What Is an Arizona Publication Requirement?

Arizona Publication Requirements

Arizona publication requirements for limited liability companies (LLCs) and corporations are unusual because so few states require publication upon the formation of a business entity. A publication notice is a printed notice of entity formation, which includes relevant information about the limited liability company. This was a more common practice prior to the digital age. 

Arizona publication requirements serve the purpose of notifying the public that a new business entity has been formed. Over the years, most states have eliminated this requirement. Only a few have kept it, with Arizona being one of the few. Let’s take a closer look at this requirement and how the process works.

What Arizona business entities have publication requirements?

There are only two business entities subject to Arizona publication requirements. Both limited liability companies and corporations require publication as part of the formation process. It’s important to understand the differences between entity types and how they’re established. If you need to form your LLC or corporation, we can help! Head over to our Arizona corporation or Arizona limited liability company (LLC) formation pages to learn more.

Arizona Publication Requirements: LLC 

All Arizona limited liability companies must meet publication requirements unless the business address is in Maricopa or Pima County. Both counties automatically publish this information, and you won’t need to take additional steps to complete this aspect of LLC formation. When forming your limited liability company, it’s important to adhere to all state requirements, which may differ from state to state. 

Fulfill the LLC Arizona publication requirements within 60 days of receiving notice from the Arizona Corporations Commission. Publish the information three times in a newspaper approved by the Arizona Corporations Commission. The list of accepted publications in each Arizona county can be found on the state’s business formation and compliance website.

The publication must include:

• Name of your limited liability company
• Name and physical address of your registered agent
• Address of the LLC’s principal place of business 

Limited liability company manager contact information needs to be reported also. This must include whether the management of your LLC is vested in the members or appointed managers. If the management of the business is reserved to members, you need to report the name and address from each member of the LLC.  If management of the limited liability company is vested in a manager or managers, each manager of the LLC and each member who owns a 20% or greater interest in the capital or profits of the limited liability company must provide their name and address.

Arizona Publication Requirements: Corporations

Domestic and foreign Arizona corporations must also adhere to state publication requirements, which are very similar to those required of limited liability companies. Maricopa and Pima County both automatically publish this information for corporations. So if your corporation is located in either of these counties, you have one less detail to worry about. But there are still plenty of other forms to submit and requirements to be met. ZenBusiness’s corporation formation service can help guide you through the process and help make sure you don’t miss any important steps. 

According to Arizona law, publication requirements for corporations need to be fulfilled within 60 days of receiving notice from the Arizona Corporations Commission. The state requires the publication to occur three times in a newspaper approved by the Arizona Corporations Commission. 

The publication must include:

• The name of the corporation as stated in your Articles of Incorporation
• Name and physical address of your registered agent
• Address of your corporation’s principal place of business
• Numbers of authorized shares in the corporation
• A brief statement describing the nature of the business the corporation intends to operate in Arizona

Arizona publication requirements for corporations also detail information about your corporate board of directors. The publication also needs to include the name and address of each incorporator and initial director, which becomes public information.

Arizona LLC and Corporation Affidavit of Publication  

Recording your Affidavit of Publication with the Arizona Corporation Commission used to be a requirement, but the state has done away with that requirement. You still have the option to file the affidavit as part of your Articles of Formation at no additional charge. You can submit the affidavit by sending an email to filings.corp@azcc.gov or mailing it to:

Arizona Corporation Commission
1300 W. Washington Street
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Make sure to include your contact information, the LLC or corporation name, and file number. Some publications will actually complete this step for you by sending your Affidavit of Publication directly to the Arizona Corporation Commission. 

Arizona takes publication seriously

Most states don’t require publication. Arizona takes publication requirements seriously. Failing to meet the Arizona publication requirements is grounds for termination of your limited liability company or corporation. Costs differ for each newspaper. You may consider calling around to find the best option for you. 

After your first 60-day window has expired, the Arizona Corporations Commission will send a follow-up letter letting you know that you have 30 days to get it done. After that, it’s as if your business never existed.