Tennessee UCC filing fees structure confusing - missing something obvious?

That's helpful, thanks. So the additional debtor fee only applies to initial filings, not continuations or amendments?

Correct. Continuations and most amendments are flat $15 regardless of how many debtors are on the original filing.

Wait, I thought terminations were free in Tennessee? Or am I thinking of a different state?

Terminations are $15 in Tennessee. You might be thinking of states like Texas where they're free, but Tennessee charges for all UCC-3 filings.

Good to know about fixture filings. None of my current ones involve real estate but that'll be useful down the road.

Fixture filing fees vary so much state to state. In Georgia they add like $10 for fixtures but Tennessee keeps it simple.

Exactly. Tennessee's approach is pretty filer-friendly compared to states that nickel and dime you for every variation.

Planning to file online. Do they accept credit cards or is it ACH only?

They take credit cards. Processing is usually same day or next business day for online filings.

I second the online filing recommendation. Paper filings in Tennessee can take 2-3 weeks during busy periods.

Interesting, hadn't heard of that service. Does it work with Tennessee specifically or just general UCC rules?

It handles state-specific requirements including Tennessee's fee structure. Really helpful for double-checking before you submit, especially when you're dealing with multiple debtors or complex collateral descriptions.

I've been meaning to try something like that. Manual document review takes forever and it's easy to miss details.

Good point about certified copies. Do you typically order those at the time of filing or wait until you need them?

I usually wait unless the client specifically requests them upfront. You can always order them later through the online portal.

I'll have to dig around for that calculator. Would definitely be useful for client quotes.

I couldn't find that calculator last time I looked. Maybe they moved it or discontinued it?

It's possible they removed it. State websites change their layouts constantly.

That's reassuring. I hate when states have processing fees or other add-ons that aren't clearly disclosed upfront.

Tennessee is pretty transparent about their fee structure. What you see is what you pay.

Agreed. Tennessee is one of the more predictable states for UCC filing costs.

Perfect, that's exactly the kind of simple breakdown I needed. Two have single debtors, one has three debtors, so $15 + $15 + $17 = $47 total.

Exactly right. Tennessee makes it pretty easy once you understand the basic structure.

Much simpler than states that charge per page or have different rates for different collateral types.

Yes, that's exactly what it does. Upload your charter documents and UCC-1 together and it flags any name inconsistencies. Saved me from a rejected filing last month.

That would be huge. Name mismatches are my biggest worry with UCC filings.

Name consistency is critical. Even small variations can cause problems down the road if you need to enforce the lien.

Good to know there's a final verification step. Takes some of the guesswork out of it.

Right, and if the fee doesn't match what you expected, you can back out and review your filing before paying.

Glad it helped! This forum is great for getting real-world perspectives on filing procedures.

State websites can be confusing even when they're trying to be helpful. Nothing beats hearing from people who actually do the filings regularly.

That's really good to know about combining amendment types in one filing. I've been handling UCC filings in other states where they nickel and dime you for every little change, so Tennessee's approach sounds refreshingly straightforward. The tip about calling the filing office directly is also valuable - I tend to overthink collateral descriptions and having a real person to bounce questions off of could save a lot of time and stress.

Welcome to the UCC world! Tennessee really is one of the more straightforward states once you get the hang of it. I'd also suggest keeping a simple spreadsheet or checklist for your filings - tracking debtor counts, collateral types, and filing dates makes it much easier to stay organized as your volume increases. The predictable fee structure in Tennessee makes budgeting for clients pretty painless compared to states with all those hidden charges and processing fees.

I've been using Tennessee's online portal regularly for about two years now and it's been pretty reliable overall. I haven't experienced any major crashes during busy periods, though I do notice it can run a bit slower during end-of-month filing rushes. The system usually processes submissions within a few hours even during peak times. That said, I always try to file at least a day before any critical deadlines just to be safe - you never know when any state system might have unexpected maintenance or technical issues. Their portal is definitely more stable than some other states I've dealt with though.

Great question about the fee calculation! Tennessee's online system does automatically calculate the total fees as you add debtors to your filing. When you're filling out the UCC-1 form online, there's a running total that updates in real-time as you add each additional debtor name. By the time you get to the payment screen, it shows you the exact breakdown - like "$15 base filing fee + $2 additional debtor fees = $17 total" - so there's no guesswork involved. It's actually one of the better-designed state portals I've used in terms of transparency about what you're paying for. Makes the whole process much less stressful when you can see exactly how they're calculating everything before you commit to the payment.

Glad this thread helped clarify things for you! Tennessee really is one of the more straightforward states once you get past the initial confusion. The predictable fee structure makes it much easier to budget for clients compared to states with all the hidden processing fees and complicated tier systems. Good luck with your three filings next week - sounds like you've got the math figured out perfectly. And definitely take advantage of that online portal, it makes the whole process much smoother than paper filings.