Washington Registered Agent for LLCs

A registered agent is the person or company an Washington LLC designates to receive lawsuits, subpoenas, and official state mail on its behalf. The role is a legal requirement, and the agent's name and address become part of the public record when you file with the Washington Secretary of State.

What Washington requires

The agent must have a physical street address in Washington (a PO Box does not qualify) and be reachable during normal business hours. The LLC must keep an agent on file at all times. If the agent resigns or moves, the LLC has to appoint a replacement promptly or risk penalties and administrative dissolution.

Who can serve as your agent

• An individual Washington resident with a physical street address, including you or a co-owner
• A commercial registered agent company authorized to do business in Washington
• An officer or employee of a company that provides registered agent services

DIY or commercial service

Serving as your own agent costs nothing, but your name and home address become public, and you must be available at that address during business hours. Process servers do not call ahead, and a missed delivery can lead to a default judgment. Commercial services commonly charge between $50 and $300 a year, and typically offer scanning, forwarding, and compliance reminders. If you travel often, work irregular hours, or want your home address off the public record, a commercial agent usually earns its fee.

Changing your registered agent

File a statement of change (or the equivalent form) with the Washington Secretary of State. Some states charge a small fee and others allow the change at no cost, often as part of the annual or periodic report. Confirm the current fee on the Washington filing office.

What happens without an agent

Without a valid agent the state can administratively dissolve the LLC, legal notices may go unseen, and a court may enter a default judgment against the company. A lapsed agent can also weaken the liability protection you formed the LLC to get.

Washington LLC at a glance

Washington specific notes

Washington has no state personal income tax (capital gains tax exists for high earners), but levies a Business and Occupation Tax on gross receipts that applies to most LLCs.

Next steps: read the Washington formation guide for the full process, or see the registered agent explainer for how agents work in every state.