Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division
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The Corporations Division of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is the state office that handles the formation, maintenance, and records of business entities in Michigan.
About Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division
The Corporations Division of the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs (LARA) is the official state office responsible for processing and maintaining records for corporations, limited liability companies (LLCs), limited partnerships, and other business entities operating in Michigan. It reviews and files documents such as articles of incorporation/organization, annual reports, amendments, dissolutions, and name reservations, and also administers state trademark, service mark, and insignia filings.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/about?utm_source=openai))
A charge labeled “MI CORPORATIONS DIV LANSING MI” on a Visa statement typically relates to a filing or service fee paid to this division—most often for forming a new business entity, filing an annual report, ordering certified copies or certificates of good standing, or submitting other corporate/LLC documents through Michigan’s online business filing systems. LARA’s Corporations Division accepts credit card payments (including Visa) for online submissions, and these card transactions are processed through a secure payment system that does not store full card details.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/cofs/faqs-and-instructions/credit-card-processing?utm_source=openai))
If you have questions about such a charge, you can verify it by checking your email for a filing confirmation or receipt from LARA, reviewing recent business filings you submitted via the MiBusiness Registry/MiBusiness Registry Portal or its successor sites, or logging into the state’s online corporate filing portal to see your recent transactions. If something appears incorrect, you can contact the Corporations Division directly using the phone numbers and contact options listed on the official Michigan.gov/LARA Corporations Division pages. They can look up filings by entity name or ID and help clarify what fee was processed.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=openai))
Bank Statement Variations
1 known variations
These are the raw merchant codes that appear on bank and credit card statements that we've identified as belonging to Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs - Corporations Division.
Why do I see a charge from “MI CORPORATIONS DIV LANSING MI” on my credit card statement?
This charge usually corresponds to a business-related filing fee paid to the Michigan Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs – Corporations Division. Common reasons include filing articles of incorporation/organization, submitting an annual report, ordering a certificate of good standing, or making another corporate/LLC filing through Michigan’s online business filing system. Check your recent business filings or emails from Michigan.gov/LARA for a matching transaction.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/about?utm_source=openai))
What are typical amounts for charges from the Michigan Corporations Division?
Typical charge amounts vary depending on the filing type—for example, standard articles of organization or incorporation, annual reports, and certificates each have set statutory fees, with additional fees for expedited service. If you’re unsure, compare the amount on your statement with the fee schedule on the Corporations Division’s website or the total shown on your filing confirmation or receipt.([legalclarity.org](https://legalclarity.org/how-to-fill-out-articles-of-organization-in-michigan/?utm_source=openai))
How can I get a copy of the receipt or confirmation for my MI Corporations Division payment?
When you submit a filing online and pay by credit card, the system displays a confirmation screen and typically provides or emails a receipt. You can print or save that page at the time of filing, or later log into the state’s business filing portal (such as the MiBusiness Registry / corpfileonline) and review your submitted filings to obtain transaction details. If you no longer have access to the receipt, contact the Corporations Division using the phone number or email listed on Michigan.gov/LARA.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=openai))
Can the Michigan Corporations Division place small or temporary authorization holds on my card?
The Corporations Division’s payment system authorizes your credit card at the time of filing; if the card information or billing ZIP code does not match, the card issuer may decline the charge. While LARA does not retain payment information or manually place holds, your bank may show temporary pending transactions or authorization attempts when you submit or retry payment. These usually clear automatically if the transaction is declined or reversed.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/cofs/faqs-and-instructions/credit-card-processing?utm_source=openai))
How do I verify that a charge to MI Corporations Division is legitimate and not fraud?
First, match the transaction date and amount to any business filings you made through Michigan’s corporate filing sites around the same time. Check your email for confirmations from a michigan.gov or michigan.gov/lara address. You can also look up your entity in the state’s Business Entity Search and confirm that a filing was recorded. If you still have concerns, call the Corporations Division using the contact information on Michigan.gov/LARA, and separately contact your card issuer if you suspect fraud.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=openai))
How do I cancel or correct a filing I just paid for with my credit card?
Once a filing and corresponding credit card payment are submitted, they are sent to the Corporations Division for review. If you realize there is an error, contact the Corporations Division as soon as possible with your entity name, ID (if any), and filing details. In some cases, a filing can be rejected or a corrective document can be filed; however, filing fees are generally nonrefundable once a document is accepted. The staff can explain your options based on the specific filing type.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/frequently-asked-questions?utm_source=openai))
Who do I contact if my credit card was declined when paying the Michigan Corporations Division?
If the online system reports that your card was declined, first verify that the billing ZIP code and card details you entered match exactly what your card issuer has on file. Because the payment processor uses address verification, any mismatch can cause a decline. If the problem persists, contact your card issuer to ask why the transaction is being blocked, and then, if needed, contact the Corporations Division for guidance on completing your filing by card, mail, or in-person payment.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/cofs/faqs-and-instructions/credit-card-processing?utm_source=openai))
Does the Michigan Corporations Division store my credit card information?
No. According to LARA’s credit card processing instructions, card data is handled through a secure third‑party payment system, and the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs does not retain your full payment information. Only the authorization and confirmation details needed to post your filing and fee are kept in their records.([michigan.gov](https://www.michigan.gov/lara/bureau-list/cscl/corps/cofs/faqs-and-instructions/credit-card-processing?utm_source=openai))