State filing deadline reminders

Most states require some recurring filing to maintain an entity’s good standing: an “annual report”, “biennial statement”, “statement of information”, or a franchise/tax return tied to entity status. Ohio is a notable exception for some entity types but nearly every jurisdiction has some recurring requirement.

Two common deadline models: (A) fixed calendar deadlines (e.g., Delaware corporate report due March 1; Florida due May 1 for annual reports) and (B) anniversary-based windows (due by the end of the anniversary month or during a specified anniversary-month window).

A smaller number of states use biennial schedules (e.g., New York’s Biennial Statement due in the calendar month of formation/qualification every two years) or other periodic schedules (e.g., DC biennial filing on April 1).

Fees vary widely by state and entity type: nominal fees ($0–$50) are common in some states; others charge higher statutory franchise taxes or alternative entity taxes (e.g., Delaware LLC $300 alternative entity tax; Delaware corporations file franchise tax + $50 annual report fee).

Many states also add online transaction fees or credit-card fees. Penalties/late fees and consequences vary: examples include fixed late fees (Florida: $400 late fee for profit entities if not filed by May 1), interest/penalty on unpaid franchise taxes, loss of “good standing”, administrative dissolution or revocation if not reinstated, and reinstatement fees plus past-due filings to return to good standing.

Grace periods vary by state—some provide short windows (e.g., 30 days) to file without further penalty; others treat the filing as delinquent immediately after the due date. Extensions: Explicit statutory or administrative extensions for state reports are uncommon.

Some states allow limited filing windows or accept filings ahead of the due date; extensions similar to federal tax extensions are rare for Secretary of State information filings. For state tax/franchise returns, some states allow extensions or have separate extension procedures—these must be checked on the relevant state revenue/franchise page.

Most states require some recurring filing to maintain an entity’s good standing: an “annual report”, “biennial statement”, “statement of information”, or a franchise/tax return tied to entity status. Ohio is a notable exception for some entity types but nearly every jurisdiction has some recurring requirement.

Two common deadline models: (A) fixed calendar deadlines (e.g., Delaware corporate report due March 1; Florida due May 1 for annual reports) and (B) anniversary-based windows (due by the end of the anniversary month or during a specified anniversary-month window).

A smaller number of states use biennial schedules (e.g., New York’s Biennial Statement due in the calendar month of formation/qualification every two years) or other periodic schedules (e.g., DC biennial filing on April 1).

Fees vary widely by state and entity type: nominal fees ($0–$50) are common in some states; others charge higher statutory franchise taxes or alternative entity taxes (e.g., Delaware LLC $300 alternative entity tax; Delaware corporations file franchise tax + $50 annual report fee).

Many states also add online transaction fees or credit-card fees. Penalties/late fees and consequences vary: examples include fixed late fees (Florida: $400 late fee for profit entities if not filed by May 1), interest/penalty on unpaid franchise taxes, loss of “good standing”, administrative dissolution or revocation if not reinstated, and reinstatement fees plus past-due filings to return to good standing.

Grace periods vary by state—some provide short windows (e.g., 30 days) to file without further penalty; others treat the filing as delinquent immediately after the due date. Extensions: Explicit statutory or administrative extensions for state reports are uncommon.

Some states allow limited filing windows or accept filings ahead of the due date; extensions similar to federal tax extensions are rare for Secretary of State information filings. For state tax/franchise returns, some states allow extensions or have separate extension procedures—these must be checked on the relevant state revenue/franchise page.