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Back to HB 1750
Arkansas General Assembly· HB 1750Died in House Committee at Sine Die adjournment.

An act TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CORPORATE 10 FRANCHISE TAX, the official text

Shown verbatim: the complete text as captured from the official PDF posted by the Arkansas General Assembly, fetched 2026-07-23. Page and line markers are part of the official record; nothing is edited or removed. The official bill page.
Stricken language would be deleted from and underlined language would be added to present law.

1 State of Arkansas             As Engrossed: H3/17/25
2 95th General Assembly
                                      A Bill

3 Regular Session, 2025                                          HOUSE BILL 1750

4

5 By: Representative Cavenaugh

6 By: Senator Crowell

7

8                               For An Act To Be Entitled

9   AN ACT TO AMEND THE LAW CONCERNING THE CORPORATE

10  FRANCHISE TAX; TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CORPORATE

11  FRANCHISE TAX ACT OF 1979; TO MAKE CONFORMING

12  CHANGES; AND FOR OTHER PURPOSES.

13

14

15                              Subtitle

16                       TO REPEAL THE ARKANSAS CORPORATE

17                       FRANCHISE TAX ACT OF 1979; AND TO MAKE

18                       CONFORMING CHANGES.

19

20 BE IT ENACTED BY THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY OF THE STATE OF ARKANSAS:

21

22  SECTION 1. DO NOT CODIFY. Legislative findings.

23  The General Assembly finds that:

24  (1) The corporate franchise tax is a form of corporate taxation

25 on capital stock rather than revenue or profit and is levied regardless of

26 whether a business makes a profit, which makes the corporate franchise tax

27 burdensome on new businesses, low-profit-margin businesses, and businesses

28 suffering economic or industry downturn; and

29  (2) Arkansas is in the minority with only sixteen (16) states

30 imposing a similar type of franchise tax.

31

32  SECTION 2. Arkansas Code � 4-27-128(b)(4), concerning the certificate

33 of existence for a domestic corporation, is repealed.

34  (4) that its most recent annual franchise tax report required by

35 � 4-27-1622 has been delivered to the Secretary of State;

36

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                HB1750

1   SECTION 3. Arkansas Code � 4-27-1601(e)(7), concerning corporate

2 records, is repealed.

3            (7) its most recent annual franchise tax report delivered to the

4 Secretary of State under � 4-27-1622.

5

6   SECTION 4. Arkansas Code � 4-27-1622 is repealed.

7   4-27-1622. Annual franchise tax report for Secretary of State.

8   (a) Each domestic corporation, and each foreign corporation authorized

9 to transact business in this state, shall deliver to the Secretary of State

10 for filing an annual franchise tax report that sets forth:

11           (1) the name of the corporation;

12           (2) the jurisdiction under which the corporation is

13 incorporated;

14           (3) the information required by � 4-20-105(a);

15           (4) the address of its principal office, as defined in � 4-27-

16 140, wherever it is located;

17           (5) the names of its principal officers;

18           (6) the total number of authorized shares, itemized by class and

19 series, if any, within each class;

20           (7) the total number of issued and outstanding shares, itemized

21 by class and series, if any, within each class; and

22           (8) such other information as the Secretary of State may specify

23 in a form promulgated under � 4-27-121(a).

24  (b) The requirements as to the applicability, use, and filing of the

25 annual franchise tax report shall be as set forth in the Arkansas Corporate

26 Franchise Tax Act of 1979, � 26-54-101 et seq.

27

28  SECTION 5. Arkansas Code � 4-36-401(a)(1), concerning the annual

29 reports due under the Arkansas Benefit Corporation Act, is amended to read as

30 follows:

31  (a)(1) A benefit corporation shall prepare an annual benefit report

32 and an annual franchise tax report under � 26-54-104.

33

34  SECTION 6. Arkansas Code � 4-36-401(b), concerning the annual reports

35 due under the Arkansas Benefit Corporation Act, is amended to read as

36 follows:

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1   (b) A benefit corporation shall send a benefit report to each

2 shareholder annually:

3              (1) Before the stated due date of an annual franchise tax under

4 � 26-54-104 May 1; or

5              (2) When the benefit corporation delivers an annual financial

6 report to its shareholders.

7

8   SECTION 7. Arkansas Code � 4-37-205(a), concerning the certificate of

9 good standing for a protected series under the Uniform Protected Series Act,

10 is amended to read as follows:

11  (a) On request of any person, the Secretary of State shall issue a

12 certificate of good standing for a protected series of a series limited

13 liability company or a certificate of registration for a foreign protected

14 series if:

15             (1) in the case of a protected series:,

16             (A) no statement of dissolution, termination, or

17 relocation pertaining to the protected series has been filed; and

18             (B) the company has delivered to the Secretary of State

19 for filing the most recent annual report required by � 26-54-105 and the

20 report includes the name of the protected series, unless:

21                          (i) when the company delivered the report for

22 filing, the protected series designation pertaining to the protected series

23 had not yet taken effect; or

24                          (ii) after the company delivered the report for

25 filing, the company delivered to the Secretary of State for filing a

26 statement of designation change changing the name of the protected series; or

27             (2) in the case of a foreign protected series, it is registered

28 to do business in this state.

29

30  SECTION 8. Arkansas Code � 4-37-206 is repealed.

31  4-37-206. Information required in annual report -- Effect of failure to

32 provide.

33  (a) In the annual report required by � 26-54-105, a series limited

34 liability company shall include the name of each protected series of the

35 company:

36             (1) for which the company has previously delivered to the

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                 HB1750

1 Secretary of State for filing a protected series designation; and

2   (2) which has not dissolved and completed winding up.

3   (b) A failure by a series limited liability company to comply with

4 subsection (a) with regard to a protected series prevents issuance of a

5 certificate of good standing pertaining to the protected series but does not

6 otherwise affect the protected series.

7

8   SECTION 9. Arkansas Code � 4-38-212(f), concerning a limited liability

9 company's annual report for the Secretary of State, is repealed.

10  (f) A limited liability company has satisfied the annual report

11 requirements under this section if the requirements under the Arkansas

12 Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979, � 26-54-101 et seq., have been met.

13

14  SECTION 10. Arkansas Code � 19-5-1227(b), concerning the Educational

15 Adequacy Fund, is amended to read as follows:

16  (b) After the Treasurer of State has made deductions from the revenues

17 under � 19-5-203(b)(2)(A), the Educational Adequacy Fund shall consist of:

18  (1) All net revenues collected due to enactments of the Eighty-

19 Fourth General Assembly meeting in Second Extraordinary Session, unless a

20 different distribution of those additional net revenues is otherwise provided

21 in the act creating those additional net revenues;

22  (2) The revenues credited to the Educational Adequacy Fund under

23 � 26-54-113(b)(2);

24  (3) The revenues generated by � 26-52-302(d), � 26-52-316, � 26-

25 52-317(c)(1)(C), � 26-52-319(a)(2)(C), � 26-53-107(d), � 26-53-145(c)(1)(C),

26 � 26-53-148(a)(2)(C), � 26-56-224(c)(3), and � 26-57-1002(d)(1)(A)(ii); and

27  (4)(3) Other revenues as provided by law.

28

29  SECTION 11. Arkansas Code � 19-6-201(3), concerning the enumeration of

30 general revenues, is repealed.

31  (3) Corporation franchise taxes, as enacted by Acts 1979,

32 No. 889, known as the "Arkansas Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979", and all

33 laws amendatory thereto, � 26-54-101 et seq.;

34

35  SECTION 12. Arkansas Code Title 26, Chapter 54, is repealed.

36  Chapter 54 -- Arkansas Corporate Franchise Tax Act of 1979

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1

2   26-54-101. Title.

3   This chapter shall be known and may be cited as the "Arkansas Corporate

4 Franchise Tax Act of 1979".

5

6   26-54-102. Definition.

7   (a) As used in this chapter, "corporation" means any corporation or

8 limited liability company, domestic and foreign, active and inactive, which

9 is organized in or qualified under the laws of the State of Arkansas and

10 includes, but is not limited to, any person or group of persons, any

11 association, joint-stock company, business trust, or other organizations with

12 or without charter constituting a separate legal entity of relationship with

13 the purpose of obtaining some corporate privilege or franchise which is not

14 allowed to them as individuals and which is exercising, or attempting to

15 exercise, corporate-type acts, whether or not existing by virtue of a

16 particular statute.

17  (b) However, "corporation" does not include:

18  (1) Nonprofit corporations;

19  (2) Corporations which are organizations exempt from the federal

20 income tax; or

21  (3) Organizations formed under or governed by the Uniform

22 Partnership Act (1996), � 4-46-101 et seq., or the Uniform Limited

23 Partnership Act (2001), � 4-47-101 et seq.

24

25  26-54-103. Effect upon prior rights, etc.

26  This chapter does not affect rights or duties that matured, liabilities

27 or penalties that were incurred, or proceedings begun before January 1, 1980.

28

29  26-54-104. Annual franchise tax.

30  (a) Unless exempted under � 26-54-105, every corporation shall file an

31 annual franchise tax report and pay an annual franchise tax as follows:

32  (1)(A) Each life, fire, accident, surety, liability, steam

33 boiler, tornado, health, or other kind of insurance company of whatever

34 nature, having an outstanding capital stock of less than five hundred

35 thousand dollars ($500,000) shall pay three hundred dollars ($300).

36                 (B) Each company having an outstanding capital stock of

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1 five hundred thousand dollars ($500,000) or more shall pay four hundred

2 dollars ($400);

3               (2)(A) Each legal reserve mutual insurance corporation having

4 assets of less than one hundred million dollars ($100,000,000) shall pay

5 three hundred dollars ($300).

6                   (B) Each corporation having assets of one hundred million

7 dollars ($100,000,000) or more shall pay four hundred dollars ($400);

8               (3) Each mutual assessment insurance corporation shall pay three

9 hundred dollars ($300);

10              (4)(A) Each mortgage loan corporation shall pay an amount

11 equivalent to three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) of that proportion of the

12 par value of its outstanding capital stock that its aggregate outstanding

13 loans made in Arkansas bears to the total aggregate outstanding loans made in

14 all states.

15                  (B) No corporation shall pay an annual tax of less than

16 three hundred dollars ($300);

17              (5) Each corporation, other than those in subdivisions (2)-(4)

18 of this section, without authorized capital stock shall pay three hundred

19 dollars ($300);

20              (6)(A) Each corporation, other than those in subdivisions (1)-

21 (5) of this section, shall pay an amount equivalent to three-tenths of one

22 percent (0.3%) of that proportion of the par value of its outstanding capital

23 stock that the value of its real and personal property in Arkansas bears to

24 the total value of the real and personal property of the corporation.

25                  (B) No corporation shall pay an annual tax of less than

26 one hundred fifty dollars ($150);

27              (7) Each corporation actually and actively in the process of

28 liquidation and which does not rent or lease its property but which retains

29 its corporate charter or authority for the sole purpose of winding up its

30 affairs shall pay an annual tax as provided in subdivision (6) of this

31 section or an amount equivalent to three-tenths of one percent (0.3%) of the

32 value of its real and tangible personal property in Arkansas, whichever is

33 smaller, but in no instance shall the tax be less than one hundred fifty

34 dollars ($150); and

35              (8) An organization formed pursuant to the Uniform Limited

36 Liability Company Act, � 4-38-101 et seq., shall pay the minimum franchise

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1 tax.

2       (b)(1) In addition to the filing fees prescribed by law, the Secretary

3 of State shall collect a processing fee for each document required under this

4 chapter when delivered by electronic means.

5              (2) The processing fee collected by the Secretary of State under

6 subdivision (b)(1) of this section shall be:

7                (A) Four dollars ($4.00) when the filing fee is fifty

8 dollars ($50.00) or less;

9                (B) Five dollars ($5.00) when the filing fee is between

10 fifty-one dollars ($51.00) and one hundred sixty-seven dollars ($167); and

11               (C) Three percent (3%) of the total amount of the filing

12 fee if the filing fee is more than one hundred sixty-seven dollars ($167).

13

14      26-54-105. Franchise tax reports.

15      (a)(1) The Secretary of State shall furnish notice to each corporation

16 subject to this chapter by mailing or emailing the notice to the

17 corporation's current agent for service or other person identified by the

18 corporation.

19             (2) When filing the franchise tax report, a corporation may

20 state who is to receive a franchise tax form the following year if that

21 person is different from the agent for service on file for the corporation at

22 that time.

23      (b) A corporation that fails to receive the notice under subdivision

24 (a)(1) of this section by March 20 of the reporting year shall make written

25 request for the notice to the Secretary of State on or before March 31.

26      (c)(1) Each corporation subject to the requirements of this chapter

27 shall file a franchise tax report with the Secretary of State that shows the

28 condition and status of the corporation as of the close of business on the

29 last day of the corporation's preceding calendar year and other information

30 required by the Secretary of State.

31             (2)(A) The franchise tax as computed on the report shall be

32 remitted with the franchise tax report.

33               (B) The franchise tax as computed on the report shall be

34 remitted with the franchise tax report on or before May 1 of the reporting

35 year for franchise tax due.

36      (d)(1) Every corporation that dissolves shall be required to pay at

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                HB1750

1 the time of dissolution the franchise tax for the prior calendar year and pay

2 at the time of dissolution the minimum franchise tax for the year in which

3 dissolved or withdrawn.

4              (2) Any newly formed corporation shall not be required to file a

5 franchise tax report until the calendar year immediately following the

6 calendar year of incorporation.

7   (e)(1) When the par value of the shares of a corporation is required

8 to be stated in any franchise tax report and the shares of the corporation

9 are without par value, the number of shares shall be stated.

10             (2) For the purpose of computing the franchise tax prescribed by

11 this chapter, shares of no par value shall be considered to be of the par

12 value of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) per share.

13  (f) Each corporation which pays its tax computed by the full

14 assessment of capital stock or property shall not be required to report the

15 value of its real and personal property within or without this state.

16  (g)(1) Every franchise tax report shall contain the following

17 statement:

18             "I declare, under the penalties of perjury, that the foregoing

19 statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief."

20             (2) The statement shall be signed by the president, vice

21 president, secretary, treasurer, or controller of the corporation or any

22 other authorized person individual as determined by the Secretary of State.

23  (h)(1) Only the following information contained in a franchise tax

24 report shall be available for public inspection:

25                 (A) The name and address of the corporation;

26                 (B) The name of the corporation's president, vice

27 president, secretary, treasurer, and controller;

28                 (C) The total authorized capital stock with par value;

29                 (D) The total issued and outstanding capital stock with

30 par value; and

31                 (E) The state of incorporation.

32             (2) In the case of a franchise tax report filed by an

33 organization formed under the Uniform Limited Liability Company Act, � 4-38-

34 101 et seq., the names of members, except those designated in the

35 organizations' franchise tax report as a manager, president, vice president,

36 secretary, treasurer, or controller of the organization, shall be

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1 confidential and not available for public inspection unless the organization

2 has no registered agent for service of process.

3

4   26-54-107. Computation of tax -- Penalty -- Relief.

5   (a) Using the information reported on the franchise tax report under �

6 26-54-105 and any other information received by him or her bearing upon the

7 subject, the Secretary of State shall compute the amount of tax of each

8 corporation at the rate or rates provided by this chapter.

9   (b)(1)(A) If the taxpayer fails to comply with the filing and

10 remittance requirements under � 26-54-105(c), the Secretary of State shall

11 assess the corporation a penalty of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) plus

12 interest on the tax and penalty from the date due until paid at the rate of

13 ten percent (10%) per year.

14                  (B) However, the franchise tax, penalty, and interest for

15 any tax year shall not exceed two (2) times the corporation's tax owed.

16  (2) On or before November 1 of each year, the Secretary of State

17 shall mail notice to the corporation at its last known address stating that

18 the corporation is subject to revocation of its corporate charter under � 26-

19 54-111 for the failure to pay corporate franchise tax.

20  (c) The Secretary of State or his or her designee may agree to settle

21 or compromise a dispute concerning interest or penalties associated with

22 corporate franchise taxes if the taxpayer:

23  (1) Disputes the proposed amount; or

24  (2) Is insolvent or bankrupt.

25  (d)(1) The Secretary of State may waive any accrued interest or

26 assessed penalties imposed on a taxpayer due to a failure to remit corporate

27 franchise taxes under � 26-54-105(c), if:

28                  (A) The taxpayer is reasonably mistaken about the

29 application of this chapter or the computation of the franchise tax to the

30 corporation; or

31                  (B) A taxpayer cannot pay the accrued interest or assessed

32 penalties because of the taxpayer's insolvency or bankruptcy.

33  (2) The Secretary of State may waive any fees that a taxpayer

34 owes if the taxpayer desires to dissolve the corporation.

35  (3) If a taxpayer demonstrates that a corporation was not doing

36 business in the state for the period for which penalties and interest are

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1 owed under this section, the Secretary of State shall waive the amount due

2 under this section if the taxpayer demonstrates that the taxpayer intends to

3 dissolve the corporation.

4       (e) If the parties cannot resolve the dispute, the parties may pursue

5 any other remedy available to them, including without limitation remedies

6 available under the Arkansas Administrative Procedure Act, � 25-15-201 et

7 seq.

8       (f) The Secretary of State shall develop guidelines to assist a

9 taxpayer in resolving a corporate franchise tax dispute.

10

11      26-54-108. Taxes and penalties as lien.

12      The taxes and penalties required to be paid by this chapter shall be a

13 first lien on all property of the corporation, whether or not the property is

14 employed by the corporation in the prosecution of its business or is in the

15 hands of an assignee, receiver, or trustee.

16

17      26-54-109. Lists of corporations to be prepared.

18      (a)(1) The Bank Commissioner, Insurance Commissioner, and any other

19 officer or agency of the state authorized to issue corporate permits or

20 authorities to do business in this state shall prepare and maintain a correct

21 list of all corporations organizing or qualifying through their respective

22 offices or agencies.

23      (2) Each official or agency shall file with the Secretary of

24 State a monthly report showing:

25                (A) The name and address of each new corporation organized

26 or qualified;

27                (B) The authorized and outstanding capital stock;

28                (C) The name changes, mergers, charter forfeitures, or

29 withdrawals;

30                (D) The name and address of each corporation that has

31 provided official notification regarding the dissolution of the corporation;

32 and

33                (E) All other information concerning the corporation

34 required by the Secretary of State.

35      (b) Upon request of the Secretary of State, each official or agency

36 shall prepare and certify to the Secretary of State a complete list of the

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                HB1750

1 names and addresses of all corporations that have organized or qualified

2 through their respective office or agency and that are subject to the

3 provisions of this chapter.

4   (c) Officials or agencies of the state, county, or municipalities

5 authorized to issue permits shall notify each corporation receiving a permit

6 of the requirements to register the corporation with the Secretary of State

7 before conducting business in Arkansas.

8   (d)(1) A corporation filing instruments providing for the organization

9 of any common law or statutory trust or similar organization with any county

10 clerk, or other clerk of the various counties of this state, shall file them

11 in duplicate.

12             (2) The clerk receiving the documents for filing or recordation

13 shall file mark them and forward the file-marked duplicate to the Secretary

14 of State.

15  (e)(1) The Secretary of the Department of Finance and Administration

16 shall provide the Secretary of State a list of corporations doing business in

17 this state and filing tax reports with the Department of Finance and

18 Administration.

19             (2) However, the Secretary of the Department of Finance and

20 Administration shall not include any information deemed confidential by any

21 other law.

22

23  26-54-110. Dissolution or withdrawal by corporations.

24  Applications for dissolution or withdrawal by a corporation,

25 association, or organization cannot be accepted by the authority that

26 initially authorized or granted an authority to the corporation to do

27 business in Arkansas until receipt of a statement verified by the Secretary

28 of State that the franchise tax due has been paid.

29

30  26-54-111. Charter revocation for failure to pay tax -- Procedure.

31  (a) On or before January 31 of each year, the Secretary of State shall

32 proclaim as revoked the corporate charters or authorities of all

33 corporations, both domestic and foreign, that according to the Secretary of

34 State's records are delinquent in the payment of the annual franchise tax for

35 a prior year.

36  (b)(1) A copy of the proclamation under subsection (a) of this

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                  HB1750

1 section, or applicable portion thereof, shall be furnished to each other

2 official or agency of the state that is authorized to issue corporation

3 charters or authorities.

4            (2) Upon their receipt of the proclamation, the several

5 officials shall at once correct their respective records in accordance with

6 the proclamation.

7

8   26-54-112. Reinstatement of corporations.

9   (a)(1)(A)(i) A corporation whose charter or permit authority to do

10 business in the state has been declared revoked by proclamation of the

11 Governor or the Secretary of State may be reinstated to all its rights,

12 powers, and property.

13                          (ii) Reinstatement shall be retroactive to the time

14 that the corporation's authority to do business in the state was declared

15 revoked.

16                   (B) The reinstatement shall be made after the filing of

17 all delinquent franchise tax reports satisfactory to the Secretary of State

18 and the payment of all taxes and penalties due for each year of delinquency.

19           (2) However, reinstatement is not allowed after five (5) years

20 from the date the charter or permit authority to do business in the state if

21 the corporation is declared:

22                   (A) Revoked by proclamation of the Governor or the

23 Secretary of State; and

24                   (B) A forfeited charter.

25  (b) If the Secretary of State issued the original corporate charter,

26 permit, or authority, the Secretary of State shall reinstate the corporation

27 upon payment by the corporation of all amounts due, as provided in subsection

28 (a) of this section.

29  (c)(1) If the original corporate charter, permit, or authority was

30 issued by an official other than the Secretary of State, the official shall

31 reinstate the corporation upon the corporation's filing with the official the

32 receipt of the Secretary of State showing payment of all amounts due, as

33 provided in subsection (a) of this section.

34           (2) Thereafter, the corporation shall stand in all respects as

35 though its name had never been declared revoked.

36

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                 HB1750

1   26-54-113. Disposition of funds.

2   (a) All taxes and penalties collected under the provisions of this

3 chapter each month shall be deposited into the State Treasury to the credit

4 of the Revenue Holding Fund Account of the State Apportionment Fund.

5   (b)(1) On or before the fifth day of the following month, the

6 Treasurer of State shall allocate and transfer the taxes and penalties

7 collected to the General Revenue Fund Account of the State Apportionment Fund

8 until a total of eight million dollars ($8,000,000) has been transferred

9 during a fiscal year.

10             (2) After the transfers required by subdivision (b)(1) of this

11 section have been made, the taxes and penalties collected under this chapter

12 during the remainder of the fiscal year shall be special revenues, and the

13 Treasurer of State shall transfer the taxes and penalties collected to the

14 Educational Adequacy Fund after making the deductions required by � 19-5-

15 203(b)(2).

16

17  26-54-114. Nonpayment of franchise taxes -- Definitions.

18  (a) A corporation or limited liability company owing past-due

19 franchise taxes to the Secretary of State may not:

20             (1) File forms or documents related to that corporation or

21 limited liability company;

22             (2) Create a new legal entity in this state; or

23             (3) Obtain authority to do business in this state.

24  (b) A person or individual substantially connected to any corporation

25 or limited liability company that owes past-due franchise taxes to the

26 Secretary of State may not:

27             (1) File forms or documents related to that corporation or

28 limited liability company;

29             (2) Create a new legal entity in this state; or

30             (3) Obtain authority to do business in this state.

31  (c) As used in this section:

32             (1) "Past-due franchise taxes" means only those taxes owed three

33 (3) years prior to the year in which the current filing is presented;

34             (2) "Past officer or director" means a person or individual who

35 was associated with the corporation or limited liability company at any time

36 during its charter that the corporation or limited liability company was

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    As Engrossed: H3/17/25                                                 HB1750

1 responsible for nonpayment of franchise taxes; and

2   (3) "Substantially connected" means a present officer, director,

3 member, or manager or a past officer, director, member, or manager of a

4 corporation.

5   (d) An individual who is an incorporator or organizer of a corporation

6 or limited liability company shall not be considered to be substantially

7 connected to a corporation or limited liability company that owes past-due

8 franchise taxes to the Secretary of State.

9   (e) Each corporation, subject to this chapter, shall file with its

10 original articles of incorporation or certificate of organization the name of

11 at least one (1) individual who is substantially connected to the corporation

12 and is responsible for payment of franchise taxes.

13  (f) Any current or past officer or director that has been added to a

14 corporation without his or her permission shall be removed as an officer or

15 director of the corporation by the Secretary of State and not held

16 responsible for past-due franchise taxes, if the officer or director submits:

17  (1) A copy of a report filed with a local, state, or federal law

18 enforcement entity that states the officer or director has been fraudulently

19 added to the corporation; and

20  (2) A statement, prescribed by the Secretary of State, signed by

21 the officer or director, that states the officer or director was added to the

22 corporation without his or her permission, with the following declaration:

23  "I declare, under the penalties of perjury, that the foregoing

24 statements are true to the best of my knowledge and belief."

25

26  26-54-116. Powers of Secretary of State.

27  The Secretary of State is authorized to perform any of the duties that

28 are required of him or her under this chapter.

29

30                                /s/Cavenaugh

31

32

33

34

35

36

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