Corporate Filings LLC is a business filing service, not a scam

Corporate Filings LLC is a legitimate company that handles state business filings — things like forming an LLC, renewing a business license, or filing annual reports. When you see a charge from them on your credit card statement, it means you (or someone with access to your card) paid them to file paperwork with your state on behalf of a business.

The charge itself is real. Corporate Filings LLC processes thousands of filings each month and is registered to do business in all 50 states. The confusion usually comes from the name appearing unfamiliar on a statement, or from not remembering that you authorized the charge.

If you did not authorize the charge, that is a separate problem — a fraudulent use of your card. But if you or a business partner did use their service, the charge is legitimate and you owe it.

Key Takeaways

  • Corporate Filings LLC charges appear when you use them to file business documents with your state, such as LLC formation or annual report renewal.
  • The company charges a service fee on top of the state filing fee itself, and the total amount varies depending on which state and which filing type you need.
  • You can verify the charge by checking your business records or contacting Corporate Filings LLC directly with your order number or the date of the charge.
  • If you did not authorize the charge, report it to your credit card company as fraudulent, but first confirm no one else with access to your card used the service.

How Corporate Filings LLC charges appear on your statement

The charge shows up under the merchant name "Corporate Filings LLC" or sometimes a variation like "Corporate Filings" or "CF LLC". The amount depends on what you filed and which state you filed in. A simple LLC formation in one state might cost $100 to $300 total (state fee plus their service fee), while an annual report renewal might be $50 to $150.

The charge is usually processed within a few days of when you place the order, though the actual filing with your state can take one to two weeks. You may see the charge hit your card before you receive confirmation that the state has accepted your filing.

If you used a third-party service like LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, or a local business formation company, they may have used Corporate Filings LLC as their backend processor. In that case, the charge might still show as coming from Corporate Filings LLC even though you thought you were paying the other company.

What you paid for and what it covers

Corporate Filings LLC charges for the service of preparing and submitting your filing to the state. They do not charge you the state fee itself — that is a separate cost that goes directly to your state. What you are paying them for is the labor of filling out the forms correctly, submitting them on time, and tracking the status.

Their service typically includes preparing the document, filing it electronically or by mail depending on what your state accepts, and sending you a confirmation once the state has processed it. Some packages include expedited processing, which costs more but gets your filing done faster.

They do not provide legal advice, and the forms they file are standard boilerplate — the same ones you could file yourself for free or for just the state fee. You are paying for convenience and for someone else to handle the paperwork.

Checking whether the charge is legitimate

Start by looking at your business records. If you own or manage a business, check your email for any confirmation messages from Corporate Filings LLC. These usually arrive within hours of placing an order and include an order number, the filing type, the state, and the total charge.

If you find a confirmation email, the charge is legitimate — you authorized it. If you do not find one, call Corporate Filings LLC directly at their customer service number (listed on their website) and give them the charge date and amount from your statement. They can tell you whether an order was placed under your name or email address.

Also check with anyone else who has access to your card — a business partner, spouse, or accountant. They may have placed the order without telling you, which is not fraud but does explain the charge.

What to do if you did not authorize the charge

If you confirm that no one with permission used your card, report the charge to your credit card company as fraudulent. Call the number on the back of your card and tell them the merchant name, the date, and the amount. Your card issuer will open a dispute and may issue you a temporary credit while they investigate.

The card company will contact Corporate Filings LLC to ask whether they have a record of the order. If Corporate Filings LLC cannot produce an order confirmation or matching email address, the charge will likely be reversed. If they can produce a record, you may be asked to provide evidence that you did not place the order.

While the dispute is open, your card company may issue you a new card number to prevent further unauthorized charges. Keep the old card open until the dispute is resolved, because closing it can complicate the investigation.

Disputing a charge you authorized but think is wrong

If you did place the order but believe the charge is incorrect — for example, you were quoted one price and charged another — contact Corporate Filings LLC first before disputing with your card company. Many pricing disputes can be resolved directly with a refund or credit.

Have your order number and confirmation email ready when you call. Explain what you were quoted and what you were charged. If the difference is due to a state fee increase or an add-on service you did not realize you selected, they can usually explain it. If it is a genuine error on their part, they will refund the difference.

If Corporate Filings LLC refuses to adjust the charge and you still believe it is wrong, then file a dispute with your credit card company. Provide them with your order confirmation, the quote you received, and documentation of your communication with Corporate Filings LLC. The card company will use this to decide whether to reverse the charge.

How to avoid unexpected Corporate Filings LLC charges in the future

If you use a business formation service, read the confirmation email carefully before you submit payment. It should clearly show the total amount you will be charged, broken down by state fee and service fee. Do not assume the price you see first is the final price — some services add expedited processing or additional filings automatically.

If you do not recognize a charge on your statement, do not assume it is fraud. Search your email for the merchant name first. Many people forget they placed an order weeks or months earlier, especially if they used a service once and never again.

If you manage multiple businesses or have employees who can order filings on your behalf, set clear rules about who can use the company card and require them to notify you before placing an order. This prevents surprises and makes it easier to spot actual fraud.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Corporate Filings LLC a scam?

No. Corporate Filings LLC is a registered business filing service operating in all 50 states. They charge real money for a real service. The confusion usually comes from not remembering you placed an order or not recognizing the name on your statement. If you did not authorize the charge, report it to your card company, but first check your email and ask anyone else with access to your card.

Can I get a refund if I change my mind about the filing?

That depends on how far along the filing is. If you contact them before they submit to the state, they may refund the full amount or most of it. Once the state has accepted the filing, a refund is unlikely because the work is done and the state fee is non-refundable. Check your confirmation email for their refund policy or call them directly.

Why is the charge different from the price I was quoted?

State fees change, and some services add expedited processing or other add-ons by default. Check your confirmation email — it should show the breakdown of what you paid for. If the total does not match what you were quoted, contact Corporate Filings LLC with your order number and ask them to explain the difference.

How long does it take for the filing to be processed after I see the charge?

The charge appears on your card within a few days of placing the order, but the state may take one to two weeks to process the actual filing. You should receive a confirmation email from Corporate Filings LLC once the state has accepted it. If you do not hear anything after two weeks, contact them with your order number.

What if someone used my card without permission to file a business I do not own?

Report the charge to your credit card company as fraudulent immediately. Also contact Corporate Filings LLC and ask them to cancel the filing if it has not been submitted to the state yet. If the filing has already been submitted, you may need to contact your state's business filing office to request that the filing be withdrawn or corrected.