SC registered agent
Registered agent service in South Carolina. $24 a year. Yes.
Every South Carolina company must appoint a registered agent at a street address in the state. What follows is the statute, quoted where it matters, and our position on it, which is brief.
The statutory requirement in South Carolina
Requirement
The South Carolina code provides:
Each corporation must continuously maintain in this State: (1) a registered office that may be the same as any of its places of business; ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-5-101
Service of process in our absence
Substituted service
... agent for service of process cannot with reasonable diligence be found at the agent's address, the Secretary of State is an agent of the company upon whom process, notice, or demand may be served.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-44-111(b)
Enforcement in South Carolina
The state's remedies against a company whose agent does not perform. Quoted without paraphrase.
Administrative dissolution by the state
The Secretary of State shall commence a proceeding under Section 33-14-210(a) to dissolve a corporation administratively if: ... (3) the corporation is without a registered agent or registered office in this State; ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-14-200(a)(3)-(4)
Further
... on any business except that necessary to wind up and liquidate its business and affairs under Section 33-14-105 and notify claimants under Sections 33-14-106 and 33-14-107.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-14-210(b), (d)
Revocation of foreign authority
The Secretary of State shall commence a proceeding under Section 33-15-310 to revoke the certificate of authority of a foreign corporation authorized to transact business in this State if: ... (3) the foreign corporation is without a registered agent or registered office in this State; ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-15-300(a)(3)-(4)
Loss of standing to sue
... certificate of authority may not maintain a proceeding in any court in this State until it obtains a certificate of authority.
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-15-102(a)
Pecuniary penalty
A foreign corporation is liable for a civil penalty of ten dollars for each day but not to exceed a total of one thousand dollars for each year it transacts business in this State without a certificate of authority. ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-15-102(d)
Restoration
Fee upon restoration
Application for reinstatement following administrative dissolution $25.00. ...
Source: state statute, via incFACTS: S.C. Code Ann. § 33-1-220(a)(16); § 33-14-220(a)(4)
The South Carolina annual report, which you may also decline
Annual report, limited liability company
South Carolina levies no annual report fee, per the guidance quoted below. There is nothing to decline.
... not subject to the annual report or the License Fee: A Limited Liability Company (LLC) not taxed as a corporation
Source: official state fee schedule, via incFACTS: SCDOR Corporate FAQs (annual report / License Fee exemptions)
Annual report, corporation
South Carolina levies no annual report fee, per the guidance quoted below. There is nothing to decline.
... of directors on Annual Reports filed with the Department of Revenue.
Source: official state fee schedule, via incFACTS: SC SOS FAQs About Business Entities #14
Our position
We decline. At this price you may have expected otherwise.
Statutory text captured by incFACTS on 2026-08-01, verified against the code on 2026-08-10. Statutes are amended. This page is not.