File Early Florida: Annual Report Filing Deadline on May 1

TALLAHASSEE –

Secretary of State Ken Detzner issued the following statement reminding business entities in Florida that the deadline for filing their annual reports is May 1, 2015.

“The May 1 deadline for business entities to file their annual reports is fast approaching,” said Secretary Detzner. “The Department of State’s official filing website, Sunbiz.org, provides a user-friendly and secure platform to file your report and is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. I encourage all business owners to file prior to the deadline to avoid a late fee.”

Provided below are additional resources from the Department of State as the filing deadline approaches:

 Frequently Asked Questions: Annual Report Filing

 What is an annual report?  

• An annual report must be filed each year for your business entity to maintain an "active status" with the Department of State.
• The annual report is required whether you need to make changes or not. 
• The annual report is not a financial statement.
• The report is used to update or confirm the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations' records.
• The data displayed on the entity’s online annual report form is the most current data on file with the Division of Corporations.

How do I file my annual report?  

• The annual report is filed online at Sunbiz.org. 
• Simply click on the blue box entitled “File Current Year Annual Report or Amended Annual Report.”
• Note:Sunbiz.org is the only approved website for annual report filings. Our home page contains a banner at the top of the page stating 'Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations.' 

 When is the annual report due?  

• The report is due by May 1 of each year.
• If paying by check or money order, the payment voucher and check or money order must be postmarked and mailed on or before May 1.
• A $400 late fee will be imposed on all profit corporations, limited liability companies, limited partnerships, and limited liability limited partnerships that fail to file their annual reports on or before May 1. Not-for-profit corporations are not subject to the $400 late fee.

 How much does it cost to file an annual report?  

• If the report is filed by May 1, the annual report filing fee is as follows: $150 for a profit corporation; $61.25 for a not-for-profit corporation; $138.75 for a limited liability company; and $500 for a limited partnership or limited liability limited partnership.
• Payment may be made by credit card, check or through an established Sunbiz.org account.
• A $400 late fee will apply to profit corporation, limited liability company, limited partnership and limited liability limited partnership annual reports filed after May 1.
• Not-for-profit corporations are not subject to the $400 late fee.

 Can the $400 late fee be waived or abated?  

• There is no provision to abate or waive the $400 late fee. Section 607.193(2)(b), F.S., was repealed during the 2010 Legislative Session.
• All business entities, except non-profit corporations, must pay the $400 late fee if their annual report is filed after May 1, even if the business entity did not receive its annual report filing notices.

 What happens if I don’t file the annual report?  

• Failure to file an annual report by the third Friday of September will result in the administrative dissolution or revocation of the business entity on our records at the close of business on the fourth Friday of September.
• Administratively dissolved or revoked entities may be reinstated by submitting the appropriate reinstatement application and the appropriate fees due to the Division of Corporations’ at the time the entity applies for reinstatement.

 About the Division of Corporations

The Florida Department of State’s Division of Corporations serves as the state of Florida’s official business entity index, is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week through Sunbiz.org. As the first stop for starting or staying in business in Florida, it is also an excellent resource for locating businesses operating in the Sunshine State. The Division is a ministerial filing agency with two broad functional services; formalizing the legal standing of a business or activity by accepting and indexing the filing or registration, and supplying information and certification regarding the filings and activities of record.  The Division maintains over eight million records and annually performs approximately five million activities. For more information, visit Sunbiz.org.

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