Georgia Form CD 230 is the Transmittal Information – Georgia Profit or Nonprofit Corporation cover sheet that every person filing paper Articles of Incorporation must submit to the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division along with the actual Articles. The form tells the state who you are, what kind of corporation you are forming, who the registered agent is, and where to send the official filing receipt.
This single page is small, but it controls whether your incorporation packet gets accepted, rejected, or held in pending status. The Corporations Division processes more than 100,000 new business filings each year, and the agency reports that missing or mismatched information on the CD 230 transmittal is one of the top three reasons paper filings get returned without action, according to filing-volume data published in the Georgia Secretary of State annual report.
In this guide, you will learn:
- 📄 What every line on the official Form CD 230 means in plain English
- ✍️ Exactly what to write in each box, with sample entries from real filers
- 🚫 The most common mistakes that trigger a rejection letter from the Corporations Division
- 🏛️ How CD 230 works with the Articles of Incorporation, the publication notice, and the $100 filing fee under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-122
- 📬 Where, when, and how to file the form by mail, in person, or alongside an online incorporation
What the Form Is and Who Must File It
Form CD 230 is the transmittal cover sheet that the Georgia Secretary of State requires whenever someone files paper Articles of Incorporation for a domestic profit or nonprofit corporation. It is not the Articles themselves. It is the routing slip that sits on top of the Articles and tells the Corporations Division clerk how to log, process, and return your filing.
The current revision is dated August 2015 and is the version posted on the agency’s forms library. If your downloaded copy shows any other revision date in the bottom corner, replace it before you sign. Old versions get returned because the bar codes and field positions have changed.
You must file CD 230 if you are forming a Georgia domestic profit corporation, a Georgia domestic nonprofit corporation, a professional corporation, or a benefit corporation. Foreign corporations registering in Georgia do not use CD 230; they use Form CD 236 or CD 237 instead, as explained on the Corporations Division forms page.
The filer is usually one of three people: the incorporator named in the Articles, the corporation’s attorney, or a registered agent service acting on the incorporator’s behalf. A pro se filer (someone filing without a lawyer) can absolutely complete this form alone. The state expects roughly 1 in 4 incorporation packets to come from pro se filers, based on the agency’s published filing-mix statistics.
The statute that authorizes the form is O.C.G.A. § 14-2-120 for profit corporations and O.C.G.A. § 14-3-120 for nonprofits. Both statutes require that the Articles be accompanied by “such forms as the Secretary of State may require,” and CD 230 is that form.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filing CD 230 is fast only if you have every piece of information ready before you sit down. The form refers to facts that come from your Articles of Incorporation, your registered agent agreement, and your payment instrument. Gather everything in one folder before you start writing.
Use this pre-filing checklist. Each item lists why it matters and what happens if it is missing.
- Exact corporation name as it appears on your Articles. The name on CD 230 must match the Articles letter-for-letter, including punctuation and the required ending (Inc., Corp., Incorporated, Corporation). A mismatch causes the clerk to reject both documents because the system cannot link them.
- A name reservation number, if you reserved the name. If you reserved your corporate name through the Georgia eCorp portal, you have a reservation number. Without it, the clerk has to search by name and may flag a near-match conflict.
- Registered agent’s full legal name. The agent must be a Georgia resident or a Georgia-authorized entity. A missing or out-of-state agent triggers an automatic return.
- Registered agent’s Georgia street address. P.O. Boxes are not accepted under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-501. A P.O. Box entry causes rejection.
- Principal office mailing address. This can be inside or outside Georgia, but it must be a real deliverable address because the state mails the certified copy back to it.
- Incorporator’s name, address, and signature. The incorporator is the human who signs the Articles. CD 230 must list the same person.
- Daytime telephone number and email. The Corporations Division uses these to call or email about defects before issuing a rejection. A missing phone number causes silent rejections.
- A check or money order for $100.00. The fee is set by the Corporations Division fee schedule. Cash is not accepted by mail.
- A self-addressed envelope or pickup instructions. This is how the certified copy comes back to you.
- A draft of your Articles of Incorporation. CD 230 is a transmittal sheet; it must be filed with the Articles, never alone.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The only authoritative copy of CD 230 lives on the Georgia Secretary of State Corporations Division forms page. Download it directly from that page rather than from a third-party site. Third-party copies often contain expired revision dates.
The form is a fillable PDF. You can type into it using Adobe Acrobat Reader, Preview on Mac, or any modern browser’s PDF viewer. After you fill it in, print it on plain white 8.5” x 11” paper. The Corporations Division does not accept double-sided printing for transmittal forms, because the back of the page is reserved for the clerk’s date stamp.
If you cannot download the PDF, you can request a paper copy by calling the Corporations Division at (404) 656-2817 or by visiting the office at 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 313, West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334. The walk-in counter is open Monday through Friday during state business hours.
You can also incorporate entirely online through eCorp, in which case the system collects the same information CD 230 captures and you do not file a separate transmittal. CD 230 is only needed when you are filing on paper.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form CD 230 Line by Line
The CD 230 has a header, a body of seven labeled fields, a signature block, and a fee/payment section. Work through each one in order, using the exact field names printed on the form.
Box 1: Corporation Name
Plain English: This is the proposed legal name of your new corporation.
How to answer: Type or print the name in ALL CAPS exactly as it appears in Article I of your Articles of Incorporation. Include the ending word (Inc., Corp., Incorporated, Corporation, Company, or for nonprofits, simply the chosen name). Do not abbreviate words that the Articles spell out, and do not spell out words the Articles abbreviate.
Example entry: Maria Lopez is forming a coffee roasting company. She writes LOPEZ ROASTERS, INC. on Box 1, matching her Articles word for word.
Nuance: If your name uses special characters such as ampersands or hyphens, type them exactly. The state’s database is sensitive to these characters, and SMITH & SONS, INC. is treated as a different name from SMITH AND SONS, INC.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers often shorten the name on CD 230 even though their Articles use the full version. The clerk then cannot match the transmittal to the Articles, and both documents are returned with a defect notice that delays incorporation by 7 to 15 business days.
Misconception: Many people believe the Secretary of State will “fix” small spelling differences. The office does not. Every character must match across all documents in the packet.
Box 2: Name Reservation Number (If Applicable)
Plain English: If you already reserved this corporate name online, enter the reservation number here.
How to answer: Copy the 10- or 11-digit reservation number from your reservation receipt. If you did not reserve a name, leave this box blank or write N/A. Never invent a number.
Example entry: Marcus Chen reserved the name CHEN CONSULTING CORP. through the eCorp name reservation system and received reservation number 0987654321. He writes that number in Box 2.
Nuance: A name reservation in Georgia lasts 30 days. If your reservation has expired, do not enter the old number. Reserve again or proceed without one.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers enter a reservation number that has expired or that belongs to a different proposed name. The clerk’s system flags the mismatch, and the entire packet is rejected because the state cannot confirm the name is being held for this filer.
Misconception: Some filers think a reservation number guarantees acceptance. It does not. It only holds the name; the Articles still must be approved on the merits.
Box 3: Applicant/Filer’s Name
Plain English: This is the person submitting the paperwork. It can be you, your attorney, or a service company.
How to answer: Write the full legal name of the human or business submitting the packet. If a law firm is filing, list the firm’s name. If you are filing for yourself, list your own name.
Example entry: Janet Williams is filing her own Articles. She writes JANET R. WILLIAMS in Box 3.
Nuance: The applicant does not have to be the incorporator. A spouse, paralegal, or registered agent service can be the applicant. The applicant is simply the contact person for this transaction.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers leave this blank because they assume it duplicates the incorporator field. When the office needs to call about a defect, they have no one to reach, and the packet times out into a rejection.
Misconception: People assume “applicant” means the corporation itself. It does not. The corporation does not exist until the Articles are accepted, so a human or existing entity must be named.
Box 4: Applicant’s Address
Plain English: This is the mailing address where the state should send the stamped certified copy.
How to answer: Use a full street or P.O. Box address, including city, state, and ZIP code. The state mails important documents here, so use a reliable address.
Example entry: 123 PEACHTREE ST NE, SUITE 400, ATLANTA, GA 30303 is what Janet writes in Box 4.
Nuance: Unlike the registered agent address, the applicant address can be a P.O. Box and can be located outside Georgia. The state will mail to any U.S. address.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers list a temporary address (a hotel, a relative’s house). When the certified copy arrives weeks later, no one is there to receive it, and proof-of-incorporation paperwork is lost.
Misconception: Some filers think the applicant address must match the principal office. It does not.
Box 5: Telephone Number
Plain English: A daytime phone number where the Corporations Division can reach the applicant.
How to answer: Enter a 10-digit U.S. phone number with area code. Use the format (404) 555-0123. Mobile numbers are fine.
Example entry: (770) 555-8842 is the number Marcus writes for his consulting filing.
Nuance: The state rarely calls, but when they do, it is to flag a fixable defect. A working number can save your filing from rejection.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers enter a number that goes to voicemail in another language or to a disconnected line. The clerk leaves one message and then issues a written rejection, costing 7 to 10 days.
Misconception: Some filers leave this blank because they prefer email contact. The form requires a phone number even if you also list email.
Box 6: Email Address
Plain English: An email address tied to the applicant.
How to answer: Print the full email address clearly. If you handwrite, use block letters and avoid cursive. Be careful with characters that look alike, such as 1 and l, or 0 and O.
Example entry: Maria writes maria@lopezroasters.com in Box 6.
Nuance: The state has been moving more correspondence to email. A working email speeds up notice of defects from 10 days to 2 days in many cases.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers misspell their email by one character. Notices bounce, and the filer never learns of a defect until the rejection arrives by mail.
Misconception: Some filers think email is optional. It is technically optional but strongly advisable; missing email almost always means slower processing.
Box 7: Type of Filing (Profit or Nonprofit)
Plain English: Check the box that matches the type of corporation you are forming.
How to answer: Mark a single box: Profit Corporation or Nonprofit Corporation. If you are forming a professional corporation, mark Profit and write Professional Corporation on the line beside it. If you are forming a benefit corporation, mark Profit and note Benefit Corporation.
Example entry: Aisha Brown is forming a 501(c)(3) charity. She marks Nonprofit Corporation in Box 7.
Nuance: Nonprofits filed on CD 230 must still file separately with the IRS for federal tax-exempt status; CD 230 only handles state-level incorporation under O.C.G.A. § 14-3-202.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers mark both boxes or mark neither. The Corporations Division returns the packet because it cannot route the filing to the right reviewer.
Misconception: Many people think a nonprofit corporation is automatically tax-exempt. It is not. CD 230 only creates the legal entity in Georgia.
Signature and Date Block
Plain English: This is where the applicant signs and dates the form.
How to answer: Sign in ink (blue or black) inside the signature line. Print your name beneath. Date the form using the format MM/DD/YYYY.
Example entry: Janet signs Janet R. Williams and writes 03/14/2026 on the date line.
Nuance: A typed name in a Word-processed PDF is acceptable for online preparation, but the printed copy you mail must carry a wet-ink signature.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers print the form, forget to sign, and mail it. An unsigned transmittal is treated as not filed, and the state returns the entire packet.
Misconception: Some filers think the incorporator’s signature on the Articles also covers CD 230. It does not. CD 230 needs its own signature.
Filing Fee Section
Plain English: This is where you confirm the $100 filing fee is enclosed.
How to answer: Check the box indicating payment by check or money order. Write the check number on the line provided. Make the check payable to Secretary of State.
Example entry: Marcus writes Check #1042 and encloses a personal check for $100.00.
Nuance: The fee is $100 for both profit and nonprofit corporations. Expedited 2-day processing costs an additional $100; same-day costs an additional $250 if delivered before noon, per the fee schedule.
Common mistake and consequence: Filers enclose a check for the wrong amount, often $110 (confusing the LLC fee) or $50. The packet is returned uncashed.
Misconception: People assume the fee includes the newspaper publication required for profit corporations. It does not. Publication is a separate cost paid to the county legal organ under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-201.1.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Below are three named filers and what each one writes on CD 230. Each table tracks the same form, line by line.
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez Forms a Small Coffee Roasting Corporation
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1: Corporation Name | LOPEZ ROASTERS, INC. |
| Box 2: Reservation Number | N/A (she did not reserve) |
| Box 3: Applicant Name | MARIA E. LOPEZ |
| Box 4: Applicant Address | 418 Edgewood Ave SE, Atlanta, GA 30312 |
| Box 5: Telephone | (404) 555-2210 |
| Box 6: Email | maria@lopezroasters.com |
| Box 7: Type of Filing | ☑ Profit Corporation |
| Signature / Date | Maria E. Lopez / 02/19/2026 |
| Filing Fee | Check #1187, $100.00 |
Scenario 2: Aisha Brown Incorporates a Nonprofit Tutoring Charity
| Form Section | What Aisha Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1: Corporation Name | BRIGHT MINDS ATLANTA, INC. |
| Box 2: Reservation Number | 0098761234 (reserved on eCorp) |
| Box 3: Applicant Name | AISHA M. BROWN |
| Box 4: Applicant Address | 55 Ivan Allen Jr Blvd, Suite 200, Atlanta, GA 30308 |
| Box 5: Telephone | (678) 555-9911 |
| Box 6: Email | aisha@brightmindsatl.org |
| Box 7: Type of Filing | ☑ Nonprofit Corporation |
| Signature / Date | Aisha M. Brown / 04/02/2026 |
| Filing Fee | Money Order #884201, $100.00 |
Scenario 3: Marcus Chen Files a Professional Corporation Through His Attorney
| Form Section | What Marcus’s Attorney Enters |
|---|---|
| Box 1: Corporation Name | CHEN CONSULTING, P.C. |
| Box 2: Reservation Number | 1122334455 |
| Box 3: Applicant Name | DAVIS & MILLER LLP (the law firm) |
| Box 4: Applicant Address | 3344 Peachtree Rd NE, Suite 1500, Atlanta, GA 30326 |
| Box 5: Telephone | (404) 555-7700 |
| Box 6: Email | filings@davismiller.com |
| Box 7: Type of Filing | ☑ Profit Corporation, noted “Professional Corporation” |
| Signature / Date | Sarah Davis, Esq. / 05/11/2026 |
| Filing Fee | Firm Check #20455, $200.00 (includes $100 expedite) |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file CD 230 by mail, in person, or alongside an online incorporation through eCorp. Each channel has its own address, fee, processing time, and proof-of-filing.
Filing by Mail. Send the signed CD 230, the signed Articles of Incorporation, and a check or money order for $100 (payable to Secretary of State) to Office of the Secretary of State, Corporations Division, 2 Martin Luther King Jr. Drive SE, Suite 313 West Tower, Atlanta, GA 30334. Standard processing takes about 15 business days. Your proof of filing is the certified copy returned to the address in Box 4. Keep your check stub and a tracked-mail receipt.
Filing in Person. Bring the same packet to the same address during business hours. Pay by check, money order, or approved credit card. In-person counter filings are typically processed within 7 business days. The clerk will hand you a date-stamped receipt on the spot.
Filing with Expedited Service. Mark the expedite request on a separate cover note and add the fee. 2-day processing adds $100. Same-day processing adds $250 and requires delivery before noon. Both timelines are explained on the Corporations Division processing page.
Filing Online. If you incorporate through eCorp, the system collects the CD 230 information inside the electronic workflow, and you do not submit a separate paper transmittal. Online filings cost $100 plus a small portal fee and are typically processed within 7 business days. Your proof is the digital receipt and the emailed certificate.
Always keep a complete copy of the CD 230, the Articles, and the check before you mail anything. A clean copy is your best defense if the original is lost in the mail.
What Happens After You File
After the Corporations Division receives your packet, a clerk reviews it for completeness within the standard processing window. If everything matches, the state issues a Certificate of Incorporation and returns a stamped certified copy of your Articles to the applicant’s address in Box 4.
If something is off, the office mails or emails a Notice of Defect that lists each problem and gives you a window (usually 60 days) to correct and resubmit without paying again. Filers who miss the cure window must restart the filing and pay a new fee.
For profit corporations, O.C.G.A. § 14-2-201.1 requires you to publish a notice of incorporation in the official legal organ of the county where the registered office is located, within one business day after delivering the Articles. Publication costs roughly $40 and runs once a week for two weeks.
Once incorporated, the corporation must file its first annual registration between January 1 and April 1 of the following calendar year through eCorp. The annual registration fee is $50 for profit corporations and $30 for nonprofits.
You should also apply for an EIN from the IRS EIN portal and register for any required state taxes through the Georgia Tax Center.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
These are the errors that most often cause CD 230 filings to be rejected.
- Mismatched corporate name between CD 230 and the Articles. A single letter or punctuation difference triggers a return.
- Listing a P.O. Box for the registered agent. State law requires a Georgia street address, so this defect is automatic.
- Forgetting to sign the form. An unsigned transmittal is treated as not filed.
- Sending the wrong filing fee. $100 is required; $110 (LLC fee) or $50 will cause a return.
- Marking both Profit and Nonprofit boxes. The clerk cannot route the packet and rejects it.
- Using an expired name reservation number. The system flags the mismatch and rejects the packet.
- Listing a foreign-language voicemail with no English option. The clerk leaves one message and then issues a written rejection.
- Misspelling the applicant’s email by one character. Defect notices bounce, and the filer learns of the rejection only by mail.
- Filing CD 230 without the Articles of Incorporation. A transmittal alone is meaningless and is returned unfiled.
- Using an outdated revision of the form. The bar codes do not match the database, and the filing is rejected.
- Sending cash through the mail. Cash is not accepted; the office returns or destroys it.
- Skipping the publication step after acceptance. This is not a CD 230 mistake but a common follow-on error that violates O.C.G.A. § 14-2-201.1.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do: – Do download the form fresh from the official forms page every time you file. – Do match the corporate name on CD 230 to the Articles letter-for-letter, because the clerk will not correct it for you. – Do sign in wet ink, because the office rejects unsigned transmittals. – Do enclose a check or money order for exactly $100, because mismatched fees stop processing. – Do keep a full copy of every page you mail, because lost mail does happen. – Do include both phone and email, because dual contact speeds up defect notices.
Don’t: – Don’t list a P.O. Box for the registered agent, because state law forbids it. – Don’t send cash, because the office cannot accept it by mail. – Don’t reuse an expired name reservation number, because the system flags it instantly. – Don’t mark more than one box in Box 7, because the clerk cannot route the packet. – Don’t use a third-party PDF copy of the form, because revision dates may be outdated. – Don’t forget the newspaper publication after a profit-corporation filing, because that step is statutorily required.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing CD 230 yourself: – You save the $200 to $1,500 typical attorney drafting fee. – You learn the structure of your own corporation, which helps for years. – You control the timeline, since you mail when you are ready. – You keep all original receipts and records in one place. – You avoid third-party data-entry errors, which are common with low-cost services.
Cons of filing CD 230 yourself: – You bear the full risk of a rejection that costs 1 to 3 weeks. – You must read the statute yourself to understand registered agent rules. – You may miss the publication step under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-201.1. – You handle annual registration on your own going forward. – You give up the legal opinion an attorney provides about your corporate structure.
CD 230 vs. Related Georgia Corporate Forms
| Form | What It Does |
|---|---|
| CD 230 Transmittal | Cover sheet for paper Articles of Incorporation, profit or nonprofit. |
| CD 227 Articles of Incorporation | The actual Articles for a Georgia profit corporation. |
| CD 030 Articles of Organization | Used to form a Georgia LLC, not a corporation. |
| CD 231 Transmittal | The LLC version of CD 230, for LLC paper filings. |
| CD 236 / CD 237 | Used by foreign corporations registering to do business in Georgia. |
| CD 415 Certificate of Termination | Used to dissolve a Georgia LLC after winding up. |
FAQs
Is Form CD 230 the same as the Articles of Incorporation?
No. CD 230 is a one-page transmittal cover sheet. The Articles are the separate document that actually creates the corporation under Georgia law.
Do I need CD 230 if I incorporate online through eCorp?
No. The eCorp portal collects the same information inside its electronic workflow, so a separate paper transmittal is not required for online filings.
Is the filing fee $100 or $110?
Yes, the fee for paper Articles plus CD 230 is exactly $100 for both profit and nonprofit corporations. The $110 figure is the LLC fee on a different form.
Can I list a P.O. Box for my registered agent on CD 230?
No. Georgia law requires a physical street address for the registered office, and a P.O. Box will cause an automatic rejection.
What goes in Box 2 if I never reserved a name?
Yes, you may leave Box 2 blank or write N/A. Do not invent or guess a reservation number, because the system will flag it.
Do I write the corporation’s name in all caps in Box 1?
Yes, all caps is the standard format the Corporations Division prefers, and it must match the spelling and punctuation in your Articles exactly.
Can my attorney sign CD 230 instead of me?
Yes. The applicant signs CD 230, and the applicant can be an attorney, a registered agent service, or the incorporator filing pro se.
Do I need to publish a notice in the newspaper after CD 230 is accepted?
Yes, profit corporations must publish a notice of incorporation in the county legal organ within one business day of filing, under O.C.G.A. § 14-2-201.1.
Is CD 230 used for LLCs?
No. LLCs use Form CD 030 (Articles of Organization) and Form CD 231 (LLC Transmittal). CD 230 is strictly for profit and nonprofit corporations.
Can I email CD 230 to the Secretary of State?
No. The paper version must be filed by mail or in person. To file electronically, use the eCorp portal instead.
How long does processing take after I mail CD 230?
Yes, standard mail processing takes about 15 business days. Expedited service shortens that to 2 business days for $100 extra or same-day for $250 extra.
What happens if I leave Box 5 (telephone) blank?
No, the field is not safely optional in practice. A blank phone number leaves the clerk unable to call about defects, and a written rejection often follows.
Can a foreign corporation use CD 230 to register in Georgia?
No. Foreign corporations must use Form CD 236 (profit) or CD 237 (nonprofit) instead of CD 230.
Do I write my reserved name or my final corporate name in Box 1?
Yes, write the final corporate name exactly as it appears in your Articles. The reservation number goes in Box 2, but the name itself in Box 1 must match the Articles.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out Georgia Corp/LLC Annual Registration + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia Form CD 030 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia Form CD 100 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia Form CD 405 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia Form CD 415 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out Georgia Form CD 510 (w/Examples) + FAQs