COLUMBUS, Ohio -- The Ohio Secretary of State's officeis now accepting online filings of the most frequently used business documents, says Jon Husted, secretary of state.
“This is another step toward making sure our state has a business climate that encourages new business starts, leading to new career opportunities for Ohioans," Husted said in a statement. “By utilizing technology to improve our services, we are positioning our state to roll out the red carpet to business and job creation by cutting the red tape.”
Providing online services benefits both consumers and taxpayers by simplifying the submission process, Husted said. It reduces processing times for customers and streamlines administrative operations. Forms available for online filing include those for establishing a limited liability company in Ohio, renewals for trade or fictitious names, biennial reports for professional associations or limited liability partnerships, as well as statements of continued existence for nonprofit corporations.
Together, these forms represent approximately 50% of all filings received by the secretary of state’s office in 2012, Husted said.
Prior to being able to file online, customers were required to complete a paper form, attach a check to pay for the filing fee and then return the completed form by mail. The office’s business services division would review the filing, process the payment and send a notice via mail that the paperwork and payment had been approved. If there were any issues with the filing, the customer would be notified, their payment refunded and they could be required to start the process over. This procedure could often take several days to complete.
Businesses can file electronically via OhioSecretaryofState.gov after creating a profile to access the secure site. Once logged in, users can select from the available options, provide payment for filing fees and manage their account. The online system allows businesses to complete the submission process, from start to finish, in less than one day in some cases.
Husted said his office will continue to make paper forms available for those who prefer to file business forms using the traditional method.
Published by The Business Journal, Youngstown, Ohio.
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