexity	✓ Relatively Low	Varies	✗ Extremely High
Ongoing Complexity	✓ Very Low	✗ Moderate to High	✗ High
Initial State Filing Costs	✓ Low	Varies	✗ High
Timing	✓ Fast	Varies	✗ Slow
Legal Fees	✓ Under $1,500	Varies	✗ $5,000 or more
*While every situation is different and dependent upon tax nexus, redomestication to Florida can be an effective way to reduce or eliminate taxes in Rhode Island in certain circumstances. Ask about this in your telephone consultation or consult with your tax advisor.

In most circumstances, redomestication (and not a foreign entity registration or costly and complicated merger) is the best route to achieve a change in company domicile from Rhode Island to Florida.

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How to Transfer Your Rhode Island corporation to Florida via Redomestication

1. Click here to access the online workflow to start the processing of moving your Rhode Island corporation to Florida. The entire process should take no more than five minutes to complete. Submit a one-time payment securely online inclusive of all fees and costs.
2. Cummings & Cummings Law prepares the legal instruments necessary to effectuate a move of your existing Rhode Island corporation to Florida (keeping your EIN and business history intact), including:
   1. a Plan of Conversion;
   2. a Unanimous Written Consent;
   3. an instrument of conversion; and
   4. an instrument of formation.
3. Our attorney and CPA transmits these documents to you for your electronic review via DocuSign to transfer your Rhode Island corporation to Florida. If desired, speak with our attorney and CPA during a free consultation to address any questions.
4. Sign your documents electronically and securely via DocuSign to redomesticate your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.
5. Our attorney and CPA submits the legal documents and filing costs to the Florida Secretary of State on your behalf and sends you weekly status updates.
6. Once the Florida Secretary of State approves the move of your corporation, our attorney and CPA files a conversion instrument with the Florida Secretary of State to finalize the redomestication.

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Why choose Cummings & Cummings Law to transfer your Rhode Island corporation to Florida?

• ✓ Peace of mind. All your redomestication documents are prepared, reviewed, and filed by a licensed Florida attorney and CPA with Fortune 500 experience and a brick-and-mortar office—not by a fly-by-night non-attorney online service.
• ✓ Ease of access. Enjoy direct access to a real Florida attorney by email during the redomiciling process, not an assistant or intermediary.
• ✓ Efficiency. Benefit from electronic, online filing and communication (no snail mail) and secure electronic signatures via DocuSign when moving your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.
• ✓ Communication. Receive weekly email status updates regarding the redomestication of your Rhode Island corporation to Florida at no additional charge.
• ✓ Value. Get comprehensive legal services to redomesticate corporation at a competitive flat-fee.

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Attorney and Counselor at Law in the State of Florida
and
Licensed by the State of Florida as a Certified Public Accountant (CPA)

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Thinking of transferring your Rhode Island corporation to Florida without an attorney?

Here are the top six reasons you are making a terrible mistake:

• ✗ Fines and penalties. It is a felony to file fraudulent or misleading redomestication documents with the Florida Secretary of State; therefore, you are potentially committing a crime, or at the very least, a serious misstep by submitting false documentation. How can youe be sure you prepared the document correctly? Without a law degree and experience, you are simply guessing.
• ✗ Cookie cutter templates. Generic templates cannot capture the nuances of instruments of formation, conversion, a unanimous written consent, and a plan of conversion—documents critical to protecting you legally and financially in moving your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.
• ✗ Wasted time. Attempting to redomicile your Rhode Island corporation to Florida without expert guidance may result in rejected filings and delays, potentially extending the process by months.
• ✗ Wasted money. Inaccurate calculation of filing costs in Rhode Island or Florida or improper document preparation can lead to unforeseen expenses and complications.
• ✗ Tax and legal headaches. Mistakes in preparing and executing required documents with the Secretaries of State of Rhode Island and Florida can cause significant legal and tax complications, sometimes costing thousands of dollars or more to resolve.
• ✗ Loss of credibility. Operating without proper registration in Florida can lead to fines, jail time, and damage to your reputation—jeopardizing relationships with clients and vendors.

You will incur substantially more time and expense in attempting to correct a redomestication of your Rhode Island corporation to Florida “gone wrong” than if you had retained competent legal counsel from the start.

Read our Frequently Asked Questions about redomestication or learn more about the process.

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Ready to get started? Redomicile your corporation now.

Flat-fee pricing available to transfer your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.

Click the button below to get started.

Redomesticate Your Rhode Island corporation to Florida Now.

Download our free E-Book: “Moving your Business to Florida: A Comprehensive Guide”

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Florida Attorney and CPA

/Chad D. Cummings

I am an attorney and Certified Public Accountant serving the entire State of Florida.

Previously, I served in operations and finance with the world’s largest accounting firm (PricewaterhouseCoopers), airline (American Airlines), and bank (JPMorgan Chase & Co.). I have also created and advised a variety of start-up ventures.

I am a member of The Florida Bar and the State Bar of Texas, and I hold active CPA licensure in both of those jurisdictions.

I also hold undergraduate (B.B.A.) and graduate (M.S.) degrees in accounting and taxation, respectively, from one of the premier universities in Texas. I earned my Juris Doctor (J.D.) and Master of Laws (LL.M.) degrees from Florida law schools. I also hold a variety of other accounting, tax, and finance credentials which I apply in my law practice for the benefit of my clients.

My practice emphasizes, but is not limited to, the law as it intersects businesses and their owners. Clients appreciate the confluence of my business acumen from my career before law, my technical accounting and financial knowledge, and the legal insights and expertise I wield as an attorney. I represent clients throughout the great states of Florida and Texas.

If I can be of assistance to redomicile your Rhode Island corporation to Florida, please click here to set up a free meeting.

As the expression goes, if you think hiring a professional is expensive, wait until you hire an amateur. Do not make the costly mistake of hiring an offshore, fly-by-night, and possibly illegal online “service” to move your company. Where will they be when something goes wrong? . . . Hire an experienced attorney and CPA, knowing you are working with a credentialed professional with a brick-and-mortar office.
— Prof. Chad D. Cummings, CPA, Esq. (emphasis added)

As seen in

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Client Testimonials

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At Cummings & Cummings Law, a law firm serving clients throughout Florida, we have the unique combination of legal and accounting expertise, and we are ready to help you navigate the complex process of transferring your Rhode Island corporation to Florida. Our team, led by a professional who is both a certified public accountant (CPA) and an experienced business attorney, is prepared to handle the intricate financial and legal concerns involved in changing your corporation state of domicile to Florida.

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Why redomesticate a corporation from Rhode Island to Florida?

Transferring a business without properly registering with the Florida Secretary of State and domesticating the business from Rhode Island can have potentially serious and unpredictable legal effects. Here are some examples:

• Legal Violations: Failure to register with the Florida Secretary of State can result in legal violations and penalties. Operating without the necessary business entity filing may lead to fines, legal actions, or even the shutdown of the corporation, not to mention loss of credibility and financial hardship.
• Tax Consequences: The business might remain subject to taxation in Rhode Island by failing to remove tax nexus, potentially leading to unnecessary taxation. This can significantly impact the company’s finances and result in penalties for unpaid taxes if the company fails to convert or domesticate from Rhode Island to Florida.
• Legal Liability: Operating without proper registration may limit or even eliminate the liability protection that a formal business structure, like a corporation, typically provides. Owners could be personally liable for business debts and legal claims, especially in the event of a default judgment. Under Florida law, a corporation which is not properly registered with the Florida Secretary of State may forfeit its legal rights to notice in the event of a lawsuit: potentially resulting in bankruptcy, foreclosure, and financial ruin.
• Contractual Issues: The corporation may face challenges in entering into or enforcing contracts or agreements in Florida without the proper legal standing. This can hinder growth and expansion efforts and seriously impugn the reputation of your corporation.
• Difficulty in Resolving Disputes: If legal disputes arise, the lack of proper registration in Florida or lingerning, unresolved registrations in Rhode Island can complicate the resolution process, making it challenging to protect the interests of the corporation and the financial wellbeing of the company owners.

Our firm focuses on redomiciling businesses from Rhode Island to Florida. It is far more involved and complicated than spending a few minutes on Google or ChatGPT and filling out a form or two. Let us handle the complexities and technicalities.

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What is Included in a Redomestication of a corporation from Rhode Island to Florida:

• ✓ 15 minute phone consultation with Chad D. Cummings, Florida attorney and CPA (additional time available at additional charge, if needed)
• ✓ Preparation of legal instruments of formation and articles of conversion to redomicile your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida
• ✓ Filing with the Florida Secretary of State to legally transfer your corporation from Rhode Island
• ✓ Filing a statement of domestication or conversion (as appropriate) with the Rhode Island Secretary of State to withdraw your business entity from Rhode Island
• ✓ Preparation and execution of a customized plan of conversion and unanimous written consent to legally commence the change of company domicile to Florida from Rhode Island
• ✓ All documents prepared, reviewed, and filed by a REAL Florida attorney and CPA (not an assistant, intern, or paralegal)
• ✓ Weekly status updates to keep you fully apprised from start-to-finish at no additional charge

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What is Available at Additional Charge, If Required:

• Tax filings, tax account closures, tax audit assistance, tax advice, and bookkeeping
• Establishing or closing professional, state, and local licenses
• Operating agreement review and revision
• Preparation and filing of IRS Form 8822-B (Change of Address for a Business)
• Florida payroll tax account creation
• Florida sales and use tax creation
• Federal trademark filing
• Preparation and filing of revised Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report
• Change of business name when moving from Rhode Island to Florida
• Expedite option to prioritize review with the Florida Secretary of State
• Foreign entity registration (to operate in a second state)

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Why Choose Cummings & Cummings Law?

• ✓ Enjoy peace of mind knowing that your redomestication documents to transfer corporation from Rhode Island to Florida are prepared, reviewed, and filed by a licensed Florida attorney and CPA with Fortune 500 experience and a brick-and-mortar office, not by a fly-by-night non-attorney (and possibly illegal) online service
• ✓ Direct access to a real Florida attorney by email during the redomiciling to discuss the move of your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida, not an assistant or intermediary
• ✓ Complimentary, no obligation 15 minute phone consultation available before you commit to transferring your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida
• ✓ Competitive, flat-fee pricing available to transfer your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida, with no hidden fees or costs
• ✓ Electronic, online filing and communication (no snail mail when possible)
• ✓ Electronic signatures on instruments of formation, instruments of conversion, the plan of conversion, and the unanimous written consent by DocuSign
• ✓ Digital, flexible payment options (including cryptocurrency) when transferring your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida
• ✓ Status updates transmitted to you via email every Friday to keep you in the loop

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Frequently Asked Questions: Redomiciling Rhode Island corporation to Florida

1. What is redomestication?

Redomestication, also known as redomiciling, is the process of legally domesticating (or transferring) a corporation from Rhode Island to Florida. This allows the corporation to retain its existing name (in most cases}, credit, and federal employer identification number (FEIN) without creating a new entity in Florida, transferring assets between business entities, triggering federal income tax, or applying for foreign registration in Florida. For that reason, redomiciling is unique and distinct from the old-school approaches of filing as a foreign entity or merging two entities together when attempting to move a corporation from Rhode Island to Florida.

2. How much do you charge?

For a one-time, flat-fee plus state filing costs which you will see on the online workflow, our Florida attorney prepares and files to change the domicile of your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida. It is important to note that many online services, and even some attorneys, omit the all-important step of drafting a custom plan of conversion in compliance with Florida and Rhode Island law–potentially resulting in a failure of the process and unforeseen tax and legal complications at the state and federal levels.
After receiving positive confirmation of the acceptance of the domestication by the Florida Secretary of State, our attorney then also prepares and files a statement of conversion (also referred to as a statement of domestication, certificate of conversion, articles of conversion, statement of domestication, or other terminology) in total compliance and formality with the Rhode Island Secretary of State, thereby completing the domestication and withdrawing your business from the State of Rhode Island.
We know of no other service that will perform all of these legal services to domesticate your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida at this competitive price.

3. Do you offer a money-back guarantee?

Even better: if your domestication is rejected for any reason by the Florida Secretary of State and our attorney is not able to resolve the issue on your behalf, we will refund all of your filing costs plus 120% of your legal fees. No other Florida attorney matches this promise when it comes to moving your company domicile.

4. Why should I domesticate my corporation from Rhode Island to Florida?

Florida is a pro-business with favorable tax policies and a diverse economy. By domesticating your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida, your corporation may benefit from a streamlined tax structure and growth-friendly legal environment. Most businesses in Florida (including many LLCs, “S corps,” and partnerships) pay no state-level income tax or franchise at all. Consult with your tax advisor regarding the specific tax implications.

5. What are the federal income tax implications of redomiciling a corporation from Rhode Island to Florida?

Redomestication is a form of non-taxable business reorganization recognized under the federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Treasury Regulations. Transferring your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida using this approach will not trigger any new federal income taxes. You will need to apprise the IRS of your new business address, or we can do that for you at a nominal, additional charge.

6. How does the redomestication process work?

First, our attorney prepares a Plan of Conversion and a legal instrument adopting that Plan of Conversion for your review and signature. It is important to note that many online services, and even some attorneys, omit this all-important step–potentially resulting in a failure of the process and unforeseen tax and legal complications. Next, our firm handles the entire process by preparing and filing special articles with the Florida Secretary of State. We also file a custom legal instrument with the Rhode Island Secretary of State, effectively moving your business entity out of Rhode Island and into Florida.

7. Do you help with local and professional business licenses in Florida?

Because of the extreme variation of local and professional licenses, we do not include those services in the flat-fee. We are pleased to assist with this bespoke service at additional charge upon request; however, many small businesses will not require local or professional licenses in Florida, especially home-based businesses. Please ask us if you have any questions or need additional assistance on this point.

8. Do I need to file any tax returns in Florida or Rhode Island?

Yes, generally speaking, your tax professional should prepare and file a final tax return (which may be a gross receipts, franchise, or income tax return) with the State of Rhode Island. It may also be necessary for your tax professional to file one or more local, state, payroll, sales, and excise tax returns in Rhode Island. We do not include this in the flat-fee because many small business owners already have a trusted tax professional who has been preparing and filing their Rhode Island taxes; if, however, you need assistance with this, we will be happy to assist upon request at additional charge.

9. What are the consequences of operating a business in Florida without observing the legal formalities?

Operating without proper registration in Florida can lead to legal violations, tax penalties, and potential loss of liability protection, exposing owners to personal liability. It may also impact your ability to enter contracts or protect your business interests. We never recommend a business operate in Florida without proper registration for these and other reasons.

10. How long does the redomestication process take to transfer a corporation from Rhode Island to Florida?

Typically, the process can take between two to three months, depending on processing times with the Secretaries of State. However, it is possible for the process to be accomplished much more expeditiously depending upon your unique circumstances. In any event, our firm will keep you informed with weekly status updates throughout the process at no additional charge.

11. What does your flat-fee service include?

Our flat-fee service includes a 15-minute phone consultation before purchasing, a second 15-minute telephone consultation after submitting your order, preparation, review, and filing of instruments of formation and conversion with the Florida Secretary of State, and preparation, review, and filing of an instrument of conversion with the Secretary of State of Rhode Island. Additional services are available at an extra charge. All documents are prepared, reviewed, and filed by a licensed Florida attorney and Certified Public Accountant (CPA).

12. Are there any additional costs or services that may be needed?

Yes, additional services such as tax filings and payroll or sales tax registrations are available for an extra fee if required for your corporation. However, these will not be required in many cases, and many small business owners choose to handle these tasks for themselves or work with their existing tax professional.

13. Why should I use a licensed Florida attorney and Certified Public Accountant (CPA) instead of an online service?

By hiring a licensed Florida attorney and CPA, you gain the peace of mind that comes with credentialed legal expertise. We are a traditional, full-service law practice with a brick-and-mortar office, ensuring accountability and protection if questions arise during the redomestication process of moving your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida. All work, including all client communication, is handled by a dually-licensed Florida attorney and CPA—not an apprentice, assistant, or go-between.

14. Can I schedule a consultation before committing transferring my corporation from Rhode Island to Florida?

Yes, we offer a complimentary, optional 15-minute phone consultation to discuss moving your corporation to Florida before starting the process. In fact, this is a critical step to ensure all your questions are answered and to prevent any misunderstanding. We also offer an additional, optional 15-minute phone consultation after receiving your order to redomicile your corporation from Rhode Island to Florida. Additional consultation time is available at charge.

15. How do I start the process of transferring my corporation from Rhode Island to Florida?

You can redomicile your company now by clicking the button below, completing the 100% online workflow, and making a secure payment. Our Florida attorney will then contact you to confirm receipt of your order and set to work on preparing the legal instruments, ensuring a smooth and legally compliant transition from Rhode Island to Florida.

16. Do I have to print and sign anything? How do I pay?

Usually, there is no need to print and sign any documents, except in extremely rare circumstances. Normally, we can utilize DocuSign to obtain signatures on required documents, and in any event, you can complete the online order process on this website in less than five minutes. All payments are submitted at the conclusion of the order process on this website using secure, encrypted payment processing. We also accept cryptocurrency, personal checks, and business checks by special, advanced arrangement.

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Ready to get started? Redomicile your corporation now.

Flat-fee pricing available to transfer your Rhode Island corporation to Florida.

Click the button below to get started.

Redomesticate Your Rhode Island corporation to Florida Now.

Download our free E-Book: “Moving your Business to Florida: A Comprehensive Guide”