An annual report is a short filing that confirms your company's details with the state each year, or every two years in some states. It is not a financial report: you will not send accounts or profits. You confirm the address, the registered agent and the people who run the company, and you pay the state's fee.
What you need before you start
- The company's exact name and file number. Both are on your formation certificate and in the state's business search.
- The principal office and mailing address.
- The registered agent's name and address. If it changed, many states let you update it in the report.
- Managers, members, officers or directors with their addresses, as the state asks.
- A card or a funded portal account for the fee.
The steps
- Look up your state's rule on its office page or in our deadline table. Note whether it is yearly or every two years, the due date and the fee.
- Open the state's filing portal and search for your company.
- Pick the annual report (some states call it a statement of information, an annual list, a biennial statement or an annual registration).
- Check every prefilled line. Fix anything out of date.
- Pay and submit. Save the confirmation number and receipt.
- Search the company again a few days later. The report should appear in its filing history and the status should read active or good standing.
Names states use for the same filing
California calls it a Statement of Information. Nevada calls it an annual list. New York calls it a biennial statement. Missouri calls the corporate version an annual registration report. Texas has no report at the Secretary of State and uses a franchise tax report with the Comptroller instead. Each office page uses the state's own name.
If you missed the deadline
File it now. Most states accept a late report with a penalty, and filing quickly keeps the company out of administrative dissolution. If the company was already dissolved or revoked, the state will ask for a reinstatement filing, all missing reports and their fees. Then request a certificate of good standing to show the company is back in order.
Forming a new company first? See the articles of organization guide and the articles of incorporation guide.