> ## Documentation Index
> Fetch the complete documentation index at: https://docs.commenda.io/llms.txt
> Use this file to discover all available pages before exploring further.

# Documents API

> Manage business entity documents and files

## Overview

The Documents API manages business entity documents organized by category, including formation documents, tax certificates, compliance filings, financial records, and contracts. Documents support time-sensitive periods, version control, and service request associations.

## Core endpoints

### List documents

Get all documents for a business entity.

```http theme={null}
GET /business-entity/:businessEntityId/documents
```

**Path parameters**

| Parameter          | Type    | Description                               |
| ------------------ | ------- | ----------------------------------------- |
| `businessEntityId` | integer | Unique identifier for the business entity |

**Response**

```json theme={null}
{
  "documents": [
    {
      "id": 123,
      "documentType": "FORMATION_DOCUMENT",
      "documentSubType": "CertificateOfIncorporation",
      "documentName": "Certificate of Incorporation",
      "fileId": "file_abc123",
      "fileName": "Certificate_of_Incorporation.pdf",
      "effectiveStartDate": "2020-01-15",
      "effectiveEndDate": null,
      "serviceRequestId": null,
      "createdAt": "2020-01-15T10:00:00Z"
    }
  ],
  "count": 1
}
```

### Create document

Add a new document to a business entity.

```http theme={null}
POST /business-entity/:businessEntityId/documents
```

**Path parameters**

| Parameter          | Type    | Description        |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------------------ |
| `businessEntityId` | integer | Business entity ID |

**Request body**

```json theme={null}
{
  "documentType": "FORMATION_DOCUMENT",
  "documentSubType": "CertificateOfIncorporation",
  "fileId": "file_abc123",
  "effectiveStartDate": "2020-01-15",
  "serviceRequestId": 456
}
```

**Response**

```json theme={null}
{
  "document": {
    "id": 123,
    "documentType": "FORMATION_DOCUMENT",
    "documentSubType": "CertificateOfIncorporation",
    "fileId": "file_abc123"
  }
}
```

### Update document

Update an existing document.

```http theme={null}
POST /business-entity/:businessEntityId/documents/:documentId
```

**Path parameters**

| Parameter          | Type    | Description        |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------------------ |
| `businessEntityId` | integer | Business entity ID |
| `documentId`       | integer | Document ID        |

**Request body**

```json theme={null}
{
  "effectiveStartDate": "2020-01-15",
  "effectiveEndDate": "2025-12-31",
  "serviceRequestId": 456
}
```

**Response**

Returns `200 OK` on success.

## Supported documents

### Get supported document types

Get all document types available for a business entity.

```http theme={null}
GET /business-entity/:businessEntityId/documents/supported
```

**Path parameters**

| Parameter          | Type    | Description        |
| ------------------ | ------- | ------------------ |
| `businessEntityId` | integer | Business entity ID |

**Response**

```json theme={null}
{
  "supportedDocumentTypes": [
    {
      "documentName": "Certificate of Incorporation",
      "documentType": "FORMATION_DOCUMENT",
      "documentSubType": "CertificateOfIncorporation",
      "country": "US",
      "jurisdiction": null,
      "corporationType": "C_CORP",
      "isTimeSensitive": false,
      "isUnique": true,
      "canBeAddedByAddDocument": true
    }
  ]
}
```

## Document categories

### Formation documents

Company formation and incorporation documents:

* **Certificate of Incorporation**: Official incorporation certificate
* **Articles of Incorporation**: Corporate charter
* **Bylaws**: Corporate governance rules
* **Operating Agreement**: LLC governance document
* **Memorandum of Association**: Company constitution
* **Articles of Association**: Shareholder rights and obligations

### Tax and compliance documents

Tax registration and compliance certificates:

* **EIN Letter**: IRS Employer Identification Number confirmation
* **Tax Registration Certificate**: State/national tax registration
* **VAT Certificate**: VAT/GST registration certificate
* **PAYE Certificate**: Payroll tax registration
* **PF Registration**: Provident fund registration
* **ESIC Registration**: Employee insurance registration

### Financial records

Financial statements and accounting documents:

* **Balance Sheet**: Statement of financial position
* **Income Statement**: Profit and loss statement
* **Cash Flow Statement**: Cash flow analysis
* **Bank Statements**: Monthly bank account statements
* **Card Statements**: Credit card statements
* **Audit Reports**: Annual audit documents

### Shareholder documents

Shareholder and equity-related documents:

* **Share Certificates**: Stock ownership certificates
* **Share Purchase Agreement**: Equity transfer agreements
* **Board Resolutions**: Board meeting minutes
* **Shareholder Resolutions**: Shareholder meeting minutes
* **Stock Option Plans**: Employee equity plans

### Contracts and agreements

Business contracts and legal agreements:

* **Lease Agreement**: Office rental contracts
* **Service Agreements**: Vendor contracts
* **Employment Agreements**: Employee contracts
* **Partnership Agreements**: Business partnership documents

### Miscellaneous

Other business documents:

* **Utility Bills**: Proof of address documents
* **Office Photos**: Physical location verification
* **Director Identification**: Director ID documents
* **Company Profile**: Business information summaries

## Document properties

### Time-sensitive documents

Some documents have effective date ranges:

* `effectiveStartDate`: When the document becomes valid
* `effectiveEndDate`: When the document expires (optional)

Examples: Tax returns (fiscal year), financial statements (period), audit reports (year)

### Unique documents

Some document types can only exist once per entity:

* `isUnique: true`: Only one instance allowed (e.g., Certificate of Incorporation)
* `isUnique: false`: Multiple versions allowed (e.g., Board Resolutions)

### Service request association

Documents can be linked to service requests:

* `serviceRequestId`: Associates document with a specific service request
* Enables tracking of documents generated through compliance workflows

## Jurisdiction-specific documents

Document types vary by country and entity type:

### United States (C-Corp, LLC)

* Certificate of Incorporation
* EIN Confirmation Letter
* State tax registration certificates
* Annual reports
* Franchise tax filings

### India (Pvt Ltd, LLP)

* Certificate of Incorporation
* PAN Card
* GST Certificate
* TAN Document
* Annual audit reports

### United Kingdom (Ltd)

* Certificate of Incorporation
* Memorandum of Association
* VAT Certificate
* PAYE Reference Letter
* HMRC UTR Letter

### Singapore (Pte Ltd, LLP)

* Certificate of Incorporation
* GST Certificate
* CPF Activation Letter
* Articles of Association

### Canada (Corporation)

* Certificate of Incorporation
* CRA Business Number Confirmation
* Articles of Incorporation
* Initial Return

### UAE (Free Zone Company)

* Trade License Certificate
* TRN Letter
* Employer Establishment Card

### Australia (Pty Ltd)

* Certificate of Incorporation
* Company Constitution
* Director's Consent

### Germany (GmbH)

* Notarial Deed of Incorporation
* Commercial Register Extract
* Shareholder List

### France (SAS)

* Extrait Kbis
* Articles of Association (Statuts)
* Shareholders' Agreement

## File management

Documents reference files stored in the Files API:

1. Upload file using Files API to get `fileId`
2. Create document record with `fileId` reference
3. Document metadata stored separately from file content

## Related resources

* [Business Entity API](/engine/commendaos/business-entity) - Manage parent business entities
* [Registrations API](/engine/commendaos/registrations) - Documents linked to registrations