Keeping your limited liability company (LLC) compliant is crucial for maintaining your legal protections and avoiding dissolution. If you’re opening an LLC in Nebraska, one key compliance requirement to be aware of is filing a biennial report. This mandatory report provides updated information about your LLC to the state and keeps your business active and in good standing.
Failing to properly file your biennial report can lead to serious consequences, including loss of good standing and potential administrative dissolution of your LLC by the state of Nebraska. To avoid these outcomes and remain compliant, partnering with a service can be highly beneficial. Tailor Brands’ team can monitor your due dates and handle your biennial report filings for you, giving you peace of mind that this critical requirement is met on time.
Here’s everything you need to know about Nebraska LLC biennial reports, from requirements and filing to what happens if you fail to file.
What to know about a biennial report in Nebraska
A biennial report is a filing due every other year that provides updated information about your LLC to the Nebraska Secretary of State. This mandatory report confirms that your LLC is still active and ensures the state has your current registered agent and business information.
Purpose of the biennial report
The main purposes of the biennial report are:
- To confirm your LLC is still operating and wishes to remain active in Nebraska
- To update any changes to your Nebraska registered agent, designated office and principal office addresses
- To provide updated contact information to the state
- To maintain compliance and remain in good standing
Without filing this report, your LLC could face dissolution by the state or loss of good standing status. So it’s crucial to understand the requirements and file on time.
Additional details on the purpose
Beyond the core purposes outlined above, the biennial report serves a few additional key functions:
- It allows the state to remove inactive or non-compliant LLCs. Requiring this regular filing ensures only legitimate and operating LLCs remain officially registered and in good standing.
- It acts as a point of reconciliation between your LLC’s information on file and any changes that occurred over the past two years. Keeping this data updated ensures accuracy.
- It provides ongoing oversight and monitoring to guarantee LLCs follow regulations and requirements. The need to file every two years motivates LLCs to remain compliant.
So, in short, the biennial report allows the Secretary of State to clean up their registrations, collect updated details, and monitor compliance.
Nebraska biennial report filing fees
The Nebraska LLC filing fee to file your biennial report is $25 if you file online (plus the Nebraska.gov online service charge) or $30 by mail. This must be paid at the time of filing. The biennial report filing fee helps offset administrative costs for processing reports and maintaining updated LLC records and information.
All LLCs registered in Nebraska are required to pay the fee as part of meeting their biennial report obligations.
Biennial Report Due Dates
Nebraska LLC biennial reports are due between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year. Your first report is due in the first odd-numbered year after the year you formed your LLC.
For example, an LLC formed in 2026 files its first report between January 1 and April 1, 2027, and then again in 2029, 2031 and so on.
Be sure to calendar your biennial report due dates as soon as you form your LLC to ensure you meet these ongoing compliance obligations.
How to file a biennial report in Nebraska
Filing your biennial report only takes a few steps. Here is an overview of what’s required:
Fill out the report with required information
You’ll need to provide the following information on your Nebraska biennial report:
- LLC name
- Street and mailing addresses of your designated office
- Registered agent’s name and addresses
- Street and mailing addresses of your principal office
- Nebraska reference/identification number
Take time to carefully and accurately fill in all required fields. Verifying this information is current before submitting the report is wise.
Errors or outdated data could lead to potential rejection of your filing or delays until corrected. You want to get it right the first time and file a complete, compliant biennial report.
Consider reviewing your full LLC records to confirm none of the required information has changed since your last biennial report or formation filing.
Choose your filing method
You have three options to file your biennial report in Nebraska:
File Online
You can conveniently file your biennial report online through the Nebraska Secretary of State website during the reporting period. This only takes a few minutes, and you’ll get a confirmation by email.
Filing online is typically the fastest and easiest method. Just be sure to have your payment information handy.
File by mail
Check the Secretary of State’s biennial reporting page for current instructions, then mail your completed report along with your $30 payment to:
Nebraska Secretary of State
Business Services Division
P.O. Box 94608
Lincoln, NE 68509
With mail filing, you’ll want to send your report early to ensure it is received by the due date deadline. Allow extra time for mail delivery and processing.
Use a compliance service
You can work with a compliance company like Tailor Brands that will handle monitoring due dates and filing your biennial report for you. This ensures you meet the deadline and removes the burden of tracking requirements.
Using a compliance service gives you assurance that experienced professionals are managing this reporting requirement for your LLC. You’ll avoid any penalties or dissolution without having to remember to file yourself.
Pay the filing fee
Whether filing online, by mail or through a service, you must pay the filing fee: $25 online (by card) or $30 by mail (check payable to the Secretary of State). Ensure you include this payment with your biennial report.
Having a rejected filing because you forgot the required fee could lead to missing your due date, so be sure to include payment. Some compliance services will pay the fee as part of their service.
File on time
To stay in good standing, be sure to file your Nebraska biennial report between January 1 and April 1 of the reporting year. Mark your calendar ahead of time so you don’t miss this important deadline.
Give yourself at least 5 to 10 days of cushion before April 1 to allow for any potential delays or errors in submission. You don’t want to risk trying to file on the actual due date and running into issues that could cause a late filing. Plan ahead and file early.
What happens if you fail to file on time?
Unfortunately, there can be serious consequences in Nebraska if you do not file your biennial report on time, such as:
Delinquent status
Nebraska doesn’t charge a late fee for biennial reports. However, a report not filed by April 1 is past due, and the Secretary of State treats reports still unfiled after June 16 as delinquent and begins the administrative dissolution process.
Administrative dissolution
If you don’t file within 60 days after the due date, the Secretary of State can send a notice. If you still don’t file within 60 days of that notice, your LLC is administratively dissolved (Neb. Rev. Stat. 21-151). A dissolved LLC continues to exist only to wind up its affairs.
You can apply for reinstatement within five years of dissolution by filing the missed biennial reports, a reinstatement application, and a $30 reinstatement fee. Reinstatement takes effect as of the dissolution date, as if the dissolution never happened. After five years, late reinstatement costs $500.
It’s still best to avoid dissolution altogether by filing on time.
Loss of good standing
If your report is late, your LLC may not be able to get a certificate of good standing, which many lenders require. This could limit your ability to conduct business, including issues opening bank accounts, getting loans, signing contracts, etc.
Lenders, vendors, and partners may refuse to work with an LLC that’s not in good standing. So you risk significant business disruptions by losing your compliant status. Get any late filings up to date ASAP.
Additional penalties
Once your LLC is administratively dissolved, it may only carry on activities needed to wind up its affairs. This is why it’s so important not to miss your biennial report deadline.
Continuing to do business after dissolution, beyond winding up, can put members’ liability protection at risk. Don’t take chances. Keep your filings current.
Conclusion
As you can see, remaining compliant with Nebraska’s mandatory biennial report for LLCs is crucial. Be sure to track your upcoming due date, gather all required information, and file between January 1 and April 1 of every odd-numbered year. Reach out to Tailor Brands if you need any help meeting this important requirement for your Nebraska LLC. Staying active and in good standing will save you penalties down the road!
FAQ
To change your registered agent or designated office between reports, file a Statement of Change ($25 online, $30 by mail). You can also correct a filed biennial report for $30. Don’t wait until the biennial report to update this information.
Yes, biennial reports are required even if your LLC is inactive or not conducting business in Nebraska. Failing to file could still result in administrative dissolution.
You can get the form from the Nebraska Secretary of State website, or use the online filing system to complete the report digitally during the reporting period.
Your first biennial report is due between January 1 and April 1 of the first odd-numbered year after the year your LLC was formed.
You can file once the reporting period opens on January 1 of an odd-numbered year. The deadline is April 1.