Iowa Code » Chapter 490 — BUSINESS CORPORATIONS
Iowa Code

Iowa Code § 490.1502 (2026)

Registration to do business in this state

✓ current as of July 2026
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1. A foreign corporation shall not do business in this state until it registers with the secretary of state under this chapter.

2. A foreign corporation doing business in this state shall not maintain a proceeding in any court of this state until it is registered to do business in this state.

3. The failure of a foreign corporation to register to do business in this state does not impair the validity of a contract or act of the foreign corporation or preclude it from defending a proceeding in this state.

4. A limitation on the liability of a shareholder or director of a foreign corporation is not waived solely because the foreign corporation does business in this state without registering.

5. Section 490.1501, subsection 1, applies even if a foreign corporation fails to register under this chapter. 89 Acts, ch 288, §162; 2021 Acts, ch 165, §188, 230 \n

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 5 cases (1 in the last 5 years), 1991–2025 · leading case: State v. Wolford Corp., 689 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 2004).
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State v. Wolford Corp., 689 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 2004). · cites it 2× “§ 490.1502(4) (providing for a "civil penalty" for a foreign corporation transacting business in Iowa without a certificate of authority).”
Tri-State Refining & Inv. Co. v. Opdahl, 481 N.W.2d 710 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991). · cites it 2× “Iowa Code section 490.1502(1) provides, “A foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority shall not maintain a proceeding in any court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority.”
Farmers Bank of N. Missouri v. Erpelding, 555 N.W.2d 222 (Iowa 1996). · cites it 2× “Section 490.1502(1) provides: A foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority shall not maintain a proceeding in any court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority.”
Harley Kelchner, an individual, individually & on behalf of all others similarly situated v. CRST Expedited, Inc., CRST Specialized Transp., Inc., CRST Lincoln Sales, Inc., & John Smith, an individual (Iowa 2025). · cites it 4× “Iowa Code section 490.1502(1) prohibits a foreign corporation from doing business in Iowa “until it registers” under chapter 490.”
Corp. Recruiters Ltd. v. Norwest Fin., Inc., 489 N.W.2d 729 (Iowa 1992). · cites it 6× “Plaintiff claims that the district court erred in determining that it could not maintain the present action because it was not licensed as an employment agency under Iowa Code chap *730 ter 95 (1989) nor authorized to transact business in this state as a foreign corporation…”
Iowa Code § 490.1502(1): 3 cases
Tri-State Refining & Inv. Co. v. Opdahl, 481 N.W.2d 710 (Iowa Ct. App. 1991). “Iowa Code section 490.1502(1) provides, “A foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority shall not maintain a proceeding in any court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority.”
Farmers Bank of N. Missouri v. Erpelding, 555 N.W.2d 222 (Iowa 1996). “Section 490.1502(1) provides: A foreign corporation transacting business in this state without a certificate of authority shall not maintain a proceeding in any court in this state until it obtains a certificate of authority.”
Harley Kelchner, an individual, individually & on behalf of all others similarly situated v. CRST Expedited, Inc., CRST Specialized Transp., Inc., CRST Lincoln Sales, Inc., & John Smith, an individual (Iowa 2025). “Iowa Code section 490.1502(1) prohibits a foreign corporation from doing business in Iowa “until it registers” under chapter 490.”
Iowa Code § 490.1502(4): 1 case
State v. Wolford Corp., 689 N.W.2d 471 (Iowa 2004). “§ 490.1502(4) (providing for a "civil penalty" for a foreign corporation transacting business in Iowa without a certificate of authority).”
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