Standing before staff from the Division of Corporations and several Delaware registered agents, Minner showcased the new services that allow residents, businesses, legal professionals and other customers to:
"I am pleased to be announcing yet another e-government service under my Delaware at Your Service initiative -- this time from the Delaware Division of Corporations," Minner said. "More than 90,000 businesses incorporate in Delaware every year, including 58 percent of Fortune 500 companies. Every day the state receives hundreds of phone calls from consumers, businesses, lawyers and the press seeking information on these businesses. By making basic information available over the Internet, we will significantly boost the productivity of the Division of Corporations and improve customer satisfaction."
There are approximately 580,000 active business entities in "good standing" in Delaware. Historical information can also be accessed on hundreds of thousands of business entities that are inactive due to having been merged, cancelled, dissolved or voided.
Customers may also check for more detailed information. This feature provides customers with the status of a business, total authorized shares, tax assessment, tax balance (if any), and a list of its last five filings with the Division of Corporations.
"Last year, our customers requested 29,000 name reservations, 18,000 corporate status checks and 360,000 general information searches," said Secretary of State Harriet Smith Windsor. "So we are confident that this will instantly become one of the most popular online services in the state."
Prior to Wednesday's announcement, the state provided many of these fee-based services through a 1-900 number or through authorized vendors. Effective February 14, the state can no longer offer 1-900 service due to AT&T's exit from the 1-900 business. The Division of Corporations will continue to permit authorized vendor sales of electronic information.
"The services we are unveiling today were developed in just 60 days in partnership with the state's new Department of Technology and Information," Windsor said. "DTI's rapid response to our need to replace our 1-900 services is a great example of what Gov. Minner envisioned in 2001 when she created DTI to redefine Delaware's IT strategy for the 21st century."
