Filing an LLC Annual Report in California

Those who open an LLC in California will need to complete numerous documents not just at the start of the process when forming it but throughout the lifetime of owning the LLC. One of those reports is what most states call an annual report. California calls it the Statement of Information. California requires both an initial Statement of Information and a biennial Statement of Information after that. It is a requirement – failing to do so could result in fines. Here’s what you need to know about these reports.

What is an annual report: recap

An annual report in most states is a document that outlines the general information about your LLC. It also includes any changes that have occurred over the previous year, or in the case of California, the previous two years. 

The state of California requires this report to keep its records of your company current. Additionally, it can provide the state with information to determine if the business is operating under state requirements. 

The purpose of an annual report is simply to share information with the state about the LLC. It allows you to share the requested and required data with the state about your company. It also helps publicly disclose your business information and some conditions that have changed over the previous years. 

This report typically provides information about the LLC’s managers or members, the setup of the business, and any other changes since the previous Statement of Information. 

In California, there is a $20 filing fee for the Statement of Information, paid by your business to the Secretary of State.

It is also important to note that California expects organizations to file an updated Statement of Information if their information changes, even if the next biennial filing isn’t due yet. For example, if your registered agent changes or the LLC’s managers change, you should update your information with the state.

California LLC annual report requirement

Understanding what is in this report is important. Most of the information is very technical and basic, but it is still essential to get it right. This report includes:

• The LLC business name
• The principal office and mailing addresses
• The names and addresses of the LLC’s managers (or members, if there are no managers)
• The type of business the LLC conducts
• The registered agent’s contact information, whether it is you or another individual or company
• Your LLC’s Secretary of State entity number, assigned when you formed your LLC
• The CEO’s name and address, if the LLC has one

How to file an annual report in California

In California, LLCs must file their initial Statement of Information within 90 days of filing their Articles of Organization. Most of the information for this statement comes right from your Articles of Organization. In addition to that, you need the names and addresses of your LLC’s managers or members. After this initial filing, you will need to file this document every two years. 

Due dates

Unlike other states that require an annual report, in California, this report needs to be completed every two years. It’s due by the end of the month in which your LLC was originally registered. For example, if you established your LLC on March 12th, each biennial Statement of Information is due by March 31st. 

In California, you can file this report early. The state provides a six-month filing window that ends on the last day of your registration month. You can file it any time in those six months to meet the requirement. For example, if you formed your LLC in March 2025, your next Statement of Information is due by March 31, 2027, and you can file it any time from October 1, 2026. 

File online

The state of California allows you to file both your initial Statement of Information and all others online. This is the way the state prefers that you send in this information because it is more efficient for them (and you, too!).

You can complete the Statement of Information on the Secretary of State’s website: bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. Since August 1, 2026, filing online requires a bizfile account with User Access to your business. Visit the Statements of Information page for the specific steps to complete the form. 

The LLC cost California to complete this filing is a $20 fee to be paid to the state. That is done using a credit or debit card when making the payment online.

File by mail

The second option for completing your Statement of Information is to send the completed document through the mail. You can access the necessary form (Form LLC-12) on the Secretary of State’s website. Once you have the form, download it, complete it, and then send it to:

Secretary of State

Statement of Information Unit

P.O. Box 944230

Sacramento, CA 94244-2300

The same $20 filing fee is required and must be sent with your statement through the mail.

Fill in the form with the above information requirements

The Statement of Information form requires information that typically is contained in your Articles of Organization. This includes your business address, the names of your managers or members, their addresses, and details about what the business does. You also need to provide updated information about your Registered Agent and any other changes that have occurred to the business since its formation.

File with a compliance service

There is a lot of detail to include in the Statement of Information. You do not have to complete this yourself if you choose to have a company like ours help you. We provide Annual Compliance. This helps ensure that you meet all state requirements throughout the year – and there could be others associated with your business.

If you use our service, we will complete the proper forms and submit them to the Secretary of State in California for you. We handle the entire filing process, so there is nothing that you have to worry about when it comes to managing your LLC with the state. It is fast and simple to use our service, and you really do not have to think twice about doing so.

What happens if you fail to file on time (or at all)?

This is one of the biggest problems for LLC owners. They lack the time or do not remember to take these required steps. The Secretary of State may send reminder notices, but filing on time is your responsibility, whether or not you get a reminder.

If you failed to do so, you could face a few outcomes:

Late fees and fines

The most common occurrence when the Statement of Information is missed is the requirement to pay a penalty. For an LLC, the penalty is $250 (exempt nonprofit organizations pay $50), and it’s collected by the Franchise Tax Board. This penalty can add up every time you miss your filing – and keep in mind that you still have to file the Statement of Information and pay the filing fee for doing so ($20). 

Penalties

In some situations, the state can take additional action. For example, your LLC may lose its good standing until you file this information. 

Suspension

Often due to long-term missing of the filing deadline or just not filing the Statement of Information at all, the state may suspend or forfeit your LLC’s registration. When it does this, your LLC loses the right to do business in California. That may mean that you have to stop operations until you fix the problem and get the LLC reinstated.

Making the process easy to manage

There is no doubt that completing the Statement of Information through the California Secretary of State website is a critical step in managing your LLC. It does not have to be a complex process, especially if you complete it online through the state’s business portal. Yet, you have to remember to do it, and you cannot forget to update this information over time. For that reason, it is often best to utilize our services to help you complete all the state’s reporting requirements. 

Filing accurate Statements of Information is a must in California to avoid penalties. To ensure you do not miss any information, set up reminders or allow our team to help you complete the requirements. 

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