Government is not known for moving quickly, but officials say a smoother process is coming to serve businesses better.

The Iowa secretary of state’s office is hoping to pick up the pace for business filings with Fast Track Filing, a new fully digital system for businesses submitting filings to that office. Deputy Secretary of State Michael Ross expects Fast Track Filing to be available for businesses by early summer for select filings. 

The tool has been in development since October. The office is recruiting a small number of businesses to beta test the system in April.

The new software system is funded with the Technology Modernization Fund, after the office raised fees on businesses last fall. Fees for an electronic filing through the secretary of state’s existing website increased from $30 to $45.

The form for electronic filings on the existing website still requires the office to re-file data the same way they would handle forms that are faxed or mailed in, Ross said. 

“They’re paying a fee, and we realize that, and we want to use those funds to improve that — the Technology [Modernization] Fund is going to be used so we can start,” Ross said. State law allows the office to raise $2 million a year through 2022, to be dedicated to the Technology Modernization Fund. 

“We realize the goal eventually is probably going on to the cloud, though what technology looks like in three or four years may not be that,” Ross said. 

The Fast Track Filing system will only be available for new business filings at the launch, but officials plan to add new forms in future stages. 

Corporation filings will still need to be reviewed personally by a staff member, but the software is meant to catch mistakes before the forms are turned in by a business representative, Phillips said.