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Arizona is one of the states where a Limited Liability Company must publish a notice for a specific period of time as soon as the Arizona LLC is formed. To do so, the LLCs must follow some rules the State of Arizona set. In this article, you read about the Arizona publication requirements for an LLC. Read this guide to know the requirements in detail.
On this page, you’ll learn about the following:
Arizona Publication Requirements
In Arizona, after filing the formation documents with the Arizona Secretary of State, every LLC has to publish a notice in the newspaper for a certain period of time. As the publication run ends, the LLC can start operating in the state. Here are the requirements for Arizona LLC publication,
Requirements – What to Do
- Every LLC in Arizona has to publish the notice in the newspaper within 60 days of LLC formation.
- This notice of LLC formation should be published for 3 weeks consecutively.
- Newspapers LLCs would choose should be approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission.
Exception
Maricopa County and Pima County are two places where the publication requirement does not apply. There is no mandate in these two counties in Arizona to publish any notice of LLC formation. If your principal business address is anywhere in these two counties, you can easily skip this step while forming an LLC in Arizona.
What to Include in The Notice
The notice LLCs have to publish needs to have the following information,
- LLC name
- Name of the Arizona Registered Agent
- Address of the Registered Agent
- Address of the LLC (if it is different from the address of the registered agent)
- Whether it is a manager-managed or member-managed LLC
- If it is member-managed, then the name and address of all members. OR
- If it is manager-managed, then the name and address of the manager(s).
Approved Newspapers
As mentioned above, LLCs should choose a newspaper that is approved by the Arizona Corporation Commission. You can download the PDF mentioned below, where you will find the list of approved newspapers in each county in Arizona. Choose accordingly to publish your notice of LLC formation.
Cost of Publication in Arizona
The cost of publication varies depending on the newspaper you are selecting. The cost can start from $30 and go up to $300. Generally, newspapers charge per line, sometimes per inch, and sometimes change a flat rate for any notice. It is recommended to select a newspaper that charges a flat rate. Some of the newspapers charge a minimum of $1.50 per line. In that case, the cost might be less than $10.
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Effect of Non-compliance
In Arizona, unlike many other states, the publication of LLC formation is a mandatory requirement. If you fail to comply, your LLC will be terminated as soon as the extended period is over. An LLC in Arizona gets 60 days of time to do the needful after forming the LLC. If you fail to do that within 60 days, Arizona Corporation Commission sends you a letter permitting 30 more days to meet the requirements. If you cannot do the needful even after an extended 30 days, the commission will terminate the LLC immediately.
Pima County and Maricopa County do not have this rule. Hence, LLCs formed in these counties are exempted from this commission rule.
After the Publication of LLC Formation
Once the publication for three weeks is done, the LLC will receive an Affidavit of Publication from the newspaper it has chosen. At the same time, another copy of the Affidavit will be sent to the Arizona Corporation Commission by the newspaper. This Affidavit is an important document to prove that LLCs have complied with the Publication requirements.
Previously, the Affidavit was supposed to be filed with the Arizona Secretary of State. But now the rule is waived off. There is no strict requirement to file the Affidavit.
FAQ
In Arizona, all the LLCs (excluding the ones formed in Maricopa and Pima counties) have to publish a notice of LLC formation in a state-approved newspaper. It should run for 3 weeks consecutively. This is a mandatory requirement for all the LLCs that are formed in the state of Arizona.
Within 60 days of the formation, LLCs have to go for publication. If they fail to comply, they will get another 30 days extension to get it done, or else, the LLC will be terminated.
The publication cost depends on the newspaper LLC is selecting. The cost varies from $30 to $300 on average.
Why Arizona Publication Requirements is So Important
Arizona publication requirements mandate that newspapers and other publications publicly disclose specific information about their ownership, operation, and circulation. This transparency is crucial for building trust with readers and establishing credibility for the news sources they rely on. Without these requirements, publishers could operate in secrecy, leading to potential bias, misinformation, and manipulation of the news.
By requiring publications to disclose ownership information, readers can better understand the potential influences behind the news they consume. Knowing who owns a publication can shine a light on any potential conflicts of interest or biases that may impact the reporting. This transparency allows readers to make more informed decisions about the information they consume and the sources they trust.
In addition to ownership disclosure, Arizona publication requirements also mandate publications to provide information about their operation and circulation. This information gives readers insights into the size and reach of the publication, as well as the processes behind gathering and publishing news. Understanding a publication’s circulation numbers can also help readers gauge the level of influence and impact a publication holds within the community.
Furthermore, publication requirements in Arizona help to hold publishers accountable for the content they distribute. By providing verifiable information about ownership, operation, and circulation, publications are more likely to uphold journalistic standards and ethical practices. Knowing that their operations are transparent to the public can serve as an incentive for publishers to maintain integrity in their reporting and editorial practices.
Aside from fostering transparency and accountability, Arizona publication requirements also help to safeguard the public’s right to access diverse and unbiased information. By promoting transparency in the media landscape, these requirements ensure that a variety of voices and perspectives can be heard and represented in the public sphere. This diversity of voices is essential for an informed citizenry and a healthy democracy.
In conclusion, Arizona publication requirements play a crucial role in upholding the integrity and credibility of the media landscape. By promoting transparency, accountability, and access to diverse information, these requirements help to build trust between publishers and readers, while also safeguarding the public’s right to access reliable news sources. As we navigate an era of rapidly evolving media consumption, these publication requirements serve as a foundational tool for maintaining a healthy and informed society.
In Conclusion
As soon as your formation process is done, the publication must be done too. Else, you can lose your LLC in Arizona. It is recommended that you hire an LLC service provider to take care of all these things for you. If you have any questions do let us know by commenting below. We appreciate your suggestions and feedback.