A New York corporation search finds business corporations registered with the Department of State — both domestic corporations formed under New York law and foreign corporations from other states or countries that are authorized to do business in New York. Every corporation that files has a public record, and the search is free with no account required.
The official tool is the Corporation and Business Entity Database, maintained by the Department of State’s Division of Corporations, State Records and Uniform Commercial Code. It shows each corporation’s status, formation details, service-of-process address, filing history, and — uniquely for business corporations — the CEO’s name and address from the most recent biennial statement. This page explains how to run the search, what a corporation record contains, and what the biennial statement adds to it.
How to Search for a New York Corporation
The official Public Inquiry application handles a corporation lookup in a few short steps. No login stands in the way, and the whole task takes minutes. The sequence below moves from start to finish.
- Open the official search. Use the button above to open the Department of State’s Public Inquiry application. It is free, and no account is required.
- Choose a Search By option. Pick Entity Name for a name lookup. Pick DOS ID when the corporation’s nine-digit number is already known; that option returns an exact match.
- Type the corporation’s name. Enter the distinctive part of the name. Endings such as “Inc.” add little to the search.
- Set the Search Functionality. Choose Begins With to narrow the match or Contains to widen it.
- Filter the Entity List to business corporations. Not-for-profit corporations sit in a separate entity category, so keep them out of a business lookup. The New York Nonprofit Search page covers those records.
- Click Search the Database. The results load as a list with names, DOS IDs, and entity types.
- Open the record and confirm the details. Check the DOS ID, county, and status before relying on anything in the record.
Search By Options Explained
Four Search By options and a matching rule control the search screen. Each option fits a different situation, and picking the right one saves time on names shared by many companies.
Search by Entity Name
Entity Name is the default and the right choice for most corporation lookups. Type the distinctive part of the name and skip endings such as “Inc.”, “Corp.”, or “Incorporated”. Shorter searches catch more variations and keep the result list easier to scan.
Search by DOS ID
A DOS ID is the nine-digit number the Department assigns when a corporation files. A DOS ID search returns exactly one record, so it ends any confusion between similarly named companies. The number sits at the top of every entity record, which makes it easy to copy and reuse.
Search by Assumed Name
The Search By list includes Assumed Name and Assumed Name ID. These options locate filings for names a corporation uses beyond its legal name. A company that trades under a different name files that name with the Department, so an assumed name search can surface records the legal name misses.
Begins With or Contains
Begins With matches names that start with the typed text, which narrows the list fast. Contains matches the text anywhere in the name, which helps when the first word is unknown. When a search returns nothing, switch the matching rule and run the search once more.
Domestic and Foreign Corporations
A domestic business corporation is one incorporated under New York law. A foreign business corporation is one incorporated elsewhere that registered with the Department of State to do business in New York. Both appear in the same database, and both open as a full public record.
The Entity List filter lets a searcher narrow the results to business corporations, domestic and foreign. The filter keeps limited liability companies, nonprofits, and partnerships out of the list, so the results stay on target.
Why the Jurisdiction Field Matters
The record’s jurisdiction field shows where a corporation was incorporated whenever that place is somewhere other than New York. A New York entry points to a domestic company, and a foreign entry names the home state or country. That single field answers which state’s corporate law sits behind the company — a detail that matters in contracts, disputes, and registration checks.
Tip: Large companies often own many similarly named entities. Filter the list to business corporations first, then use the jurisdiction field to separate the New York parent from its out-of-state or foreign affiliates.
What a Corporation Record Shows
Opening a corporation from the results displays the information the Department maintains for that record. The fields stay consistent across the database:
- Current entity name and prior names
- Nine-digit DOS ID number
- Entity type
- Date of organization or authorization — the formation date
- Jurisdiction, if the corporation was formed outside New York
- New York county
- Current status (active or inactive) and the status date
- Address to which the Department of State will mail process served on the Secretary of State
- Registered agent, if one is designated
- Filing history
- CEO name and address from the last biennial statement
Corporation Record Fields Explained
Each field answers a different question about the company. The table below breaks the record down line by line.
| Field | What it shows | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Entity name and prior names | The legal name in use now, plus earlier names on file | Older contracts and filings may carry a former name |
| DOS ID | The nine-digit number assigned when the corporation filed | Matches exactly one record, so it ends name confusion |
| Entity type | The business corporation category, domestic or foreign | Confirms the record matches the company type |
| Date of organization or authorization | The incorporation date, or the authorization date for a foreign corporation | Shows how long the company has held its New York registration |
| Jurisdiction | Where the corporation was incorporated, when outside New York | Separates domestic companies from foreign ones |
| New York county | The county connected to the record | Helps confirm the match is the right company |
| Status and status date | Active or inactive, with the date of that status | A quick health check before any deal |
| Service-of-process address | Where the Department mails process served on the Secretary of State | The official channel for legal papers |
| Registered agent | The agent on file, when one is designated | Another contact point recorded for the company |
| Filing history | The documents the corporation has filed with the Department | Shows what has changed since incorporation |
| CEO name and address | Taken from the corporation’s last biennial statement | Names a real person connected to the company |
The Biennial Statement
Business corporations in New York file biennial statements — filings made every two years. The public entity record displays the CEO’s name and address taken from the corporation’s most recent biennial statement on file with the Department.
That filing requirement belongs to business corporations. It is one reason a corporation record carries a detail LLC records do not: a named officer with an address, pulled straight from the company’s own filing.
Why the CEO Line Matters
The CEO line names a real person connected to the company, which makes it one of the most useful details in a corporation record. Diligence teams use it to confirm a company is real and operating. Researchers and writers use it as a starting point when a human contact is needed.
What the CEO Line Does Not Show
The line reflects the most recent biennial statement the Department has received, not a live contact list. Ownership percentages, directors, and shareholders stay off the public entity record. Treat the CEO line as the last filing on file, and confirm anything time-sensitive through other channels.
Service of Process in New York
In New York, the Secretary of State heads the Department of State and acts as agent for service of process for many entities, business corporations included. The record shows the address to which the Department will mail process served on the Secretary of State. Anyone planning legal action should treat that address as the official channel for papers.
The system matters in practice: a company with an outdated address on file may never see the papers, and courts treat the Secretary of State’s mailing as proper notice. Checking the service-of-process address on the record is a small step that prevents big surprises. The New York Service of Process page explains that system in more detail.
Corporation Status Values
The status field shows whether the corporation is active or inactive, together with the date of that status. An active record is a good sign that the company is in good standing with the Department. An inactive record means the corporation is no longer in active standing in New York.
The status date adds context the label alone cannot give. A change dated years back reads differently from one made last month, and the date puts that difference in plain view. Read the two fields together for the sharpest picture.
The free search shows summary information only. For official proof of a corporation’s standing for a bank, a court, or a licensing board, request a Certificate of Status in writing from the Division of Corporations.
Common Corporation Search Mistakes
Corporation lookups fail for predictable reasons. The list below covers the repeat errors and the fix for each one.
- Searching with the full legal name. Endings such as “Inc.” add little. The distinctive part of the name returns cleaner results.
- Treating two similar names as one company. Different DOS IDs mean different entities, even when the names are close.
- Filtering out foreign corporations. A company incorporated elsewhere still shows up, but only when the filter keeps foreign entities in the list.
- Reading the CEO line as a current contact. The line comes from the last biennial statement on file, so it may be dated.
- Using an outdated bookmark. The legacy appext20.dos.ny.gov address is retired. The current application lives at apps.dos.ny.gov/publicInquiry.
- Stopping at the first result. Scan the full list and match the DOS ID before settling on a record.
Tips for Better Corporation Searches
A few habits make corporation research faster and the results easier to trust.
- Start with Begins With, then widen to Contains when the list comes back empty.
- Search by DOS ID whenever the number is on hand. It is the one option that matches a single record every time.
- Read the prior names on the record. Mergers and rebrands often leave a trail of former names.
- Check the filing history before ordering document copies. It shows which filings exist.
- Use the CEO line as a starting point, not a final answer. Pair it with the status date for context.
- Ask the Division of Corporations for a written name check when a new filing decision is close. The call center can search up to five names per call.
Entity Types in the New York Database
The database covers the entity types that file with the Department. The table below shows where each type sits and what its record includes.
| Entity type | Filed with DOS? | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Domestic business corporation | Yes | Standard fields plus the CEO line from the last biennial statement |
| Foreign business corporation | Yes | Jurisdiction field names the home state or country |
| Domestic LLC | Yes | Standard fields; no CEO line |
| Foreign LLC | Yes | Standard fields; jurisdiction field shows the home state or country |
| Not-for-profit corporation | Yes | Separate entity category in the filter |
| Limited partnership | Yes | Record follows the same field structure |
| Limited liability partnership (LLP) | Yes | Record follows the same field structure |
| Sole proprietorship | No | Not filed with the Department, so it never appears here |
| General partnership | No | Not filed with the Department, so it never appears here |
The Entity List filter maps to these categories, so a business corporation search stays fast once the filter is set. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships never appear in the results, no matter how the search is arranged.
When to Order a Certificate of Status or Copies
The free record covers research. Formal situations need formal paper: a bank closing an account, a court filing, a licensing board, or a contract counterparty may all ask for something official.
A Certificate of Status states where the corporation stands with the Department. Copies of specific filings — the incorporation filing, amendments, name changes, and more — come from the Division of Corporations as well. Both are requested in writing, and the Department’s certificate of status page and copies page explain the process.
Order the documents before the deadline. A written request takes time to process, and starting early turns a routine step into a smooth one.
Related Searches
- New York Nonprofit Search
- New York Business Entity Search
- New York LLC Search
- New York Service of Process
- New York Company Records
- New York Certificate of Status
New York Department of State — Division of Corporations, State Records and UCC
- Address: One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12231-0001
- Phone: (518) 473-2492 (Monday–Friday, 8:45 AM – 4:30 PM ET)
- Email: corporations@dos.ny.gov
- Official website: dos.ny.gov
NewYorkCompanySearch.us is an independent website and is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or sponsored by the New York Department of State or any government agency. All searches are performed on official state databases linked from this page.
Frequently Asked Questions
These answers cover the details that come up most often in corporation lookups. Each one sticks to what the official database shows.
What is the difference between a domestic and a foreign corporation?
A domestic corporation was incorporated in New York. A foreign corporation was incorporated in another state or country and registered with the Department of State to do business in New York. The record’s jurisdiction field shows the difference.
Why does a corporation record list a CEO?
New York business corporations file biennial statements every two years. The Department shows the CEO’s name and address from the most recent statement on the corporation’s public record. The line reflects the latest filing rather than a live contact list.
Are not-for-profit corporations in the same search?
They are in the same database but sit in a separate entity category, and the Entity List filter isolates not-for-profit corporations. The New York Nonprofit Search page covers those lookups.
Does the record show shareholders or directors?
No. The public entity record carries the standard fields plus the CEO line from the biennial statement. Ownership and board details stay off the record, so the CEO line stands as the officer detail the database provides.
How does someone get copies of a corporation’s filings?
Copies of corporation or business entity documents are requested in writing from the Division of Corporations. The New York Business Documents page sets out the step-by-step process.