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Every Maine LLC that does business in Maine must file an Annual Report every year.
You need to file an Annual Report in order to keep your LLC in compliance and in good standing with the state.
You can file your LLC’s Annual Report by mail or online. We recommend filing online since it’s easier and the processing time is quicker.
You will find instructions below for filing by mail and filing online.
Fee
$85 for both filing by mail and filing online.
Processing Times
If you file by mail, it depends on the time of the year. When they’re not busy, the processing time is about 1 week or less. If they are busy (or it’s close to the filing deadline), it can take 1-2 weeks to be processed.
If you file online, the processing time is immediate.
Due Date
Your LLC’s Annual Report is due by June 1st every year. Your first Annual Report is due the year following the year your LLC was formed.
Example: If your LLC was formed on April 15th, 2024, your first Annual Report will be due by June 1st, 2025.
Penalty
After June 1st, there is a $50 penalty added onto the $85 filing fee ($135 total). If you do not file within 65 days after June 1st (August 5th), the state will administratively dissolve (shut down) your LLC.
How early can it be filed?
January 2nd.
Reminders
The state no longer sends Annual Report reminders by mail, but they do send email reminders if you provided your email on your Certificate of Formation. Regardless, we recommend putting a repeating reminder on your calendar to make sure you file your Annual Report before the due date each year.
Instructions for Filing Maine LLC Annual Report by Mail
Download a Pre-printed Annual Report Form:
- Visit Maine’s Annual Reports Online page
- Enter your LLC’s Charter Number and click the “Create Form” button.
To find your LLC’s Charter Number, you can look at your approved Certificate of Formation. You can also search your LLC’s name in Maine’s Corporate Name Search tool, click “Information Summary” to the right, then look for your Charter Number at the top.
Note: You can print the Annual Report form, fill it out by hand (use blue or black pen), then sign; or, you can type in the form on your computer, then print and sign. When printing, use regular white paper (8.5″ x 11″).
1st Page
1. Purpose of your Business
Enter the general purpose of your business. It doesn’t have to be extremely specific and detailed (unless you want), and you are not going to be forced to do this forever. You can always change the purpose of your business as it grows.
You can enter just a few words (ex: “pizza shop”, “real estate investing”, “landscaping”, etc.) or you can enter a longer description. Or, if you prefer, you can keep things open-ended and use this default language instead:
“Any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Maine.”
2. Name and Address of Members/Managers
Enter the name and street address of at least one of your LLC’s members or managers.
Note: Most LLCs are member-managed, where all the owners run the business and day-to-day operations. An LLC can also be manager-managed, where one, or a few designated people, run the business and day-to-day operations (while the members play more of a passive/investor role).
To learn more about member-managed LLCs vs. manager-managed LLCs, read this short article.
Attached Pages
There is a small space after “List number of pages attached” which you can just leave blank, unless you need additional room, then include an attachment and write “1” (or more) on the line.
Date and Signature
Enter today’s date, sign your name, and then print your name below and list your capacity. A common example would be “John Doe, Member” or “John Doe, Manager”.
2nd Page
Daytime Telephone Number and/or Email (#1):
Enter your telephone number or email address (or both). The Secretary of State will use this information to contact you with any questions about your Annual Report.
Payment and Mailing Instructions:
Prepare a check or money order for $85 and make payable to “Secretary of State”.
Important: Write your LLC’s Charter Number on your check.
Send your filing fee and completed Annual Report to:
Secretary of State
Division of Corporations, UCC and Commissions
101 State House Station
Augusta, Maine 04333-0101
Processing Time and Verification:
Your Annual Report’s processing time depends on the time of year. When they’re not busy, the processing time is about 1 week or less. If they are busy (or it’s close to the filing deadline), it can take 1-2 weeks to be processed.
Nothing is sent back by mail, but you can search your LLC here, click on “Information Summary” to the right, scroll to the bottom and click “View list of filings”. Then look for “Annual Report” in the left column. The date filed will be listed to the right.
Instructions for Filing Maine LLC Annual Report Online
1. Visit the Maine Secretary of State Annual Report Filing page:
Annual Reports Online
2. Search your LLC
Click “File a Single Annual Report” and enter your LLC’s Charter Number in the search box.
To find your LLC’s Charter Number, you can look at your approved Certificate of Formation. You can also search your LLC’s name here, click “Information Summary” to the right, then look for your Charter Number at the top.
Your LLC’s name will appear in red on the next page. Click the “Continue” button to proceed.
3. Purpose of your Business
At the bottom of the page, enter the general purpose of your business. It doesn’t have to be extremely specific and detailed (unless you want), and you are not going to be forced to do this forever. You can always change the purpose of your business as it grows.
You can enter just a few words (ex: “pizza shop”, “real estate investing”, “landscaping”, etc.) or you can enter a longer description. Or, if you prefer, you can keep things open-ended and use this default language instead:
“Any lawful business for which a limited liability company may be organized under the laws of the State of Maine.”
Then click the “Continue” button to proceed.
4. Name and Address of Members/Managers
Enter the name and street address of at least one of your LLC’s members or managers in the corresponding sections, then click the “Continue” button.
Note: Most LLCs are member-managed, where all the owners run the business and day-to-day operations. An LLC can also be manager-managed, where one, or a few designated people, run the business and day-to-day operations (while the members play more of a passive/investor role).
To learn more about member-managed LLCs vs. manager-managed LLCs, read this short article.
5. Review
Review the information you entered in your Maine LLC’s Annual Report. If you need to make any changes, click the “Edit” links. If not, click the “Continue” button to proceed.
6. Signature
Enter your title at the top (example: “Member” or “Manager“). Next enter your full name, which acts as your signature, and then enter your email address below. Click the “Continue” button to proceed.
7. Review Again
Review the information in your Maine LLC’s Annual Report one final time and then click the “Submit filing NOW” button to proceed.
8. Payment Method
Select your payment method and click “Continue”. On the next page, enter your billing and contact information and then click “Continue” to submit your payment.
Processing Time and Verification:
Your Annual Report will be processed right after your payment is submitted. Within a few minutes, you will receive an email confirmation letting your know your Annual Report has been successfully filed.
Maine Secretary of State Contact Info
If you have any questions, you can contact the Maine Secretary of State by phone at 207-624-7752 or by email at cec.corporations@maine.gov. They pick up the phone right away.
References
Matt holds a Bachelor's Degree in business from Drexel University with a concentration in business law. He performs extensive research and analysis to convert state laws into simple instructions anyone can follow to form their LLC - all for free! Read more about Matt Horwitz and LLC University.
I have a Client that moved from Maine to North Carolina and is “converting” their LLC from a Maine LLC to a NC LLC. They are currently in the process of preparing the documents.
The last day of business in Maine was February 01, 2023. Is my Client required to file an Annual Report for 2023?
Thank you so much for your help.
Tony W. Bruns, CPA
Hi Tony, yes, a Maine LLC Annual Report would still be due for the 2023 year.
Hi, Thank you very much for all these informations! It’s really helpful!
I have a question regarding forming an LLC in Maine.
My wife and I own an Online Business. We just moved from CA to Maine and decided to dissolve the CA LLC to form a new one in our new state.
I’m doing the paperwork but I have hard time to see where we should list all the members of the LLC if it’s a multi-member LLC…
Do we need to fill the Annual Report with all these information when you form the LLC or you just wait the following year to file the Annual Report with the details of all the members?
Thank you so much
Hi Mathieu, you’re very welcome! LLC Members are actually not listed in the Maine LLC Certificate of Formation. You will just list the LLC Members in the LLC Operating Agreement. At least one of your LLC Members (or Manager) must be listed in the Annual Report though.
What’s the difference between an LLC Member and an LLC Manager, you may ask. Great question ;) Please see here: LLC Member vs. LLC Manager.
Your Maine LLC Annual Report is first due the year after your LLC is approved. For example, if your LLC is approved anytime in 2020, your first LLC Annual Report is due by June 1st 2021. If your LLC is approved anytime in 2021, your first LLC Annual Report is due by June 1st 2022. Hope that helps :)
Thank you for your work. Everything is precise and just all I needed to know!
You’re very welcome Viktoriya. Thank you for the kind words :)