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How to use the deadline finder
- Pick the state where the LLC was formed. If it is also registered in other states, run the finder for each one.
- Enter the formation or registration date if the finder asks for it. For a foreign LLC, use the date it registered in that state, not the date it was formed at home.
- Read the result. It shows the rule in plain words, the next due date where the rule allows a calculation, how often you file and the source page.
You can find the formation date on the company's record in the state register. The LLC lookup guide shows where.
The four rule types you will see
Fixed date. Every LLC in the state files by the same date each year, no matter when it formed. It is easy to remember, so file early to avoid a last minute rush.
Anniversary. The report is due in the month the company was formed or registered, sometimes by a set day of that month, sometimes by the last day of it. Two LLCs in the same state can have different due dates.
Biennial. The report is due every second year.
No report. The state does not ask LLCs for an annual report. Check the state guide for any yearly tax or other filing that applies instead.
Some states also let you file within a window before the due date. The result shows the window if the state sets one.
Keeping track of several states
If your LLC is registered in more than one state, each one runs on its own clock. A company formed in one state and registered in two others can have three different due dates and three different fees. Run the finder for each state and write the dates in one calendar, with a reminder a few weeks ahead. Check that the registered agent and address on file are current, because that is where the state sends its notices.
If you change your registered agent or address between reports, most states have a separate form for that. You do not have to wait for the next annual report.
What the result does not cover
The finder covers the report filed with the state filing office. It does not cover federal or state income tax returns, sales tax, local business licences or a franchise tax that goes to a separate tax agency. Those have their own dates. For federal tax dates, check irs.gov. Our EIN for LLC guide covers the federal tax number.
After you file
Search your company on the state register a few days later and check the report shows in the filing history. Our annual report lookup guide explains where to find it. If the status still shows a problem, contact the filing office. The business entity status guide explains each status word.
The report fee for each state is in the LLC fees by state table.