Learn more about annual reports
Understanding how annual reports work can help you meet state requirements and stay legally compliant. Explore these resources to get started:
How and when to file an annual report
Learn all about how to file an annual report and when are annual reports due.
ARTICLE SUMMARY
Annual report filing is a key part of running a business: it keeps your company in good standing with the state and provides necessary updates.
In this guide, we'll go over how to file an annual report, what you need to include, annual report due dates by state, and what happens if you don't file one.
How to File an Annual Report
- Gather information. Before you file, you'll need to gather certain pieces of information about your business – check out the “What is Required in an Annual Report?” section for more details.
- Log in to the state's online filing system. Most states have online portals where you can file your annual report, like the Secretary of State's website – we have linked all of them later in this guide for you.
- Fill out the report. While this part may seem easy, mistakes can be costly. Having an attorney review the filings before submitting them is worth it.
- Pay the filing fee. There’s usually a filing fee that varies by state, from $10 to $500, depending on your business type.
- Submit your report to the state. Always keep a copy of your confirmation to prove your report was received.
If your business is registered in multiple states, you'll need to file an annual report in each one. This can mean managing multiple deadlines and state requirements. Our registered agent services can take that off your plate so you can focus on what matters.
What is Required in an Annual Report?
The exact information you need to include in an annual report filing depends on the state where your business is registered, but most states ask for similar details. Here's what you'll usually need:
- Your company’s legal name, which should match what’s on file with the state.
- The main address where your business operates.
- Names and addresses of officers and directors.
- Name and address of your registered agent(s), responsible for receiving legal notices and important mail for your business.
- A brief description of what your business does.
- Number of shares and types of stock issued, if your company is registered in a state that requires it.
- While not common, some states may ask for some additional information, like basic financial reports about your company — gross revenue, assets, etc.
- A signature from an authorized person in your company (like a director or manager) and the date the report is being filed.
When are Annual Reports Due? State-by-State Breakdown
When to file your annual report depends on the state where your business is registered. Some states have specific dates on the calendar year when all businesses need to file, while others base it on the anniversary of your company’s registration.
It's important to know your state's deadline so that you don't miss it. Discover yours yours:
STATE | WHEN IS THE ANNUAL REPORT DUE | WHERE TO FILE THE ANNUAL REPORT |
|---|---|---|
Alabama | March 15 every year. | Alabama Secretary of State (https://al.accessgov.com/business-filings/Forms/Page/business-filings/annual-report/0) |
Alaska | January 2nd every other year. | The Great State of Alaska’s website (https://www.commerce.alaska.gov/web/cbpl/Corporations/OnlineFilingInstructionsBR.aspx) |
Arizona | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation. | Arizona Corporation Commission (https://azcc.gov/home) |
Arkansas | May 1st every year. | Arkansas Secretary of State (https://www.ark.org/sos/ofs/docs/index.php) |
California | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | California Secretary of State (https://www.sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/forms) |
Colorado | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation. | Colorado Secretary of State (https://www.sos.state.co.us/pubs/business/businessHome.html) |
Connecticut | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation. | State of Connecticut (https://business.ct.gov/business-services/file-annual-report?language=en_US) |
Delaware | March 1st (corporations) or June 1st (LLCs) every year. | State of Delaware (https://corp.delaware.gov/paytaxes/) |
Florida | May 1st every year. | Florida’s Division of Corporations (https://dos.fl.gov/sunbiz/manage-business/efile/annual-report/) |
Georgia | April 1st every year. | Georgia Secretary of State (https://sos.ga.gov/corporations-division-georgia-secretary-states-office) |
Hawaii | March 31 every year for businesses registered between January 1 and March 31 June 30 every year for businesses registered between April 1 and June 30 September 30 every year for businesses registered between July 1 and September 30 December 31 every year for businesses registered between October 1 and December 31. | Hawaii Business Express (https://hbe.ehawaii.gov/annuals/#/) |
Idaho | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | Idaho Secretary of State (https://sosbiz.idaho.gov/) |
Illinois | Every year on the last day of the month previous to the registration anniversary month. For example, if your business was registered on February 15, your due date is January 31. | Illinois Secretary of State (https://www.ilsos.gov/departments/business_services/annual_reports/home.html) |
Indiana | Every other year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | Indiana Secretary of State (https://www.in.gov/sos/business/division-forms/business-forms/) |
Iowa | April 1st every other year. | Iowa Secretary of State (https://sos.iowa.gov/business/formsandfees.html) |
Kansas | Every other year, but the specific date depends on your business type and when it was formed. | Kansas Secretary of State (https://sos.ks.gov/businesses/information-reports.html) |
Kentucky | June 30 every year. | Kentucky Secretary of State (https://sos.ky.gov/bus/business-filings/Pages/Annual-Reports.aspx) |
Louisiana | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation. | Louisiana Secretary of State (https://geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/) |
Maine | June 1 every year. | Maine Secretary of State (https://apps1.web.maine.gov/cgi-bin/online/aro/index.pl) |
Maryland | April 15 every year. | Maryland Business Express (https://egov.maryland.gov/BusinessExpress/Account/LogOn?ReturnUrl=%2fBusinessExpress%2fHome%2fFilings%3fSelectedAccountHomeTab%3dPPF&SelectedAccountHomeTab=PPF) |
Massachusetts | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation. | Massachusetts Secretary of State (https://www.sec.state.ma.us/divisions/corporations/corporations.htm) |
Michigan | May 15 every year (corporations), February 15 every year (LLCs), October 1 every year (nonprofit). | State of Michigan (https://www.michigan.gov/som/business) |
Minnesota | December 31 every year. | Minnesota Secretary of State (https://www.sos.state.mn.us/business-liens/start-a-business/how-to-register-your-business/) |
Mississippi | April 15 every year. | Mississippi Secretary of State (https://www.sos.ms.gov/business-services/annual-reports) |
Missouri | Every year at the end of the 3rd month after the registration anniversary. For example, if your business was formed on February 10, your annual report is due by May 31. | Missouri Secretary of State (https://www.sos.mo.gov/business/corporations/startbusiness) |
Montana | April 15 every year. | Montana Secretary of State (https://biz.sosmt.gov/search/business) |
Nebraska | March 1 every other year. | Nebraska Secretary of State (https://sos.nebraska.gov/business-services/annualbiennial-reporting) |
Nevada | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | Nevada Secretary of State (https://www.nvsos.gov/sos/sos-information/news/annual-reports) |
New Hampshire | April 1 every year. | New Hampshire Secretary of State (https://www.sos.nh.gov/corporations-0/file-annual-report) |
New Jersey | Every year on the last day of the month prior to the registration anniversary month. For example, if your business was formed on February 10, your annual report is due by January 31. | State of New Jersey (https://www.njportal.com/DOR/annualreports/) |
New Mexico | Every other year, but the specific date depends on your business type and when it was formed. | New Mexico Secretary of State (https://portal.sos.state.nm.us/BFS/online/) |
New York | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | State of New York (https://filing.dos.ny.gov/eBiennialWeb/) |
North Carolina | April 15 every year. | North Carolina Secretary of State (https://www.sosnc.gov/divisions/business_registration/annual_report) |
North Dakota | August 1 every year (corporations), November 15 every year (LLCs). | North Dakota Secretary of State (https://firststop.sos.nd.gov/search/business) |
Ohio | Every other year, but the specific date depends on your business type and when it was formed. | Ohio Secretary of State (https://www.ohiosos.gov/businesses/information-on-starting-and-maintaining-a-business/frequently-asked-questions/) |
Oklahoma | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation (if your business entity requires it). | Oklahoma Secretary of State (https://www.sos.ok.gov/corp/) |
Oregon | Every year on the anniversary of your business formation. | Oregon Secretary of State (https://sos.oregon.gov/admin/Pages/beaware-renewal.aspx?modal=1) |
Pennsylvania | June 30 (corporations), September 30 (LLCs), December 31 (all others). | Commonwealth of Pennsylvania (https://www.pa.gov/en/agencies/dos/programs/business/types-of-filings-and-registrations/annual-reports.html) |
Rhode Island | May 1 every year. | Rhode Island Department of State (https://www.sos.ri.gov/divisions/business-services/ri-business/file-your-annual-report) |
South Carolina | Every year, but the specific date depends on your business type and when it was formed. | South Carolina Secretary of State (https://sos.sc.gov/online-filings) |
South Dakota | Every year on the first day of your registration anniversary month. | South Dakota Secretary of State (https://sosenterprise.sd.gov/BusinessServices/Business/AnnualReportInstr.aspx) |
Tennessee | Every year, but the specific date depends on your business type and when it was formed. | Tennessee Secretary of State (https://tnbear.tn.gov/Ecommerce/AnnualReportInstr.aspx) |
Texas | May 15 every year. | Texas Secretary of State (https://www.sos.state.tx.us/corp/sosda/index.shtml) |
Utah | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | Utah Commerce (https://corporations.utah.gov/) |
Vermont | The specific date depends on your business type and when it was formed. | Vermont Secretary of State (https://sos.vermont.gov/corporations/renewals-updates/reports-renewals/annual-biennial-reports/) |
Virginia | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | Virginia Secretary of State (https://scc.virginia.gov/pages/Clerks-Annual-Reports) |
Washington | Every year on the last day of your registration anniversary month. | Washington Secretary of State (https://www.sos.wa.gov/corporations-charities/frequently-asked-questions-faqs/annual-reports) |
Washington D.C. | April 1 every other year. | DC Secretary of State (https://corponline.dcra.dc.gov/Home.aspx/Landing) |
West Virginia | June 30 every year. | West Virginia State Agency (https://business4.wv.gov/operatemybusiness/Pages/Annual-Reporting.aspx) |
Wisconsin | March 31 every year for businesses registered between January 1 and March 31; June 30 every year for businesses registered between April 1 and June 30; September 30 every year for businesses registered between July 1 and September 30; December 31 every year for businesses registered between October 1 and December 31. | Wisconsin’s One Stop Business Portal (https://onestop.wi.gov/DFIannualreports) |
Wyoming | Every year on the first day of your registration anniversary month. | Wyoming Secretary of State (https://wyobiz.wyo.gov/Business/AnnualReport.aspx) |
What Happens if I Don’t File an Annual Report?
Failing to file an annual report when and where it is required can result in serious consequences for your business, including late fees, lawsuits, loss of a company's legal standing, and even administrative dissolution — meaning you wouldn’t be legally allowed to do your business services anymore. If your company does miss a deadline, you still may be able to avoid these consequences by filing the report late and paying a fee or penalty before the state takes action.
File Your Annual Report with Rocket Lawyer
If you’re still unsure about how to file an annual report for an LLC (and other business entities) or worried about missing your annual report due date, our registered agent services can help you with filing and reminders. This can give you peace of mind when it comes to business filings and help make sure that your company stays compliant with state laws.
KEY TAKEAWAYS
- Filing an annual report is essential to keep your business in good standing with the state, making sure you stay compliant and updating necessary information.
- Steps to file include gathering business details, using the state’s online portal, completing the form accurately, paying fees, and saving confirmation of submission.
- Requirements vary by state, but generally include the company’s name, address, registered agent, leadership information, and sometimes financial or stock details.
- Due dates depend on the state and may align with the calendar year, the business registration anniversary, or be biennial for some states.
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Pro Reviewed
Published on 08/04/2025
Reviewed by attorneys
At Rocket Lawyer, we follow a rigorous editorial policy to ensure every article is helpful, clear, and as accurate and up-to-date as possible. This page was created, edited and reviewed by trained editorial staff who specialize in translating complex legal topics into plain language, then reviewed by experienced attorneys to ensure legal accuracy.
Please note: This page offers general legal information, but not legal advice tailored for your specific legal situation. Rocket Lawyer Incorporated isn't a law firm or a substitute for one. For further information on this topic, you can Ask an Attorney.
Laura Bojart
Editorial Researcher and Copywriter
Laura Bojart is an SEO copywriter and editor at Rocket Lawyer. She researches legal and business topics and translates complex ideas into clear, practical content for everyday readers. With her background in journalism and endless curiosity, she approaches each subject by asking the questions readers are likely to have first, making legal information approachable and easy to understand even to those with no legal background.