How to File a Florida Annual Report
Learn how to file a Florida annual report online through the Sunbiz e-file portal. Covers required information, filing fees, deadlines, and what happens if you miss the May 1 cutoff.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
Every LLC, corporation, and nonprofit registered in Florida must file an annual report with the Florida Department of State each year to stay in good standing. Filing happens online through the Sunbiz e-file portal. The deadline is May 1, and missing it triggers a $400 late penalty.
What a Florida annual report is
A Florida annual report is a state-required filing that confirms your business's current registered agent, principal address, and officer or member information. It doesn't report financials — it's a record update that keeps your business authorized to operate in Florida. Every LLC, corporation, S Corp, C Corp, and nonprofit registered in the state must file one each year.
The filing window opens January 1 and the deadline is May 1. Florida doesn't assign different deadlines based on when your business was formed — the May 1 cutoff applies to all registered entities.
Why filing on time matters
Missing the May 1 deadline doesn't just mean a fine — it puts your business's legal standing at risk. Florida charges a $400 late penalty for annual reports filed after May 1. If your business still hasn't filed by the third Friday of September, the Florida Department of State can administratively dissolve it.
Administrative dissolution means your business loses its authority to operate in Florida. You can't sign contracts, open bank accounts, or do business under your registered name. Reinstating a dissolved entity requires a separate application and additional fees on top of the original penalty.
The $400 late fee catches a lot of business owners off guard — it's not a small administrative charge, it's a real cost that's easy to avoid by filing before May 1.
How to file your Florida annual report
Florida annual reports are filed online through the Sunbiz e-file portal at sunbiz.org. There's no paper option — the state requires online filing. Before you start, have your document number ready. You'll find it on your original formation paperwork or by searching the Sunbiz business database.
Information you'll need
Gather the following before you start the filing:
- Your Florida document number
- Your business name and principal address
- Mailing address (if different from principal address)
- Registered agent name and address
- Names and addresses of all officers, directors, or members
- Your Federal Employer Identification Number (FEIN), if applicable
- Your signature
Filing fees by entity type
The fee depends on your entity type. Florida charges different rates for LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits. You can pay online by credit card or mail a check or money order to the Department of State.
- LLC: $138.75
- For-profit corporation: $150.00
- Nonprofit corporation: $61.35
Step-by-step filing process
The Sunbiz portal walks you through the filing in a few steps. Most business owners complete it in under 15 minutes.
- Go to sunbiz.org and select "File Annual Report" from the e-filing menu
- Enter your document number to pull up your business record
- Review and update your registered agent, address, and officer or member information
- Review the pre-filled information and make any needed corrections
- Pay the filing fee by credit card online, or print the form and mail a check or money order
- Save or print your confirmation — the state sends a confirmation email once the filing is processed
Changes you can make during filing
The annual report is also your opportunity to update the state on changes from the past year. You can update your registered agent, principal office address, mailing address, and the names and addresses of officers, directors, or members directly in the filing. Some changes — like amending your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation — require separate filings with the state and can't be handled through the annual report alone.
FAQ
The Florida annual report is due by May 1 each year. The filing window opens January 1, so you can file any time between January 1 and April 30 to avoid the $400 late penalty. The May 1 deadline applies to all registered entities — LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits alike.
It depends on your entity type. LLCs pay $138.75, for-profit corporations pay $150.00, and nonprofit corporations pay $61.35. If you miss the May 1 deadline, a $400 late penalty is added on top of the standard fee regardless of entity type.
Florida annual reports are filed online through the Sunbiz e-file portal at sunbiz.org. The state doesn't accept paper filings by mail. You'll need your Florida document number to start — find it on your original formation documents or by searching the Sunbiz business database.
Missing the May 1 deadline triggers a $400 late penalty. If your business still hasn't filed by the third Friday of September, the Florida Department of State can administratively dissolve it — meaning your business loses its authority to operate in Florida. Reinstating a dissolved entity requires a separate application and additional fees.
Yes. Every Florida LLC must file an annual report each year to stay in good standing with the state. The fee is $138.75 and the deadline is May 1. Filing late adds a $400 penalty, and not filing at all can result in the state administratively dissolving your LLC.
Yes. The annual report lets you update your registered agent, principal office address, mailing address, and officer or member information. Changes to your formation documents — like your Articles of Organization or Articles of Incorporation — require separate filings and can't be made through the annual report.
The Florida Department of State — often called the Florida Secretary of State — runs the Sunbiz e-file portal at sunbiz.org. That's where all Florida annual reports are filed. The portal also lets you search business records, update registered agent information, and access your document number if you've misplaced it.
