§ 2259 Unauthorized Foreign Business Transactions

Corporations Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

This law says it’s a crime to do business in the state for a foreign company that isn’t allowed to do business here, if you know they aren’t allowed.

Key Takeaways

•You must know whether a foreign corporation is authorized to do business in the state before acting for them.
•Doing business for an unauthorized foreign corporation is a misdemeanor.
•The fine can be anywhere from $50 up to $600.

Example

A person sells imported toys for a company from another country that never filed the paperwork to operate in this state.

Because the seller knows the foreign company isn’t authorized to do business here, the law says the seller could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined between $50 and $600.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 2259 Unauthorized Foreign Business Transactions

Any person who transacts intrastate business on behalf of a foreign corporation which is not authorized to transact such business in this state, knowing that it is not so authorized, is guilty of a misdemeanor punishable by fine of not less than fifty dollars ($50) nor more than six hundred dollars ($600). (Amended by Stats. 1983, Ch. 1092, Sec. 75. Effective September 27, 1983. Operative January 1, 1984, by Sec. 427 of Ch. 1092.)

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

intrastate business foreign corporation misdemeanor fine

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 2259.

§ 2259 Unauthorized Foreign Business Transactions

Corporations Code·California

AI SummaryVerified

§ 2259 Unauthorized Foreign Business Transactions

This law says it’s a crime to do business in the state for a foreign company that isn’t allowed to do business here, if you know they aren’t allowed.

Key Takeaways

•You must know whether a foreign corporation is authorized to do business in the state before acting for them.
•Doing business for an unauthorized foreign corporation is a misdemeanor.
•The fine can be anywhere from $50 up to $600.

Example

A person sells imported toys for a company from another country that never filed the paperwork to operate in this state.

Because the seller knows the foreign company isn’t authorized to do business here, the law says the seller could be charged with a misdemeanor and fined between $50 and $600.

AI-generated — May contain errors. Not legal advice. Always verify source.

Official Source

View on CA.gov

§ 2259 Unauthorized Foreign Business Transactions

Last verified: January 10, 2026

Key Terms

intrastate business foreign corporation misdemeanor fine

References

Official text at leginfo.legislature.ca.gov
California Legislature. Corporations Code. Section 2259.

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References

Key Takeaways

Example

Key Terms

Related Statutes

References