Annual reports and ongoing compliance
Forming your LLC was step 1. To keep the LLC in "good standing" with the state, you have ongoing obligations.
What's required (varies by state)
Almost every state requires at least one of the following. Fees and due dates are different in every state and change over time, so treat the summaries below as background — for your state's current fee and exact due date, see our state-by-state annual report & fees guide.
Annual report
A short form (often filed online) confirming the LLC's basic info — members, address, registered agent. Filing fees range from $0 in some states to several hundred dollars in others.
Due dates also vary by state: some tie to the anniversary of your LLC's formation, others to a fixed calendar date that's the same for every LLC in that state. Check the guide linked above for your state's exact date.
Biennial report
Same idea as an annual report but filed every 2 years instead of every year. New York, California's Statement of Information, and a handful of other states use this cycle.
Franchise tax
A separate state-level tax on the privilege of operating in the state — distinct from the annual/biennial report and from federal income tax. California is well known for charging this even to $0-revenue LLCs. A number of other states (Delaware, Texas, and others) also charge a franchise tax, sometimes only above a revenue threshold. Amounts and thresholds change from year to year — see the guide above for current figures.
What FormationHub does for you
If you have our Registered Agent service ($192/year), any state correspondence we receive on your behalf — renewal notices, dunning letters, and the like — is scanned and uploaded to the mailbox in your member portal, so it doesn't just sit at an address you never see.
Beyond that, FormationHub doesn't currently send automated deadline reminders or run a compliance calendar. Your best source for exact due dates is the state-by-state guide linked above — we'd recommend setting your own calendar reminder once you know your state's date.
What happens if I miss a deadline?
The specifics vary by state, but the general sequence for a missed annual report looks like this:
Shortly after the deadline
The state updates your status from "Good Standing" to "Delinquent" or "Not in Good Standing"
A late fee is usually assessed
Weeks to a couple months later
Some states escalate the late fee the longer it goes unfiled
Your LLC's name may appear on a public delinquent-business list
Longer delays
Cumulative late fees can end up exceeding the original filing fee
Some states suspend your LLC's right to do business — contracts you sign in that window may be voidable
Your personal liability protection can come into question while the LLC isn't in good standing
Extended non-filing
Eventually the state can administratively dissolve your LLC
You lose the right to use the business name
Reinstating requires back-paying fees plus a reinstatement fee, and during the dissolution period you have no liability protection
A few state quirks worth knowing about
California
Charges an annual franchise tax (due the 15th day of the 4th month after your fiscal year end — April 15 for calendar-year LLCs) on top of a separate biennial Statement of Information filing. The franchise tax applies even to LLCs with no revenue.
New York
Has a publication requirement: within 120 days of formation, you must publish notice of formation in two newspapers in your county for six consecutive weeks, then file a Certificate of Publication with the state. Cost varies a lot by county (upstate is much cheaper than NYC). We don't currently arrange publication on your behalf — you'd typically handle this directly or through a local attorney.
Delaware
LLCs owe an annual franchise tax but don't have to file a separate annual report — that requirement is corp-only in Delaware.
Texas
Franchise tax only kicks in above a revenue threshold (see the guide above for the current number), but every LLC — regardless of revenue — still has to file a Public Information Report annually. Skipping it can cost you the right to transact business in Texas even if you owe $0 in tax.
How to find out exactly what your state requires
Start with our state-by-state annual report & fees guide, which covers every state's current requirements. You can also look up your state's filing office directly using our Secretary of State directory — look for "annual filing requirements" or "LLC ongoing compliance" on their site.
Common questions
"What if I never file an annual report?"
Your LLC gets administratively dissolved. Most states let you reinstate for a period of time afterward by paying back fees plus penalties, but it's more expensive than just filing on time.
"If the LLC has $0 revenue, do I still file?"
Almost always yes. Annual and biennial reports are about confirming the LLC's existence and basic info, not its revenue.
"Can I file annual reports myself?"
Yes — every state allows you to file directly, and FormationHub doesn't currently offer annual report or franchise tax filing as an add-on service. Your accountant or the state's own filing portal are good places to handle these. If you have our Registered Agent service, we'll keep making sure state mail reaches you either way.
"What about BOI? Is that an annual thing?"
The initial BOI report is one-time (per LLC). But you must file an update within 30 days of any change to beneficial ownership info (new member, address change, legal name change). See our BOI article for details.
Next steps
Look up your state's exact fees and due dates in our state-by-state guide, then set your own reminder for the date.
Existing customer? Sign in at https://www.formationhub.com/member/login to check your Registered Agent status and portal mailbox.
Questions? Chat or call us — both are answered live — or email us and expect a reply within an hour.