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Your LLC’s Annual Report
**Short Answer: Your state will require you to file an Annual Report in order to keep your LLC in compliance, your contact information updated and your LLC in good standing. Fees and due dates vary by state.**
Video Transcript:
Once your LLC is formed, paperwork with the state is not over.
As a part of the ongoing requirements for your LLC, your state requires that you file an Annual Report and pay a filing fee every year.
The Annual Report can take many names:
– Annual Report
– Annual Statement
– Statement of Information
– Periodic Report
– Biennial Statement
– Decennial Report
– And more
And not all Annual Reports are “annual”.
Some may be required to file every year, some every 2 years, and some may be fortunate enough to only have to file every 10 years. It just depends on your state and their requirements.
Since most states refer to the report as the Annual Report, we will do so as well just for simplicity.
The Purpose of the Annual Report
The purpose of the Annual Report is to keep your LLC in compliance and in good standing.
Additionally, it keeps the state updated with your LLC’s contact information.
If you fail to file your Annual Report, the state will automatically dissolve (shut down) your LLC.
Your Annual Report will include your LLC name, your office address, your Registered Agent information, and an “LLC Number” from your Secretary of State.
The “LLC number” is just a number that your state uses to reference your LLC. The easiest way to understand it is to think of it like your LLC’s “driver’s license number”.
Filing Fee and Due Date
Filing fees and due dates for the Annual Report vary by state.
Filing fees can range from $9/year up to $800/year.
Some Annual Reports are due every year.
Some Annual Reports are due every 2 years.
And, some Annual Reports are due every 10 years.
Again, it all depends on your state and its requirements.
Here is a full list of annual LLC requirements for all 50 states.
How to File and Pay Your Annual Report
Generally, there are two ways you can file your Annual Report with your state.
You can file by mail or you can file online.
If you file by mail, you will fill out your Annual Report with a blue or black pen by hand (or you can fill it out on your computer).
Next, you will make a copy for your business records and then mail it to the State along with a check or money order to pay the filing fee.
If you file online, you will prepare and submit your Annual Report on the State’s website and pay the filing fee with a debit or credit card.
Regardless of what option you choose, it is important that you file your Annual Report on time.
Annual Report Reminders
Most states will send you a reminder to pay and file your Annual Report prior to the deadline, but not all states do this.
For that reason, we recommend that you keep a repeating reminder on your calendar.
Consequences of Not Filing
If you don’t file your Annual Report on time, the state will charge you a late fee.
If you continue to ignore this requirement, the State will automatically dissolve (shut down) your LLC.
Some states are stricter than others, so it’s best not to push your luck here.
Where do I get my Annual Report?
Many people file their Annual Report themselves after their LLC is formed.
If you have formed an LLC:
But you are not sure how to get your Annual Report from the state, you can visit your state’s website and contact them for guidance:
If you hired a company to form your LLC, then you need to verify whether they will file it on your behalf (and charge you to do so), or if you need to file it on your own.
Remember, just because you paid a company to form your LLC, the Annual Report is ultimately your responsibility in order to keep your LLC in compliance and in good standing.
If you have not formed your LLC yet:
Don’t worry, you only have to file your Annual Report AFTER you form your LLC.
If you hire a company to form your LLC, just make sure to find out whether they will file your Annual Report for you or if you need to do it yourself.
If you need to file an Annual Report yourself, select your state below, then click on the Annual Report lesson:
In summary, it is important to make sure you file your LLC Annual (or Biennial) Report on time. If you don’t, your LLC will be fined, your LLC be out of compliance, and the state will administratively dissolve (shut down) your LLC. Failure to file the Annual Report is the #1 reason that LLCs are administratively dissolved by the state, so don’t take this lightly.
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Hello Matt,
Although I fill Annual report by myself , do I need to hire CAP services from USA ?
For what purposes I need to hire CPA from USA ?
Let say I form my LLC remotely in Wyoming and I work from my home country, Sri Lanka.
Regards
Hi Autumn, you’ll need to hire a CPA in order to file and pay and US taxes. You can do this remote from Sri Lanka. You’ll want to find an accountant who is familiar with US and international taxes. Here is a helpful article.
If we want to cancel our LLC, should we just NOT pay the annual report and let the state dissolve the LLC? Will this affect our credit report or our ability to create LLCs in the future?
Thanks!
Hi Sarah, no, I do not recommend that. Instead, you’ll want to cancel/dissolve the LLC. What state is your LLC setup in? I’ll send you the appropriate link. And no, it wouldn’t affect your personal credit or prevent you from forming future LLCs.
Hello, I use Legal Zoom as my registered agent. I just received a document from them that my LLC has been dissolved due to missing the deadline on my Annual Report. I went through Legal Zoom to file my Annual Report as soon as I got that document. Will that put my company back in good standing or is my LLC completely dissolved? Thank you,
Hi Renae, it depends on the state, however, in most states, you need to come current with any outstanding Annual Reports as well as file an LLC Reinstatement. I recommend calling the Secretary of State’s office in the state where you formed your LLC and asking them to check on your LLC’s status. Find out whether or not your LLC is in “good standing” or if it’s still dissolved. If it’s dissolved, ask them to point you to the LLC Reinstatement filing and instructions. You can find your Secretary of State’s contact information here: Secretary of State websites. Hope that helps.
Hello as for my LLC in Wyoming although I live in Washington State. My annual report is due soon and from reading some of the comments it is probably not best for me to have a foreign LLC because I’m doing business in a different state. Should I dissolve my Wyoming LLC and start a new one in Washington or transfer if that’s possible to Washington state from Wyoming or register it as a foreign LLC in Washington and keep it in Wyoming thank you
Hi Bryan, you’ll want to speak with an attorney about the details as there isn’t a quick answer to all that. You can either 1) keep Wyoming LLC and register as a Foreign LLC in Washington (this keeps company history, bank account, EIN, etc., and you maintain 2 LLC filings), 2) dissolve Wyoming LLC and form a Domestic Washington LLC (new bank account, new EIN, etc), or 3) you could convert/domicile your Wyoming LLC into a Washington LLC (this keeps company history, bank account, EIN, etc., and you’ll end up maintaining 1 LLC in WA; after WY is dissolved… after the conversion is complete). Hope that helps.
Totally helps
Hey Matt,
Having issues trying to get onto the Colorado site. It seems the website isn’t working. If you can’t file due to the shutdown. Are you held responsible?
Thanks Matt
Hi Robert, the website is online. Were you able to access it?
Hello Matt,
If my LLC has an additional DBA, do I need to file Annual Report for the DBA as well as the LLC, or is it just for the LLC itself?
Thank you.
Hi Jan, the Annual Report only applies to the LLC. However, some states (or counties) require an annual renewal (or a renewal filed every 2, 3, or 5 years, for example) for a DBA. You’ll need to check with your state or the county where you filed your LLC’s DBA about any applicable renewals, the form, and the fee, if any. Hope that helps!
Hello, I dissolved my LLC in Florida this February 2019. Do I still need to file an annual report?
Hey Jackie, nope, you don’t have to worry about filing an Annual Report in 2019 since your LLC is now dissolved. Hope that helps.
Hi, I opened an LLC with hopes of kickstarting my business in a year or 2 after registering. I just wanted to have everything set up. Do I still have to file a report if I have done absolutely nothing the last year? No sales, no employees, nothing. All I did was register.