What to Do After Forming Your LLC: 10-Step Checklist

LLC Annual Report Deadlines by State: 2026 Calendar

Missing your LLC's annual report deadline is one of the fastest ways to lose good standing, trigger late fees, and put your business at risk of administrative dissolution. Next Step Filings, a compliance-first business services company based in Glen Allen, Virginia, has processed over 20,000 state filings across 12 U.S. states with a 99.8% success rate. This guide provides every LLC owner with a complete, state-by-state reference for annual report deadlines, fees, and filing requirements in 2026.

Below you'll find the definitive 50-state table covering deadline type (fixed calendar date or anniversary-based), filing fees, late penalties, and links to each state's filing portal. Whether your state calls it an annual report, annual renewal, biennial statement, or periodic report, this calendar has you covered.

How LLC Annual Report Deadlines Work

Every state that requires an annual report uses one of two deadline systems. Understanding which system your state uses is critical to staying compliant.

Fixed Calendar Deadline States

In these states, every LLC has the same filing deadline regardless of when the company was formed. For example, all Florida LLCs must file their annual report by May 1 each year. All Connecticut LLCs must file by March 31. Fixed deadlines are easier to remember because they're the same date for everyone, but they also create a rush of filings near the deadline, which can slow state processing times.

Anniversary-Based Deadline States

In these states, your filing deadline is tied to the date or month your LLC was originally formed. If you formed your LLC in March, your annual report is due in March each year. Anniversary-based deadlines are more commonly missed because there's no single "compliance day" that triggers awareness across all business owners. Your deadline is unique to your LLC.

"Most of the businesses we help believed they were fully compliant. They weren't being careless; they were just using outdated information," says Lisa Matthews, General Manager and Business Compliance Advisor at Next Step Filings.

States With No Annual Report Requirement

Four states do not require LLCs to file an annual report or any equivalent periodic filing:

• Ohio: No annual report requirement for LLCs. Ohio eliminated its annual report for domestic LLCs.
• Arizona: No annual report. However, Arizona LLCs are encouraged to file an Annual Report with the Arizona Corporation Commission, though it is not mandatory for LLCs (it is required for corporations).
• Missouri: No annual report requirement for LLCs.
• New Mexico: No annual report requirement. No annual fees for domestic LLCs.

Even in these states, LLC owners must maintain a registered agent, keep their business records current, and comply with any applicable tax obligations. Our LLC compliance requirements guide covers the full range of ongoing obligations beyond the annual report. The absence of an annual report does not mean zero compliance requirements.

Complete 50-State Annual Report Deadline and Fee Table

Next Step Filings compiled the following table from official state sources for the 2026 filing year. Fees and deadlines are subject to change. Always verify with your state's filing office before submitting.

State	Filing Name	Deadline Type	Due Date	Filing Fee	Late Penalty
Alabama	Annual Report	Fixed	April 15	$100	Varies; can lead to dissolution
Alaska	Biennial Report	Anniversary	Every 2 years by January 2 of filing year	$100	$37 late fee
Arizona	None Required	N/A	N/A	$0	N/A
Arkansas	Annual Franchise Tax Report	Fixed	May 1	$150	Penalties plus interest
California	Statement of Information	Anniversary	Every 2 years, within 6 months of anniversary	$20	$250 penalty
Colorado	Periodic Report	Anniversary	During anniversary month	$10	Administrative dissolution after 2 months
Connecticut	Annual Report	Fixed	March 31 (CT Gen. Stat. S 34-243l)	$80	$50 late fee; dissolution risk
Delaware	Annual Tax	Fixed	June 1	$300	$200 penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest
Florida	Annual Report	Fixed	May 1	$138.75	$400 late fee
Georgia	Annual Registration	Fixed	April 1	$50	Administrative dissolution
Hawaii	Annual Report	Anniversary	End of anniversary quarter	$15	$25 late fee
Idaho	Annual Report	Anniversary	End of anniversary month	$0	Administrative dissolution
Illinois	Annual Report	Anniversary	First day of anniversary month	$75	$100 penalty; dissolution after failure
Indiana	Business Entity Report	Anniversary	Every 2 years by anniversary month	$32 (online)	Administrative dissolution
Iowa	Biennial Report	Anniversary	Every 2 years by April 1 of odd or even year	$60	$50 penalty
Kansas	Annual Report	Fixed	April 15	$55	$75 late fee; forfeiture after 90 days
Kentucky	Annual Report	Fixed	June 30	$15	$15 penalty
Louisiana	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$35	Administrative revocation
Maine	Annual Report	Fixed	June 1	$85	Revocation of authority
Maryland	Annual Report	Fixed	April 15	$300	Forfeiture of right to do business
Massachusetts	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$500	Dissolution risk
Michigan	Annual Statement/Report	Fixed	February 15	$25	$50 late fee; dissolution after 2 years
Minnesota	Annual Renewal	Fixed	December 31	$0	Administrative dissolution
Mississippi	Annual Report	Fixed	April 15	$0	Administrative dissolution
Missouri	None Required	N/A	N/A	$0	N/A
Montana	Annual Report	Fixed	April 15	$20	Administrative dissolution
Nebraska	Biennial Report	Anniversary	Every 2 years, first day of anniversary month	$26	Administrative cancellation
Nevada	Annual List	Anniversary	Last day of anniversary month	$150	$75 penalty; revocation
New Hampshire	Annual Report	Fixed	April 1	$100	Administrative dissolution
New Jersey	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary month	$75	$25 late fee; revocation
New Mexico	None Required	N/A	N/A	$0	N/A
New York	Biennial Statement	Anniversary	Every 2 years by anniversary month	$9	$250 penalty
North Carolina	Annual Report	Fixed	April 15	$200	Administrative dissolution
North Dakota	Annual Report	Fixed	November 15	$50	Certificate of dissolution
Ohio	None Required	N/A	N/A	$0	N/A
Oklahoma	Annual Certificate	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$25	Administrative dissolution
Oregon	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$100	Administrative dissolution
Pennsylvania	Decennial Report	Fixed	Every 10 years (specific year assigned)	$70	Assumed to be inactive
Rhode Island	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$50	Revocation; $25 penalty
South Carolina	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$0	Administrative dissolution
South Dakota	Annual Report	Anniversary	First day of anniversary month	$50	Administrative dissolution
Tennessee	Annual Report	Fixed	April 1	$300 minimum	$20 per month late; dissolution
Texas	Franchise Tax Report/PIR	Fixed	May 15	$0 (under no-tax-due threshold)	Forfeiture of charter/right to do business
Utah	Annual Renewal	Anniversary	Anniversary month	$20	Administrative dissolution
Vermont	Annual Report	Anniversary	Anniversary date	$35	Administrative dissolution
Virginia	Annual Registration	Anniversary	Last day of anniversary month (Virginia Code S 13.1-1062)	$50	Administrative dissolution
Washington	Annual Report	Anniversary	End of anniversary month (RCW 23.95.610)	$71	Administrative dissolution (immediate)
West Virginia	Annual Report	Fixed	July 1	$25	Administrative dissolution
Wisconsin	Annual Report	Anniversary	End of anniversary quarter	$25	Administrative dissolution
Wyoming	Annual Report	Anniversary	First day of anniversary month	$60 minimum	Administrative dissolution

Table compiled by Next Step Filings for the 2026 filing year. Verify current fees and deadlines with your state's Secretary of State or equivalent filing office.

States With the Highest Annual Report Fees

If you're evaluating the total ongoing cost of maintaining an LLC, the annual report fee is a key factor. The most expensive states for annual filings include:

1. Massachusetts: $500 per year
2. Delaware: $300 per year (annual tax, not technically a "report")
3. Maryland: $300 per year
4. Tennessee: $300 minimum per year
5. North Carolina: $200 per year
6. Arkansas: $150 per year (franchise tax report)
7. Nevada: $150 per year
8. Florida: $138.75 per year

States With the Lowest (or No) Annual Report Fees

Several states offer very low or zero annual filing fees for LLCs:

• Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico: $0 (no annual report required)
• Minnesota, Mississippi, South Carolina, Idaho: $0 filing fee (report required but free to file)
• Texas: $0 if your LLC falls below the no-tax-due revenue threshold
• New York: $9 (biennial statement)
• Colorado: $10 (periodic report)
• Hawaii: $15
• Kentucky: $15

What Happens If You Miss Your Annual Report Deadline

The consequences of missing an annual report deadline follow a predictable escalation. Next Step Filings regularly assists business owners at every stage of this process, from late filings to full reinstatement after dissolution.

Stage 1: Late Fees

Most states impose an immediate financial penalty for late filing. Florida's $400 late fee is one of the steepest. Other states charge between $25 and $200. Some states, like Washington, do not offer a grace period at all. Under RCW 23.95.610, your LLC can be administratively dissolved for a report filed even one day past the deadline.

Stage 2: Loss of Good Standing

Your LLC will be flagged as "not in good standing" in the state's records. This means you will be unable to obtain a Certificate of Good Standing, which is required for many common business activities:

• Opening or maintaining business bank accounts
• Securing business loans or lines of credit
• Qualifying for government contracts
• Registering your LLC as a foreign entity in another state
• Closing real estate transactions through the LLC

Stage 3: Administrative Dissolution

If the delinquency continues, the state will administratively dissolve your LLC. Once dissolved, your LLC is no longer a recognized legal entity. You lose your liability protection, your registered name may become available for others to claim, and your ability to operate under the LLC ceases.

In Virginia, administrative dissolution under Virginia Code S 13.1-1062 can occur for a missed $50 annual registration fee. Next Step Filings handled one case where a Northern Virginia tech founder's LLC was dissolved after a low-cost automated filer's system glitch meant the $50 fee never reached the Virginia SCC. The dissolution notice arrived six months later. NSF completed the reinstatement in 48 hours.

Stage 4: Reinstatement

Most states allow you to reinstate a dissolved LLC, but the process requires filing all delinquent reports, paying all outstanding fees and penalties, and sometimes filing a formal reinstatement application. The cost and complexity increase the longer you wait. Some states impose a time limit on reinstatement eligibility. After that window closes, you may need to form an entirely new LLC.

2026 Monthly Filing Calendar

For LLC owners with fixed-date deadlines, here is a month-by-month view of key due dates in 2026:

January

• Alaska: Biennial report due January 2 (for applicable filing years)

February

• Michigan: Annual statement due February 15

March

• Connecticut: Annual report due March 31

April

• Alabama: Annual report due April 15
• Georgia: Annual registration due April 1
• Kansas: Annual report due April 15
• Maryland: Annual report due April 15
• Mississippi: Annual report due April 15
• Montana: Annual report due April 15
• New Hampshire: Annual report due April 1
• North Carolina: Annual report due April 15
• Tennessee: Annual report due April 1

May

• Arkansas: Annual franchise tax report due May 1
• Florida: Annual report due May 1
• Texas: Franchise tax report due May 15

June

• Delaware: Annual tax due June 1
• Kentucky: Annual report due June 30
• Maine: Annual report due June 1

July

• West Virginia: Annual report due July 1

November

• North Dakota: Annual report due November 15

December

• Minnesota: Annual renewal due December 31

If your state uses anniversary-based deadlines, your specific due date depends on when your LLC was formed. Check your state's Secretary of State website or your original formation documents for your exact anniversary date. If you have not yet formed your LLC, start with our LLC formation page to get the process underway.

7 Tips for Never Missing an LLC Annual Report Deadline

After processing over 20,000 filings, Next Step Filings has identified the most common reasons business owners miss deadlines and the most effective strategies to prevent it.

1. Set calendar reminders 60 and 30 days before your deadline. One reminder is not enough. Set two. If your state uses an anniversary-based deadline, set a recurring annual reminder tied to your formation month.
2. Know what your state calls the filing. If you're searching for "annual renewal" but your state calls it a "periodic report" or "franchise tax report," you may not find the right information. See our guide on annual report vs annual renewal to clarify the terminology for your state.
3. Register your email with the state. Many states send email reminders before the deadline. Make sure your state has your current email address on file.
4. Keep your registered agent information current. Your registered agent receives compliance notices on your behalf. Our guide on what a registered agent is explains why this role is so important. If your registered agent address is outdated, you'll miss critical notifications.
5. Don't rely on memory for anniversary-based deadlines. Anniversary dates are easy to forget, especially if you formed your LLC years ago. Use a digital calendar with automatic recurring reminders.
6. File early in the window. If your state opens filings before the deadline, file as soon as the window opens. This eliminates the risk of forgetting and avoids last-minute system congestion.
7. Use a compliance partner. A dedicated filing service like Next Step Filings tracks your deadlines, prepares your filings, and submits them on your behalf. This is especially valuable for multi-state LLC owners or business owners managing multiple entities.

"Compliance doesn't slow down a startup. Unmanaged regulatory debt does," says Lisa Matthews, General Manager and Business Compliance Advisor at Next Step Filings.

Multi-State LLCs: Tracking Multiple Deadlines

If your LLC operates in more than one state, you likely have foreign qualification filings and may owe annual reports in each state where you're registered. Each state has its own deadline, its own fee, and its own filing process. Missing a deadline in one state can affect your good standing in others, particularly when you need a Certificate of Good Standing from your home state to maintain foreign qualification elsewhere.

Next Step Filings manages compliance for multi-state operators, tracking deadlines across all registered jurisdictions and handling filings so you don't have to maintain separate calendars for each state.

"We have more than one entity and different addresses. They laid out exactly what was due and brought everything back into good standing. Now I do not worry about missing a deadline," says Ronald Pierre, a multi-state operator and Next Step Filings client.

Common LLC Annual Report Mistakes to Avoid

Based on the over 20,000 filings Next Step Filings has processed, these are the most common errors that cause rejections, delays, or compliance failures:

• Filing with outdated information. If you've moved your office, changed your registered agent, or added members, your annual report must reflect these changes. Filing with old information can lead to rejection.
• Using the wrong filing portal. Some states have separate portals for LLCs and corporations. Filing through the wrong system wastes time and may result in a rejected submission.
• Confusing your formation state with your operating state. If you formed in Wyoming but operate in Texas, you owe filings in both states. Many business owners only file in one.
• Assuming a zero-revenue LLC is exempt. Annual reports are required regardless of whether your LLC generated income. The only exemptions are in states that don't require annual reports at all (Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, New Mexico).
• Waiting until the deadline day to file. Online filing systems can experience outages. Payment processing can fail. Filing at least a week before the deadline gives you a buffer to resolve issues.

For a more comprehensive list of compliance pitfalls, see our guide on LLC Mistakes to Avoid.

How Next Step Filings Tracks Deadlines for Clients

Next Step Filings is a compliance-first business services company that goes beyond one-time formation. Here's how the deadline tracking and annual report filing process works for NSF clients:

• Centralized deadline monitoring: NSF tracks your state's filing requirements and deadlines, whether you're registered in one state or several.
• Proactive reminders: Clients receive advance notification before their filings are due, with clear instructions on what's needed.
• Done-for-you filing: NSF prepares and submits your annual report or renewal directly to the state. Average turnaround is 24 to 48 hours.
• Transparent pricing: State filing fees and NSF service fees are always listed separately. No bundled charges, no hidden costs, no subscriptions.
• Human oversight: Every filing is reviewed by a real compliance specialist before submission, not processed by automation alone.
• Confirmation and records: After filing, NSF provides confirmation and keeps a record of your submission for your files.

To get started with Next Step Filings' annual renewal service, visit nextstepfilings.com or call 1-888-851-6604.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an LLC annual report?

An LLC annual report is a required state filing that updates your business information on record with the Secretary of State or equivalent filing office. It typically includes your LLC's legal name, principal address, registered agent details, and the names of members or managers. Despite the name, it is not a financial report. It does not require revenue figures, profit and loss statements, or tax information (with the exception of states like Texas, where the franchise tax report includes revenue data). Most states charge a fee between $0 and $500 to file.

What is the penalty for filing an LLC annual report late?

Late filing penalties vary by state. Florida charges a $400 late fee for annual reports filed after May 1. Delaware imposes a $200 penalty plus 1.5% monthly interest. Many states charge between $25 and $100. In some states, like Washington, there is no grace period at all. Under RCW 23.95.610, an LLC can be administratively dissolved for a report filed even one day late. Beyond monetary penalties, late filing results in your LLC losing its good standing status, which can prevent you from obtaining a Certificate of Good Standing. Continued non-filing leads to administrative dissolution.

Which states have the cheapest annual report fees for LLCs?

Several states offer annual report filing for free or at very low cost. Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, and New Mexico do not require annual reports at all ($0). States with free filing but a required report include Minnesota, Mississippi, South Carolina, and Idaho ($0 fee). The lowest-cost states that do charge a fee are New York ($9 biennial statement), Colorado ($10 periodic report), Hawaii ($15), and Kentucky ($15). Next Step Filings separates state fees from service fees so clients always know the exact state cost.

How do I know if my state uses a fixed deadline or anniversary-based deadline?

Use the 50-state table in this guide to check your state's deadline type. Fixed-date states (like Florida with May 1, Connecticut with March 31, and Texas with May 15) set the same deadline for all LLCs. Anniversary-based states (like Virginia, Washington, Colorado, and New Jersey) tie your deadline to the month your LLC was originally formed. If you formed your Virginia LLC in September, for example, your annual registration is due by September 30 each year under Virginia Code S 13.1-1062. Next Step Filings tracks both types of deadlines for all clients.

Can my LLC be dissolved for missing an annual report?

Yes. Administrative dissolution is the most serious consequence of missing your LLC's annual report deadline. Every state that requires annual reports has a process for dissolving LLCs that fail to file. The timeline varies. Some states provide a 60 to 90 day cure period after the missed deadline. Others, like Washington under RCW 23.95.610, can begin dissolution proceedings immediately. Once dissolved, your LLC no longer exists as a legal entity, you lose liability protection, and you cannot conduct business under the LLC name. Reinstatement is possible in most states, but it requires filing all delinquent reports, paying all outstanding fees and penalties, and sometimes filing a separate reinstatement application. Next Step Filings handles reinstatement filings across multiple states with a 24 to 48 hour turnaround.

Do I still need to file an annual report if my LLC had no income?

Yes. Annual report filings are required regardless of your LLC's revenue or activity level. The filing is an administrative requirement to confirm your LLC's information with the state. It is not tied to income. Even if your LLC was completely dormant for the year, you must still file the annual report (or renewal, depending on your state's terminology) and pay the associated fee to maintain good standing. The only states where you are exempt from this requirement are Ohio, Arizona, Missouri, and New Mexico, which do not require annual reports for LLCs.

How can Next Step Filings help me stay compliant with annual report deadlines?

Next Step Filings offers a done-for-you annual renewal and compliance service that handles the entire process. NSF monitors your deadlines, prepares your filing with current information, submits it to the state, and provides confirmation upon acceptance. With over 20,000 filings processed across 12 states and a 99.8% success rate, Next Step Filings eliminates the risk of missed deadlines and the penalties that follow. All pricing is transparent, with state fees and service fees listed separately. Call 1-888-851-6604 or visit nextstepfilings.com to get started.

Next Step Filings is a private business services company and does not provide legal advice.

Written by Lisa Matthews, General Manager and Business Compliance Advisor at Next Step Filings. For annual report filing assistance in any state, visit nextstepfilings.com/annual-renewal or call 1-888-851-6604.