Wisconsin's yearly filing is the annual report, and it goes to the Corporations Bureau at the Department of Financial Institutions. You file it online through DFI's online filing service, or on paper for a higher fee. The report keeps your record in CRIS, the state's business register, current.
Due dates run by calendar quarter, which is unusual. You do not need to remember your exact formation day, only which quarter it falls in. For search, formation costs and contacts, see the Wisconsin office guide.
Who files and what it costs
Domestic LLCs and corporations registered with DFI file every year. The fee is the same for both:
- Online: $25.
- On paper: $40.
Foreign entities registered in Wisconsin file too, but their fee on DFI's table was not clear enough for us to quote. Check the fee page before you pay.
| Fee | LLC: $25 online, $40 paper; corporation: $25 online, $40 paper (dfi.wi.gov, checked ) |
|---|---|
| When it is due | Due in the calendar quarter of the entity's registration anniversary, after the year of registration: Mar 31 (Jan to Mar), Jun 30 (Apr to Jun), Sep 30 (Jul to Sep), Dec 31 (Oct to Dec). (dfi.wi.gov, checked ) |
| If you file late | $0 (dfi.wi.gov, checked ) |
| Where to file | dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/FileOnline.aspx (dfi.wi.gov, checked ) |
| Processing time | No standard turnaround published. Expedited next business day for +$100 by close of business, 4 hours or 1 hour in person at Madison for $250 or $500. Certificates and copies take up to 10 business days. (dfi.wi.gov, checked ) |
Your due date, worked through
Take the month your company registered with DFI and find its quarter. The report is due on the last day of that quarter each year, starting the year after you register.
- Registered January to March: due March 31.
- Registered April to June: due June 30.
- Registered July to September: due September 30.
- Registered October to December: due December 31.
So an LLC that registered on August 3 files nothing in its first year. Its first report is due by September 30 the next year, and every September 30 after that. A corporation that registered on November 20 reports by December 31 each year from its second year on.
Filing with DFI, step by step
- Look up your company in CRIS to confirm its exact name and ID number.
- Open the online filing page on the DFI website and choose the annual report.
- Check the company details DFI shows, such as the registered agent.
- Make any changes, then pay the $25 online fee.
- Keep the confirmation. If you file on paper instead, the fee is $40.
Late reports, Delinquent status and dissolution
Wisconsin does not charge a late fee. The pressure comes from status instead. A company that misses its quarter shows Delinquent, coded DLQ in CRIS. DFI contacts delinquent entities each quarter, publishes a notice of administrative dissolution, and 60 days later issues a Certificate of Administrative Dissolution. The record then reads ADS.
Every status word Wisconsin uses is explained in our Wisconsin office guide.
To come back from ADS, ask DFI for its reinstatement forms. The request goes to the Corporations Bureau through the contact details in the office guide.
Checking that your report is on file
Search your company in CRIS after you file. The status code should read INC or ORG, which means good standing, rather than DLQ. If a bank needs proof, order a Certificate of Status once the record is current. Our annual report deadlines by state page compares quarter based dates like these with the rest of the country.
Sources
- dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/Fees.aspx: report fee. Checked .
- dfi.wi.gov/Documents/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/Forms/CORP5i.pdf: report due date. Checked .
- dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/AdministrativeDissolutions.aspx: late penalty. Checked .
- dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/FAQ.aspx: online filing, processing time. Checked .