"Authorized shares" refers to the number of shares the corporation is allowed to issue under its certificate or articles of incorporation. Authorized stock is the maximum number of shares that a corporation is legally permitted to issue, as specified in its articles of incorporation.Enter the name of the business, city, state and country. Click on "Other Governmental Entity. Outstanding shares are shares of stock that have been issued. Every state demands that you supply three basic facts about your business: its corporate name, its registered agent and the number of authorized shares. This form can be filled out on your computer and then printed. Authorized shares, or authorized stock, are simply a legally allowed maximum number of shares that a company can issue to investors. Authorized Shares or Stock, The total number of shares a corporation is authorized to sell. This number is specified in the articles of incorporation.