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Table of Contents
- The Redomestication Process in a Nuthsell
- Requirements to Transfer a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida in 2026
- Why hire Cummings & Cummings Law to transfer your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
- Legal requirements for moving your LLC to Florida (updated February 2026)
- The sequence of moving a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
- How long does it take to move a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
- How much does it cost to transfer a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
- Specific requirements to transfer a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
- Redomestication vs. Foreign Registration vs. Merger vs. Dissolution: A Comparison
- Frequently asked questions: moving a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
- Common misconceptions about redomestication
The Redomestication Process in a Nutshell
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Submit payment securely online then sit back and relax.
2. We prepare the legal docs.
Our dually-licensed attorney+CPA prepares the legal documents and sends them to you via DocuSign.
You sign. We take it from there.
3. We submit the legal filings to the states.
We monitor the status closely, respond to inquiries from their offices, and send you weekly updates.
No extra charge. 100% success rate.
4. Approved! ✅
We send you a checklist of go-forward obligations and simple steps for your tax pro to follow.
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Still have questions? Schedule a free meeting with our attorney and CPA.
Redomestication, also known as redomesticating, refers to the lesser-known legal process of transferring or moving the "home state" of an existing corporation, partnership, or LLC to a new 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
| Our Law Firm | Other Law Firms | LegalZoom® / RocketLawyer® | DIY | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Licensed Attorney | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Licensed CPA | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ❌ No | ❌ No |
| Owes you fiduciary duties under the law | ✅ Yes | ✅ Yes | ❌ No* | N/A |
| Experience | ✅ 500+ | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ None* | ❌ None |
| Success Rate | ✅ 100% | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ Zero* | ❓ Who knows? |
| Money-Back Guararantee | ✅ 120% | ❌️ None | ❌ None* | N/A |
| Timeline | 🚀 1-3 months | ⚠️ 6 months+ | 🔥 Months to fix | 🔥 Months to fix |
| Expedite Option | ✅ Yes | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ None | ⚠️ Varies |
| Weekly Updates | ✅ No charge | 💰️ At charge | ❌ None | ❌ None |
| Legal Fees | ✅ Flat-fee | ⚠️ Varies | 🔥 Very high to fix | 🔥 Very high to fix |
| *It is illegal in all states to practice law without a license, and only a licensed attorney can render legal advice to or prepare custom legal documents for clients. LegalZoom®, RocketLawyer®, and similar services are not attorneys nor law firms and cannot perform redomestications. | ||||
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Requirements to Transfer a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida in 2026
Overview: how redomestication works
Welcome to the complete guide for moving your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida presented by Cummings & Cummings Law, a Florida law firm focused on the legal process of redomestication.
Moving your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida can offer significant advantages, particularly if you're seeking a more favorable tax environment or streamlined business regulations. Florida is known for its business-friendly policies, including no state income tax, which can lead to substantial savings for your LLC. Before initiating the process, it's essential to evaluate your current setup in New Hampshire and ensure compliance with both states' requirements to avoid any legal pitfalls.
The redomestication process typically involves filing specific documents with the secretaries of state in both New Hampshire and Florida. This includes preparing a plan of redomestication, obtaining board and shareholder approvals if applicable, and submitting articles of redomestication in Florida. Unlike simply registering as a foreign entity, this method allows your LLC to fully transition its domicile, shedding ongoing obligations in New Hampshire while retaining your federal EIN and business continuity.
Once approved, your LLC will operate under Florida's laws, potentially benefiting from asset protection and operational flexibility unique to the state. However, consulting with legal and tax professionals familiar with both New Hampshire and Florida is crucial to navigate any nuances, such as franchise taxes or entity conversion rules. This strategic move can position your LLC for long-term growth in a more supportive jurisdiction.
Why hire Cummings & Cummings Law to transfer your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
Fiduciary duties separate law firms from non-attorney filing services.
Cummings & Cummings Law, a law firm focused on redomesticating businesses to Florida, offers the combined technical and practical experience of a licensed Florida attorney and CPA, with fiduciary duties owed to every client under the law. That combination matters because redomestication is not a form-filling or check-the-box exercise; it is a continuity project that must preserve the legal and tax identity, governing authority, and operational relationships of the LLC while shifting its state of domicile to Florida.
A purely legal workflow can miss tax posture and compliance drift; a purely tax workflow cannot deliver the legal instruments and filings that effectuate the move (it is illegal for a CPA to practice law unless he or she is also an attorney in Florida). A dually-licensed professional reduces coordination failure, reduces rework, and reduces the risk that a client receives inconsistent guidance from well-meaning but under-informed professionals.
The attorney relationship also imposes fiduciary duties and professional duties that services like LegalZoom® and RocketLawyer® do not owe, and it imposes enforceable accountability when the work product fails. As Justice Benjamin Cardozo famously expounded in Wendt v. Fischer (1926): a fiduciary “is held to something stricter than the morals of the market place. Not honesty alone, but the punctilio of an honor the most sensitive, is then the standard of behavior” (emphasis added).
Many people fail to realize the importance of the fact that an attorney is a fiduciary until after they are left holding the bag when a non-attorney online filing service drops the ball.
The fiduciary duty framework changes behavior: the firm must perform conflicts checks, maintain confidentiality (and attorney-client privilege), complete tasks with the great care, and exercise competent diligence in scoping, drafting, and filing. In practice, that translates into disciplined intake, a defensible paper trail, and proactive issue-spotting that clients usually do not know to request, such as sequencing filings between New Hampshire and Florida to avoid gaps in good standing, aligning governing documents with Florida law, and preventing third-party disruptions tied to signatory authority or entity name conflicts.
The point is simple: the work of an attorney must function in the real world after the filing and withstand scrutiny (including from other attorneys) in the future. If you hire a non-attorney to perform the work of an attorney, caveat emptor.
Our firm provides a single point of contact from start to finish.
Many competing firms staff matters in ways that vary by office and file, so the client feels like a hot potato and may not receive consistent attorney attention. Consumer document vendors and do-it-yourself approaches provide neither a licensed attorney nor a licensed CPA, so they cannot lawfully deliver legal advice or prepare custom legal documents for a redomestication, and they do not owe fiduciary duties to their customers.
Our firm has a 100% success rate and a 120% money-back guarantee.
Cummings & Cummings Law positions each redomestication as experience- and outcome-driven, with 500+ completed matters, a 100% success rate, and a 120% money-back guarantee. Our service model emphasizes execution, accountability, and control: a typical timeline of 1 to 3 months, available expedite options, weekly status updates sent via email at no additional charge, and a flat-fee structure in most redomestication cases. By contrast, other firms often move on longer timelines that can exceed six months, may not offer reliable expedite paths, often charge for routine updates, and work on an hourly basis resulting in unexpected fees.
Vendor and do-it-yourself routes create a predictable pattern of delay and downstream expense because errors and omissions require later correction by licensed counsel, often after filings, banking, contracts, tax elections, or compliance steps have already compounded the problem.
Legal requirements for moving your LLC to Florida (updated February 2026)
Redomesticating your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida is governed by Chapters 605, 607, and 621 of the Florida Statutes and the law of New Hampshire.
It is also governed by Sections 351, 355, and/or 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code and applicable Treasury Regulations.
Few legal transactions implicate such a broad cross-section of state and federal law with several intersecting points, and laws updated in 2026 present hidden landmines for inexperienced attorneys and do-it-yourself filers alike.
Florida law requires, among other things, the preparation and execution of:
- Articles of Organization: the legal document which establishes your LLC as a Florida organization, identifies who will control the LLC, the management structure, the name of the LLC, and the principal office in Florida;
- Articles of Conversion or Redomestication: the legal document tells the Florida Department of State that the LLC is redomesticating from New Hampshire, is continuing in existence under the same or a different name, and is not a new entity (this is very important, because even if the same name is used, without this and other documents, below, the LLC will be treated as a new, distinct company from that in New Hampshire with serious legal and tax consequences);
- a legal Plan of Conversion: the formal document which establishes, among other key points, how ownership of the LLC will be converted and apportioned, that the existing bank accounts, contracts, assets, liabilities, benefits, and obligations of the New Hampshire LLC will continue with full force and effect in Florida, and how the federal employer identification number (FEIN) and existing federal tax elections will remain unchanged by the redomestication;
- board meeting minutes and/or a unanimous written consent of the LLC authority adopting and approving the Plan of Conversion: this is the document which legally ratifies the Plan of Conversion and makes it legally binding upon the LLC and its owners, and
- a legal instrument filed with the appropriate authority of New Hampshire.
Of these documents, all of them are critical and non-optional, but arguably the most important is the legal Plan of Conversion, because without this instrument, documents filed with the Florida Department of State and with New Hampshire may have no legal effect, or worse, result in the inadvertent dissolution of your company which is catastrophic legally, practically, and financially.
Importantly, of the above documents, only templates for the Articles of Organization, Conversion, and Redomestication are available on the Florida Department of State website, and these templates are insufficient for completing a redomestication.
The other documents, including the legal Plan of Conversion, board meeting minutes, and, of course, the New Hampshire statement of conversion will not be found on the Florida Department of State website because these must be bespoke, custom legal documents that specifically address the legal particulars of the redomestication. Any templates you find on other websites will be, at best, incomplete, and at worst, result in the termination of your company with unpredictable (and expensive) legal and tax consequences.
Only the Articles of Organization and Conversion or Redomestication are filed with the Florida Department of State, and they will be a matter of public record. It is illegal to file Articles of Conversion or Redomestication unless a legal Plan of Conversion has first been adopted and approved with the requisite formalities. Remember: this is a complicated, legal transaction, not a do-it-yourself weekend project.
Filers must be very careful to ensure that all information is accurate to avoid fines, penalties, and wasted time resulting from rejected, inaccurate, or incomplete filings, and filers who are privacy-oriented should give particular consideration to establishing one or more anonymizing systems to limit exposure of their home address and other private information.
The other documents, including the legal Plan of Conversion and board meeting minutes, must be kept on file indefinitely at the principal place of business, and copies of all documents must be furnished to all persons having information rights in the LLC under Florida law. Failure to do so is a violation of Florida law and can yield serious financial and legal effects; withholding information from owners of the LLC can result in lawsuits and other sanctions.
The sequence of moving a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
Timing is everything. There is a strict, mandatory sequence which must be assiduously observed when transferring a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida. Ignoring this sequence, or proceeding out of order, will result in the inadvertent termination of the LLC, which may be a taxable event, the formation of a duplicate LLC (which creates serious tax headaches), or the devolution of the liabilities of the LLC to its owners. This is lawyer-speak meaning that, if not performed correctly and sequentially, the liabilities (known, unknown, past, present, and future) of the LLC become the personal obligations of the owners, potentially resulting in bankruptcy and financial ruin.
The general sequence is as follows:
- First, a legal Plan of Conversion must be drafted and submitted to the owners of the LLC;
- Second, the owners of the LLC must discuss and vote upon the legal Plan of Conversion, either at a properly-called meeting or via a unanimous written consent;
- Third, the Articles of Organization and Conversion or Redomestication are filed with the Florida Department of State and subject to a review and approval period;
- Fourth, only after the Florida Department of State has approved the redomestication, the statement of conversion is filed with New Hampshire, which is subject to an additional review and approval period.
Tax returns must be filed in New Hampshire, and if necessary, tax accounts must be closed and returns marked as final; otherwise, the taxing authorities in New Hampshire may continue to assess penalties and interest for unfiled returns or unreported revenue.
How long does it take to move a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
When performed correctly by an experienced attorney, redomestication is often the fastest, most seamless method to transfer a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida.
An experienced attorney can prepare documents within 48-72 hours (though non-attorneys will often take weeks, if not months, to prepare them and make several mistakes along the way). Once the Articles of Organization and Redomestication or Conversion are filed with the Florida Department of State, the review period may range from two weeks or less when submitted by an attorney to over eight weeks when submitted by mail without the use of an expediting agent. Normal, non-expedited processing dates are viewable here: Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations Document Processing Dates.
In contrast, dissolution, when performed correctly, is a thirteen-step legal process which can take six to twelve months (or longer).
Our law firm uses electronic submissions whenever possible to reduce the lag time.
Once approved by the Florida Department of State, the statement of conversion and accompanying materials must be submitted to New Hampshire. This triggers a subsequent review and approval period which ranges from six to eight weeks, though in some cases, the approval time may be shorter or longer depending upon the processing backlog of New Hampshire.
The status must be closely tracked from start to finish to ensure that filing deadlines are met, documents are filed in the correct order, those documents are actually received and reviewed, and to respond to any questions, inquiries, or rejection notices from the Florida Department of State and New Hampshire.
Missing a filing deadline or submitting incomplete or inaccurate correspondence not only wastes valuable time, but it can trigger penalties and sanctions in some cases.
The entire redomestication process to transfer a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida can require as little as three weeks when expediting fees are paid through an attorney or as long as six months or longer when handled by a novice; however, the average range is roughly two to three months, though possibly less.
When our firm is retained to fix a redomestication-gone-wrong, the average time to right the ship ranges from six to twelve months.
How much does it cost to transfer a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
When performed correctly by an experienced attorney, redomestication is often the least expensive way to move a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida. Legal fees for redomesticating a single-owner company generally start just under $2,000. Total expenses will be higher, as they will include both the legal fees as the state-imposed filing costs. Filing costs vary dramatically by jurisdiction.
Fees vary based upon a number of factors, and our most updated pricing can be viewed here: costs to move a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida, where the redomestication process can be completed on our website in under five minutes. Our firm charges a flat-fee for redomestications of any LLC with five owners or fewer. Our pricing changes throughout the season in response to demand and modifications in the laws of Florida and New Hampshire. A single-owner LLC should expect to pay less than a multi-owner entity.
On the other hand, dissolution, when performed correctly, can easily cost fix or six figures.
Online filing services may charge less, but it is worth noting that these services often prepare and file documents incorrectly, are non-responsive to requests from their customers, and have checkered histories with the Better Business Bureau. In certain instances, they may be practicing law without a license, which is illegal in both Florida and New Hampshire, and often the customer ends up paying the price.
Redomestication is different, and must be distinguished, from traditional merger and foreign entity qualification as described elsewhere in this guide. The costs for a traditional merger may range as high as $20,000 (or more for larger companies), and while foreign entity qualification may be seen as the cheaper approach, it fails to accomplish a change in the business domicile, leaving the business owner exposed indefinitely to ongoing legal and tax obligations in New Hampshire.
The costs and fees to fix a failed or incomplete transfer of a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida routinely exceed $15,000 or more, and in some cases, cannot be fixed at all. Whenever our firm is retained to fix these mistakes, we bill on an hourly basis and never a flat-fee because of the significant time which must be expended and the unpredictable consequences of remedying prior failures.
If your LLC has complex structures or ongoing operations tied to New Hampshire, consider the timeline—approvals can take several weeks to months.
Ultimately, relocating to Florida via redomestication empowers business owners to optimize their setup without the hassle of dissolving and reforming the entity anew.
Specific requirements to transfer a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
Moving a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida is entirely possible, but New Hampshire has specific laws that must be strictly followed, and the process varies from other jurisdictions.
Many business owners are wrongly told that it is impossible or impractical to transfer a LLC out of New Hampshire, but that is simply false. There are three primary reasons for this misinformation:
- first, many attorneys are unaware of the statutory authority for New Hampshire redomestications;
- second, New Hampshire uses different terminology which hinders understanding; and
- third, New Hampshire law requires the preparation of a legal Plan of Conversion, which online filing services cannot prepare (and as a result, these services will instead tell their customers that it is impossible to transfer a LLC out of New Hampshire, which is patently false).
Unique requirements to move a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
Here are the New Hampshire-specific factors to consider when moving a LLC to Florida after the attorney-prepared Plan of Conversion has been adopted by board meeting minutes or a unanimous written consent and the Florida Department of State has approved the redomestication:
- New Hampshire uses the term domestication to refer to redomestications and requires the filing of Articles of Domestication with the New Hampshire Secretary of State, governed by the New Hampshire Revised Limited Liability Company Act, N.H. Rev. Stat. Ann. § 304-C:205 et seq. Different provisions control for corporations.
- Before filing, the entity must adopt a Plan of Domestication approved by the requisite vote of the owners under New Hampshire law, specifying the terms and conditions of the redomestication and the treatment of ownership interests.
- New Hampshire requires the entity to be in good standing and current on all annual report filings before the redomestication filing will be accepted.
- A bespoke cover letter explaining the nature of the transaction, enclosures, and state filing costs is also recommended to facilitate processing.
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Redomestication vs. Foreign Registration vs. Merger vs. Dissolution: A Comparison
Redomestication is a distinct legal process from foreign entity registration, merger, or dissolution.
Redomestication is generally the most efficient and cost-effective method for relocating a business to a new state, particularly when the company has permanently ceased operations in its original state. It does not involve dissolution. Many people make the mistake of dissolving their company when relying on incomplete or misleading advice.
Unlike foreign entity registration or merger, redomestication allows a business to retain its EIN, contracts, credit history, and brand identity—preserving continuity while minimizing tax risks and administrative burdens. It also eliminates the need to maintain dual registrations and tax obligations, potentially saving substantial time and money. By contrast, foreign registration can create ongoing compliance costs in the former state, and mergers often involve unnecessary legal complexity and higher fees.
Redomestication is, in many circumstances, far preferable to registering an LLC or corporation as a foreign entity, especially where the LLC or corporation has permanently moved its operations and will not be returning to the prior state in the near future.
Some attorneys, unfortunately, confuse their clients by recommending a foreign entity registration in the new state, or worse, a merger, where a redomestication would have accomplished the goals of moving their business to a new state efficiently and effectively.
The top seven benefits of moving your company (LLC, corporation, or partnership) to a new state via redomestication to transfer your business include:
- Maintaining your existing federal employer identification number, eliminating the tax headaches of forming a new company or transferring assets between companies (and inadvertently triggering a hefty tax bill from the IRS) when you move your business to a new state;
- Keeping your existing business credit history and track record, safeguarding your reputation with clients, vendors, and creditors when moving your LLC or corporation to a new state;
- Continuing your existing business name (in almost every case), protecting your most important assets when moving your company to a new state: your brand, reputation, and time you have already invested in search engine optimization;
- Maintaining your existing contracts with customers and vendors because moving your business to a new state via redomestication does not create a new company: it maintains your existing company, saving you dozens (or even hundreds) of hours re-writing (and re-negotiating) contracts and changing banks;
- Eliminating the need to continue paying registration fees and taxes in your prior state (assuming you have discontinued your operations there and have permanently relocated to a new state), potentially saving you tens of thousands of dollars (or more) in state taxes every quarter when you move your business to a new state;
- Avoiding unnecessary IRS scrutiny because moving your LLC or corporation to a new state via redomestication is a tax-free transaction under the Internal Revenue Code; and
- Reducing the amount of time you spend on administrative filings, saving you untold hours annually, by moving your company to a new state.
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 company to a new state, ensure you understand your options.
| Redomesticate | Foreign Entity | Merge | Dissolve | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Need to Continue Paying & Filing Registration Renewals in Former State | ✅ No | ❌ Yes | ⚠️ Varies | ☠️ No, she's dead, Jim. |
| Stop Paying Taxes in the Former State* | ✅ Yes | ❌ No | ⚠️ Varies | ☠️ Tax event.* |
| Initial Complexity | ✅ Low | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ High | ❌ High, when done right. |
| Ongoing Complexity | ✅ Very Low | ❌ High | ❌ High | ☠️ None. All gone. |
| Initial State Filing Costs | ✅ Low | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ High | ⚠️ Varies |
| Timing | ✅ Fast | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ Slow | ⚠️ Varies |
| Legal Fees | ✅ Low | ⚠️ Varies | ❌ $10,000 or more | 🔥 Very high to fix. |
| *While every situation is different and dependent upon tax nexus, redomesticating can be an effective way to reduce or eliminate taxes in a former state in certain circumstances. Ask your CPA for more information. Our firm does not provide tax advice or perform tax work except by separate engagement at an additional charge. | ||||
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 to a new state.
Why is redomestication the superior option to move a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
Redomestication keeps the business alive while moving its legal home (sometimes referred to as the state of domicile) to Florida, which can allow the business to stop paying and filing annual registration renewals in New Hampshire if it has ceased operations there. Redomestication emphasizes low initial complexity, very low ongoing complexity, low initial state filing costs, fast timing, and reasonable legal fees.
The tax outcome depends on the facts and tax nexus, but the result is often that the redomesticated LLC has no remaining connection to New Hampshire, which can reduce or eliminate New Hampshire tax exposure in many situations.
This path also reduces the risk of dual-state compliance hassles, where missed reports, late fees, and administrative dissolution can accumulate.
Why is foreign entity registration inferior to redomestication when moving a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
Foreign entity registration (sometimes called qualification or an application for authority) keeps the LLC domiciled in New Hampshire and registers it to do business in Florida, which generally means continuing to pay and file renewals and taxes in New Hampshire. This approach usually requires ongoing tax exposure in New Hampshire because the LLC continues to exist and remain active under the former state’s regime, with ongoing administrative obligations, and subject to the many laws of New Hampshire.
Complexity varies by state and by the nature of operations, but the ongoing hassle with foreign entity registration is consistently higher because the business now manages two (or more!) state compliance tracks.
This structure also increases the chance that a vendor or internal staff misses a renewal, a registered agent change, or a notice, which can trigger penalties, loss of good standing, and preventable disputes with banks, counterparties, and regulators.
Why is a traditional merger usually the wrong way to move a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida?
When it comes to moving a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida, a traditional merger is an old school technique—a relic left over from the old days of practicing law before redomestication was developed and made possible by the state legislative bodies and regulatory authorities in Florida and New Hampshire. While mergers may still be useful (or even required) in some cases and jurisdictions, it is a slower, higher-complexity path that often produces significant initial filing costs and legal fees that can reach $10,000 or more. Complex mergers can reach six or seven figures in fees.
Outcomes vary based on structure, documentation quality, consents, and the statutes of New Hampshire and Florida, including whether continuity of contracts, licenses, and registrations requires third-party consent. Federal tax complexity under the Internal Revenue Code and applicable regulations is also substantially higher, and when performed incorrectly, a merger may be a taxable event (meaning you end up writing a check to Uncle Sam and possibly New Hampshire).
Ongoing complexity remains high because the merger process creates follow-on work: re-titling assets, harmonizing governing documents, updating regulatory registrations, and repairing overlooked items that surface long after closing—sometimes years later. Traditional mergers often require the novation and re-negotiation of existing contracts with clients and vendors, and new bank accounts may need to be established.
The traditional merger path has execution risk because a single missed consent, a broken assignment clause, or a licensing mismatch can convert a planned administrative exercise into a dispute or a business interruption.
Why is dissolution the wrong way to move a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire?
Think of dissolution like the death penalty: it kills the LLC. There is nothing left to move. Dissolution only makes sense if the LLC is truly going out of business, and even then, very strict legal and tax processes must be observed from start-to-finish. Dissolution, even when performed the right way, can drag on months, and in some cases, years.
Dissolution terminates ongoing compliance because the entity ceases to exist, but it often creates the most expensive legal and tax cleanup when the business still has assets, contracts, employees, customers, or unresolved liabilities. It is worth pointing out that even if you think your LLC is dormant, breaches of contract, tax liabilities, and other claims may not surface until years down the road. If the LLC is dissolved, those claims may subject your personal assets (for example, your home, your vehicles, your retirement accounts, and your bank accounts) to unlimited personal liability because the veil of protection for your LLC no longer exists. This has resulted in many personal bankruptcies over the years!
The dissolution process is not always taxable, but when it is (and even a single-owner LLC can result in a taxable dissolution), it triggers a tax event subject to the federal Internal Revenue Code and the laws of New Hampshire and can force recognition issues that the owners did not model, especially when assets or goodwill move outside the dissolved entity without disciplined, well-documented liquidation steps. It is worth reiterating that redomestication, when performed by a competent attorney, is a non-taxable event.
Even when dissolution makes business sense (for example, the owners have closed shop and will not be continuing in Florida), doing it correctly can be complex because it requires creditor handling, final returns, account closures, contract terminations or assignments, and defensible recordkeeping.
A single missed or incomplete step can spell financial ruin. The practical risk is that owners dissolve first and discover later that banks, insurers, processors, landlords, and government agencies still treat the dissolved entity as the contracting party, creating remediation costs that exceed what the owners sought to save. Dissolution is, therefore, not the budget-friendly option to move a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire.
The bottom line is simple: unless you are closing your doors and going out of business, dissolution should not enter the equation. If other professionals are throwing that word around, run (do not walk) away and seek a second opinion. If you dissolve your LLC, you are not moving it—you are permanently pulling the plug!
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Frequently asked questions: moving a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire
Below are some of the most commonly asked questions our firm receives from business owners interested in transferring their LLC to Florida from New Hampshire, prepared by a dually-licensed Florida attorney and Certified Public Accountant.
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1. What is redomestication?
Redomestication, also known as redomiciling or statutory conversion, is the process of legally transferring a LLC's home state from New Hampshire to Florida. This unique process allows the LLC to retain its existing name (so long as it is available in Florida), credit history, contracts, bank accounts, and federal employer identification number (FEIN) without:
- Creating a new LLC in Florida;
- Transferring assets between business entities;
- Triggering federal income tax at the LLC or owner level;
- Applying for foreign registration in Florida; or
- Dissolving the original LLC.
For these reasons, redomestication is distinct from the traditional approaches of filing as a foreign entity or merging two entities together. The LLC that exists after the redomestication is the same legal entity that existed before the redomestication. It carries forward all of its prior history (including credit history), rights, obligations, and liabilities as a matter of law.
The process is authorized under the applicable statutes of both New Hampshire and Florida. Every state has unique laws and procedures. Our attorney evaluates the statutory framework of both jurisdictions before commencing any filing.
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2. How does redomestication differ from foreign qualification or merger?
Business owners who wish to operate in Florida often encounter three distinct legal mechanisms. Each carries different legal, tax, and operational consequences:
- Foreign Qualification (a.k.a. Foreign Registration): The LLC registers as a foreign entity in Florida while remaining domiciled in New Hampshire. The LLC must then maintain compliance, pay fees, and file reports in both New Hampshire and Florida. This approach does not change the LLC's domicile and does not eliminate ongoing obligations in New Hampshire.
- Merger: A new LLC is formed in Florida, and the original LLC merges into it. The original LLC then ceases to exist, and the surviving entity may receive a new FEIN. This approach can trigger tax consequences and requires the transfer of contracts, licenses, bank accounts, and other assets to the surviving entity. This is a very costly and time-consuming approach.
- Redomestication: The LLC itself changes its state of domicile from New Hampshire to Florida. No new LLC is created. The FEIN, contracts, bank accounts, and credit history remain intact. The LLC's legal continuity is preserved by operation of statute and the Plan of Conversion, and the process does not require asset transfers, novating contracts, or closing bank accounts.
Redomestication is, in most cases, the superior approach for business owners because it preserves continuity, avoids the creation of duplicate entities, and minimizes the administrative and tax burdens associated with foreign qualification and merger when performed correctly.
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3. How much does redomestication cost?
For a one-time, flat-fee plus state filing costs, our dually-licensed attorney and CPA prepares and files all required legal instruments to change the domicile of your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida. The flat-fee covers the entire process from initial consultation through final confirmation of acceptance but excludes any tax work.
It is important to note that many online services, and even some attorneys, omit the preparation of a custom Plan of Conversion. This omission can result in a failure of the process and unforeseen tax and legal complications at both the state and federal levels.
After receiving positive confirmation of acceptance by the Florida Department of State, our attorney then prepares and files a statement of conversion (also referred to as a statement of redomestication, certificate of conversion, articles of conversion, or other jurisdiction-specific terminology) in total compliance with the formalities required by New Hampshire law, completing the redomestication.
We know of no other service that will perform all of these legal services to transfer your LLC to Florida from New Hampshire at this competitive price.
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4. Do you offer a money-back guarantee?
Yes. If your redomestication is rejected by the Florida Department of State and our attorney is not able to resolve the issue on your behalf, we will refund 120% of your legal fees. No other attorney in Florida matches this guarantee.
This guarantee reflects our confidence in the thoroughness of our process and the quality of the legal instruments we prepare. Because we include a custom Plan of Conversion and file in strict compliance with the statutory requirements of both New Hampshire and Florida, we have attained a 100% success rate.
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5. Why should I transfer my business to Florida?
Florida is a pro-business state with favorable tax policies and a diverse and growing economy. By redomesticating to Florida from New Hampshire, your LLC may benefit from:
- A streamlined tax structure with no state-level personal income tax;
- No state-level income tax or franchise tax for most LLC types;
- A growth-oriented legal environment with strong asset protection statutes;
- A large and diverse consumer market; and
- A well-developed infrastructure for business formation and compliance.
The absence of a state-level personal income tax is a significant factor for owners of pass-through entities such as LLCs, S corporations, and partnerships, where business income flows through to the owners' personal tax returns. Owners who are also Florida residents may realize meaningful tax savings at the state level.
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6. What are the federal income tax implications of redomesticating?
Redomestication is a form of non-taxable business reorganization recognized under Sections 351, 355, and/or 368(a) of the Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and applicable Treasury Regulations. When executed in compliance with the statutory requirements, transferring your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida using this approach will not trigger any new federal income taxes at either the LLC or owner level.
The tax-free treatment arises because the redomestication is a change in domicile only, not a sale, exchange, or distribution of assets. The LLC's tax attributes, including its basis in assets, carry forward without adjustment or new accounting.
You will need to apprise the IRS of your new business address. Our firm can handle this administrative task for you at a nominal, additional charge.
Important: The tax-free treatment of a redomestication depends upon strict compliance with all applicable requirements. Failure to prepare and adopt a proper Plan of Conversion, or failure to file the required instruments with both New Hampshire and Florida, can jeopardize the non-taxable character of the transaction. This is one of several reasons why the Plan of Conversion, prepared by a competent Florida attorney and CPA, is an essential component of the process. -
7. What are the state-level tax implications of redomesticating?
The state-level tax implications of redomesticating depend on the laws of New Hampshire and the specific facts and circumstances of your LLC.
- New Hampshire: Most states require the filing of a final tax return for the period ending on the effective date of the redomestication. Some states may attempt to impose exit taxes, clawback provisions, or other obligations. This is why it is important to keep your tax preparer informed prior to, throughout, and following the redomestication, so he or she will be on notice to prepare and file any tax documents in New Hampshire.
- Florida: Florida does not impose a state-level personal income tax. Most LLC types, including LLCs, S corporations, and partnerships, pay no state-level income tax or franchise tax. C corporations domiciled in Florida may be subject to Florida's corporate income tax on income apportioned to the state.
If your LLC has employees, inventory, or sales tax obligations, additional state-level registrations may be required. We discuss these considerations during the initial consultation and can assist with these registrations at additional charge, though they are excluded from the flat-fee price shown on our website, and the execution and delivery of a separate engagement letter is required for any tax work.
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8. How does the redomestication process work?
The process proceeds in the following sequence:
- Step 1: Complete the process on our website. Access our redomestication workflow at this secure link and submit payment. Our dually-licensed attorney and CPA then begins reviewing your information and preparing your documents for electronic signature.
- Step 2: Plan of Conversion. Our attorney prepares a custom Plan of Conversion and a legal instrument adopting that Plan of Conversion, tailored to the statutory requirements of both New Hampshire and Florida. This document is provided to you for review and signature via DocuSign.
- Step 3: Filing with Florida. Our firm prepares and files documents with the Florida Department of State.
- Step 4: Confirmation. Upon acceptance by the Florida Department of State, our firm confirms receipt and provides you with the filed and stamped documents.
- Step 5: Filing with New Hampshire. Our attorney prepares and files a custom statement of conversion (or equivalent instrument) with New Hampshire, completing the redomestication and concluding the LLC's domicile in New Hampshire.
- Step 6: Post-Redomestication. Our firm provides guidance on next steps and ongoing Florida filing requirements, including specific information to provide to your CPA or bookkeeper.
It is important to note that most online services, and even some attorneys, omit Step 2 (the Plan of Conversion) and Step 5 (the filing with New Hampshire). These omissions can result in a failure of the process and unforeseen tax and legal complications which are burdensome and time-consuming to remedy, if they can be remedied at all.
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9. What is a Plan of Conversion, and why is it important?
A Plan of Conversion is the foundational legal document that authorizes and governs the redomestication of your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida. Think of it like the Constitution. It sets forth the terms and conditions of the conversion, identifies the LLC and the jurisdictions of Florida as the destination and New Hampshire as the origin, and specifies the manner in which the interests of the owners will be treated and continued.
Both New Hampshire and Florida law require the adoption of a Plan of Conversion as a prerequisite to filing articles of conversion or redomestication. Failure to prepare and adopt a proper Plan of Conversion can result in:
- Rejection of the filing by Florida or New Hampshire;
- A defective conversion that may not be recognized as legally effective;
- Loss of the non-taxable character of the transaction under federal tax law;
- Disputes (and even lawsuits) among owners regarding the terms of the redomestication; and
- Exposure to personal liability for officers, directors, or managers who authorized a defective transaction.
Our attorney prepares a custom Plan of Conversion for every engagement. This document is not a template or boilerplate form. It is drafted to comply with the specific statutory requirements of both New Hampshire and Florida.
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10. Do you help with local and professional business licenses?
Because of the significant variation among local and professional licensing requirements across Florida's counties and municipalities, we do not include these services in the flat-fee. Licensing requirements depend on the nature of the business, the county and municipality in which it operates, and whether the business engages in a regulated profession or trade.
We are prepared to assist with this bespoke service at additional charge upon request and upon the execution and delivery of a separate engagement letter. In many cases, businesses will not require local or professional licenses at all, particularly if the LLC does not maintain a physical location open to the public or engage in a profession that requires state licensure.
Please inquire if you have questions about whether your business requires local or professional licensing in Florida.
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11. Do I need to file any tax returns?
Generally, yes. Your tax professional should prepare and file final tax returns for New Hampshire, covering the period through the last date of nexus and taxable activity in New Hampshire. Depending on the nature of your business operations, it may also be necessary for your tax professional to file one or more of the following:
- Final state income tax return for New Hampshire;
- Final local or municipal tax returns, if applicable;
- Final payroll tax returns and notifications to New Hampshire;
- Final sales and use tax returns, if applicable; and
- Final excise or specialty tax returns, if applicable.
We do not include tax return preparation in the flat-fee because many small business owners already work with a trusted tax professional. If, however, you require assistance with these filings, we will be pleased to assist upon request at additional charge and subject to the execution and delivery of a separate engagement letter.
Note: Failure to file a final return and close tax and professional license accounts in New Hampshire can result in continued assessment of taxes, penalties, and interest, even after the LLC has left the jurisdiction. This is a common oversight that can create significant liability if left unaddressed. -
12. What are the consequences of operating a business in Florida without registering?
Operating a business in Florida without proper registration is illegal and exposes the LLC and its owners to a number of legal and financial risks, including:
- Loss of Liability Protection: An unregistered LLC may lose the benefit of limited liability, exposing the personal assets of its owners to claims against the business, potentially resulting in personal bankruptcy.
- Inability to Access Florida Courts: An unregistered LLC may be prohibited from initiating, responding to, or maintaining a lawsuit in Florida courts to enforce its contracts or protect its rights.
- Fines and Penalties: Florida imposes penalties on entities that transact business in the state without proper registration, including late fees and potential administrative action. Criminal action is a possibility in extreme cases.
- Tax Penalties: Failure to register and file required tax returns can result in the assessment of taxes, penalties, and interest by the Florida taxing authorities.
- Contract Enforceability Risks: Contracts entered into by an unregistered LLC may be subject to challenge, creating uncertainty in the LLC's business relationships.
We do not recommend that any business operate in Florida without proper registration for these and other reasons. Redomestication provides the most thorough and legally sound method of establishing your LLC in Florida.
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13. How long does the redomestication process take?
The process can take between two to three months from the date of engagement, depending on state processing times. The principal variable is the turnaround time of the Florida Department of State and New Hampshire, both of which are outside of our control.
It is possible for the process to be completed more quickly depending upon your unique circumstances, including whether expedited processing is available and advisable. When expediting is available (and it often is), we can compress the timeline to less than a month. In all cases, our firm will keep you informed with weekly status updates throughout the process at no additional charge.
We recommend that business owners begin the process well in advance of any planned operational changes, tax year-end deadlines, or other time-sensitive events to allow sufficient time for processing in both New Hampshire and Florida.
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14. What does your flat-fee service include?
Our flat-fee service includes:
- A complimentary 15-minute telephone consultation before purchasing to discuss your needs and address your specific questions;
- Preparation of a custom Plan of Conversion and an authorizing resolution or consent;
- Preparation, review, and filing of instruments with the Florida Department of State to commence the redomestication;
- Preparation, review, and filing of an appropriate instrument to discontinue your LLC domicile in that jurisdiction;
- Weekly status updates throughout the process; and
- Delivery of all filed and stamped documents upon completion.
All documents are prepared, reviewed, and filed by a licensed Florida attorney and Certified Public Accountant (CPA). No work is delegated to apprentices, assistants, or third-party vendors.
Once New Hampshire has approved the redomestication, our work together is completed, and we will provide you with "next steps" regarding ongoing Florida filing requirements, as well as information on preparing and filing tax returns which you should provide to your tax professional.
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15. Are there any additional costs or services that may be needed?
Possibly. Depending on the nature of your business, the following additional services may be required and are available at extra charge pursuant to a separate engagement letter:
- Preparation and filing of final tax returns in New Hampshire;
- Registration for payroll tax accounts in Florida;
- Registration for sales and use tax accounts in Florida;
- IRS address change (IRS Form 8822-B);
- Local, state, and professional business license applications;
- Registered agent services in Florida;
- Amendment of operating agreements, bylaws, or other governing documents; and
- Additional consultation time beyond the included 15 minutes.
This list is intended to be illustrative, not exhaustive. In many cases, these additional services will not be required. Many small business owners choose to handle certain administrative tasks on their own or through their existing tax professional. We discuss the need for any additional services during the initial consultation so there are no surprises.
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16. Why should I use a licensed Florida attorney and CPA instead of an online service?
The difference between a licensed attorney and an online filing service is the difference between legal representation and document processing. Online services fill in form fields and submit filings. They do not provide legal advice, evaluate the tax implications of the conversion, or prepare custom legal instruments such as a Plan of Conversion.
By engaging a licensed Florida attorney and CPA, you receive:
- Legal Accountability: Our firm is subject to the Florida rules of professional conduct, carries professional liability (malpractice) insurance, and can be held accountable through the state bar and other legal processes. Online services are not fiduciaries and offer no comparable protection.
- Tax Expertise: A CPA understands the federal and state tax implications of the redomestication and can identify potential issues before they become problems.
- Custom Legal Instruments: Every Plan of Conversion, set of articles, and statement of conversion is drafted from scratch based on the specific facts of your engagement. No templates or boilerplate forms are used.
- Direct Communication: All client communication is handled by the attorney and CPA who is performing the work. You will not communicate with an apprentice, assistant, or call center representative.
- Brick-and-Mortar Presence: We are a technology-forward, full-service law practice with a physical office, providing an additional layer of accountability and accessibility.
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17. What types of business entities are eligible for redomestication?
The following types of business entities are eligible for redomestication to Florida, subject to the conversion statutes of both New Hampshire and Florida:
- Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), including single-member and multi-member LLCs;
- Corporations, including C corporations and S corporations;
- Limited Partnerships (LPs); and
- Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs).
Some jurisdictions restrict redomestication to certain entity forms or impose additional procedural requirements. Our attorney evaluates the specific statutory framework of both New Hampshire and Florida before commencing any engagement to confirm that the conversion is authorized and to identify any special requirements.
Sole proprietorships and general partnerships without a formal filing are not eligible for redomestication because they are not registered entities with a state of domicile. Different approaches are available for these business forms, and we are prepared to discuss alternatives during the consultation.
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18. What happens to my existing contracts, agreements, and bank accounts?
One of the principal advantages of redomestication is that the LLC's legal continuity is preserved and maintained by operation of law and the Plan of Conversion. This means that:
- Contracts and Agreements: All existing contracts, leases, vendor agreements, and other obligations remain in full force and effect. No assignment, novation, or amendment is required as a matter of law, because the converted LLC is the same legal entity that entered into the original agreement.
- Bank Accounts: The LLC's FEIN does not change. Most banks will update the LLC's domicile information and address upon presentation of the filed and stamped conversion documents.
- Intellectual Property: Federal trademark and patent registrations are unaffected by the change of domicile. You should update your address of record with the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) and any other relevant agencies.
Practice Note: Alternatives, such as traditional merger, usually do not afford these advantages. -
19. Will I need a registered agent in Florida?
Yes. Florida law requires every LLC domiciled in the state to maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida. The registered agent is responsible for receiving service of process and official correspondence from the Florida Department of State and other government agencies on behalf of the LLC.
If you or another officer, director, or member of the LLC maintains a physical address in Florida, that individual may serve as the registered agent. If not, a commercial registered agent service may be engaged.
Our firm can also provide for registered agent services at an additional charge. Full information on this and other, optional services is displayed in full when completing the workflow on our website.
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20. Do I need to amend my operating agreement or bylaws?
Generally not, though it is recommended. Following the redomestication, the LLC's internal governing documents should be reviewed and amended to reflect the change in domicile and to ensure compliance with Florida law. Common amendments include:
- Updating the governing law provision to reference Florida law;
- Updating the principal office address and registered agent information;
- Confirming that the LLC's governance provisions are consistent with the Florida statutes applicable to the entity type; and
- Removing or revising any provisions that are specific to New Hampshire's statutes and that may not be enforceable under Florida law.
This service is not included in the flat-fee but is available at additional charge subject to the execution and delivery of a separate engagement letter. We recommend that all business owners review their governing documents following the conversion, either with our firm or with their existing legal counsel.
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21. Can I schedule a consultation before committing to the service?
Yes. We offer a complimentary, optional 15-minute telephone consultation to discuss transferring your LLC from New Hampshire to Florida before you make any commitment. During this consultation, our attorney will:
- Confirm that your LLC type and New Hampshire are eligible for redomestication to Florida;
- Identify any special considerations or potential issues;
- Explain the process, timeline, and deliverables; and
- Answer any questions you may have.
It is not required to schedule a telephone conference with our firm before completing the online workflow, though it is encouraged to prevent any misunderstanding.
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22. How do I start the process of transferring my business to Florida?
You may begin the process by completing the online order workflow here. The steps are as follows:
- Input your business name and select "Next";
- Complete the 100% online intake workflow, providing the required information about your LLC;
- See full, line-item detail and a breakdown of filing costs, legal fees, and optional services before inputting your payment information; and
- Submit a secure payment at the conclusion of the workflow.
Upon receipt of your order, our attorney will contact you to confirm receipt and set to work on preparing the legal instruments. The entire online intake process can be completed in fewer than five minutes, and we accept a variety of payment methods.
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23. Do I have to print and sign anything? How do I pay?
In most cases, there is no need to print or sign any documents. Our firm uses DocuSign to obtain electronic signatures on all required documents whenever possible, enabling you to review and sign from any device and anywhere in the world with an internet connection. In rare circumstances where a so-called wet signature is required, we will notify you in advance and provide instructions.
All payments are submitted at the conclusion of the online order process using secure, encrypted payment processing.
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24. What are the annual report and ongoing compliance requirements in Florida?
After the conversion is complete, your LLC will be subject to Florida's ongoing compliance requirements, which include:
- Annual Report: Florida requires most business entities to file an annual report. The annual report includes current information about the LLC's officers, directors, members, or managers, its principal address, and its registered agent. Failure to file the annual report can result in administrative dissolution of the LLC with serious consequences.
- Registered Agent Maintenance: The LLC must maintain a registered agent with a physical address in Florida at all times.
- Tax Compliance: Depending on its specific business activities, the LLC may have ongoing obligations for federal income tax, sales and use tax, payroll tax, and other obligations.
We provide guidance on these requirements following the completion of the redomestication and can assist with annual report filings and other compliance tasks upon request at additional charge pursuant to a separate engagement letter which must be executed and delivered prior to our firm accepting any responsibility for that additional scope of work.
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25. What if my business operates in multiple states?
If your LLC conducts business in states other than New Hampshire and Florida, the redomestication will change the LLC's home state but will not affect its foreign registrations in other states. After the conversion:
- The LLC should update its foreign registration in each state where it is registered as a foreign entity to reflect the new state of domicile (Florida). Most states require this update and may charge a nominal filing fee.
- If the LLC was previously registered as a foreign entity in Florida, that foreign registration will be automatically superseded by the redomestication.
- The LLC's tax obligations in each state where it conducts business will continue to be governed by the laws of those states, including any nexus-based income tax, sales tax, or payroll tax obligations.
- It is important to note that the mere act of redomestication does not affect the LLC's tax posture. The LLC may be subject to taxes in any jurisdiction where it has employees, customers, or real estate. Ask your tax professional for more information.
Our attorney will discuss multi-state considerations during the initial consultation and can assist with updating foreign registrations at additional charge pursuant to the execution and delivery of a separate engagement letter.
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Common misconceptions about redomestication
Below are some of the most common misconceptions our firm encounters when advising business owners on transferring their LLC from New Hampshire to Florida.
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1. "I need to form a new LLC in Florida and dissolve the old one in New Hampshire."
This is incorrect. Redomestication is a statutory conversion that changes the LLC's state of domicile without creating a new entity or dissolving the existing one. The LLC that exists after the conversion is the same legal entity that existed before. Its FEIN, contracts, bank accounts, and legal history remain intact. Forming a new entity and dissolving the old one is a separate process that can trigger tax consequences, require asset transfers, and disrupt existing contractual relationships.
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2. "Registering as a foreign entity in Florida is the same as redomesticating."
Foreign registration and redomestication are distinct legal processes with different consequences. Foreign registration permits the LLC to transact business in Florida while remaining domiciled in New Hampshire. The LLC must then maintain compliance, pay fees, and file reports in both states. Redomestication changes the LLC's domicile to Florida and terminates its domicile in New Hampshire, eliminating the obligation to maintain dual-state compliance. Business owners who register as a foreign entity when they intended to change domicile often discover the error only after incurring unnecessary costs and filing obligations in New Hampshire for months or years.
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3. "Changing my LLC's state of domicile will trigger federal income tax."
When executed in compliance with the applicable statutory requirements, redomestication is a non-taxable reorganization under the federal Internal Revenue Code (IRC) and Treasury Regulations. No gain or loss is recognized at the entity or owner level. The LLC's tax attributes, including its basis in assets, carry forward without adjustment. The critical condition is strict compliance: the LLC must adopt a proper Plan of Conversion, file the required instruments with both New Hampshire and the Florida Department of State, and satisfy all procedural requirements of both jurisdictions. Failure to do so can jeopardize the non-taxable character of the transaction.
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4. "A Plan of Conversion is optional or just a formality."
A Plan of Conversion is not optional, nor is it a formality. The laws of both New Hampshire and Florida require the adoption of a Plan of Conversion as a prerequisite to filing. The Plan of Conversion sets forth the terms and conditions of the redomestication, identifies the converting LLC, specifies the jurisdiction of destination (Florida), and addresses the treatment of ownership interests. The importance of this cannot be overstated. Omitting this document can result in rejection of the filing by the Florida Department of State or New Hampshire, a defective redomestication that may not be recognized as legally effective, and loss of the non-taxable character of the transaction under federal tax law. Many online filing services and some attorneys omit this step, which is one of the most common causes of failed or defective conversions and future litigation.
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5. "I only need to file paperwork with the Florida Department of State to complete the conversion, and I can find a template online."
A complete redomestication requires filings with both the Florida Department of State and New Hampshire. The filing with Florida establishes the LLC's new domicile. The filing with New Hampshire terminates the LLC's domicile in that jurisdiction. Failing to file with New Hampshire can leave the LLC in a state of dual domicile, resulting in continued filing obligations, annual report requirements, and tax assessments in New Hampshire. This is a common and costly oversight, particularly among business owners who use online filing services that handle only the Florida side of the transaction. Further, the fill-in-the-blank templates you may find online are not specific to redomestication and may result in the unintentional termination of your LLC upon filing with the Florida Department of State and New Hampshire.
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6. "I will need to re-sign all of my contracts and open new bank accounts."
False. Because redomestication preserves the LLC's legal continuity by operation of the all-important Plan of Conversion, all existing contracts, leases, vendor agreements, and other obligations remain in full force and effect without assignment, novation, or amendment. The LLC's FEIN does not change, and most banks will update the domicile information on existing accounts upon presentation of the filed and stamped conversion documents. There is no need to close and reopen accounts or to execute new agreements with existing counterparties. This is a major advantage of redomestication over other methods of relocating a LLC to Florida from New Hampshire.
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7. "Every state allows redomestication for every type of business entity."
This is partially correct. Redomestication is governed by the laws of both New Hampshire and Florida, and both must authorize the redomestication for it to proceed. Our attorney evaluates the specific statutory framework of both New Hampshire and Florida before commencing any engagement to confirm that the redomestication is authorized and to identify any special requirements or limitations. We have a 100% success rate in redomesticating a LLC from New Hampshire to Florida.
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8. "Once I redomesticate, I no longer owe anything to New Hampshire."
Redomestication terminates the LLC's domicile in New Hampshire on a going-forward basis, but it does not extinguish obligations that accrued before the effective date of the conversion. Further, to the extent that the LLC will continue conducting business in New Hampshire (for example, by having customers, employees, assets, or real estate there), the LLC may continue to be subject to taxes and filing requirements in New Hampshire. If the LLC has discontinued its operations, the LLC remains responsible for filing a final tax return with New Hampshire for the period through the effective date, as well as any final payroll, sales, use, or excise tax returns that may be required. Some states also impose exit taxes, clawback provisions, or other obligations that must be satisfied in connection with the departure. Failure to address these obligations can result in continued assessment of taxes, penalties, and interest in New Hampshire, even after the LLC has left the jurisdiction.
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9. "An online filing service can do the same thing as a licensed attorney."
False. Online filing services and licensed attorneys perform different functions. An online service fills in form fields and submits filings. It does not provide legal advice, explain whether a redomestication makes sense for your LLC, prepare a legal Plan of Conversion, or file the required instruments with the New Hampshire Department of State. It is not subject to the rules of professional conduct, does not carry professional liability insurance, and cannot be held accountable through the state bar or fiduciary laws. A licensed attorney evaluates the statutory requirements of both New Hampshire and Florida, drafts custom legal instruments tailored to the specific facts of the engagement, and ensures that the redomestication is executed in compliance with all applicable requirements. Unfortunately, many people learn this difference only after an online filing service has failed the task, requiring the hiring of an attorney at additional expense to clean up their mistakes.
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10. "I must be physically located in Florida to redomesticate my LLC there."
This is only partially correct. A physical address is needed in Florida, however, it is entirely possible and in fact common to hire a registered agent service to perform that function. Our law firm can also arrange a registered agent service for a nominal charge. There is no requirement that the owners, officers, directors, or managers of the LLC be physically located in Florida to redomesticate. The LLC must designate a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida, but the registered agent can be a commercial service rather than an individual associated with the business. The entire redomestication process, including document execution, can be completed remotely using electronic signatures. That said, the tax benefits of domiciling in Florida may vary depending on where the owners reside and where the business conducts its operations, as state tax obligations are determined by a combination of domicile, residency, and the location of business activities. Be sure to discuss this with your tax professional.
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11. "Redomestication can be completed in a few days."
Sometimes, but the normal timeline is longer. The redomestication process involves filings with two separate state agencies, each of which has its own processing timeline. The Florida Department of State and its counterpart in New Hampshire each require time to review and accept the submitted instruments. The typical timeline is two to three months from the date of engagement. While expedited processing may be available in certain jurisdictions and under certain circumstances, business owners should not expect same-day or same-week completion. We recommend beginning the process well in advance of any planned operational changes, tax year-end deadlines, or other time-sensitive events.
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12. "My LLC will require a new FEIN after the redomestication."
False. The LLC's federal employer identification number (FEIN) does not change as a result of redomestication. Because the redomestication preserves the legal continuity of the entity, the IRS treats the converted LLC as the same taxpayer before and after the conversion. Specifically, see I.R.C. § 368(a) and related code sections and Treasury Regulations. Additionally, see Rev. Rul. 73-526, 1973-2 C.B. 404 (Situation 3); Rev. Rul. 64-250, 1964-2 C.B. 333; and Rev. Rul. 2008-18, 2008-13 I.R.B. 674. Note that not all citations will apply to every fact pattern or situation. Regardless, the LLC should notify the IRS of its new address, but the FEIN itself carries forward. A new FEIN would be required only if the LLC were dissolved and a new entity were formed, or in the case of a traditional merger, which is not what occurs in a redomestication.
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13. "My existing operating agreement or bylaws must be completely rewritten."
False. While the LLC's governing documents remain in effect after the conversion, they may contain provisions that reference New Hampshire's statutes, designate New Hampshire as the governing law jurisdiction, or rely on legal concepts specific to New Hampshire. These provisions may be unenforceable, ambiguous, or inconsistent with Florida law. For this reason, we recommend reviewing and amending the operating agreement or bylaws following the conversion to update the governing law provision, the principal office address, the registered agent information, and any other provisions that are specific to New Hampshire.
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14. "After redomestication, there are no ongoing compliance obligations in Florida."
Redomestication changes the LLC's home state; it does not eliminate the obligation to comply with the laws of Florida. Once domiciled in Florida, the LLC is subject to Florida's annual report filing requirements, registered agent maintenance requirements, and any applicable tax obligations, sales and use tax, and payroll tax. Failure to file the annual report by the specified deadline can result in administrative dissolution of the LLC. Business owners should treat the redomestication as the beginning of a new compliance relationship with Florida, not the end of all state-level obligations. At the conclusion of every redomestication, we provide clients with a succinct go-forward checklist which explains these steps in exacting detail.
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