How to File a California Annual Report for Your LLC
California LLCs file a Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) — not a traditional annual report. Learn the deadlines, fees, required information, and how to file online through the California Secretary of State's bizfile Online portal.
Bizee Editorial Staff
Editorial Team
Introduction
California LLCs don't file a traditional annual report — they file a Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) with the California Secretary of State. Your first filing is due within 90 days of forming your LLC. After that, you file every 2 years. The filing fee is $20, and missing the deadline triggers a $250 penalty.
What is a California Statement of Information?
California's version of an annual report is called a Statement of Information. It's filed using Form LLC-12 with the California Secretary of State. The form updates the state on your LLC's current addresses, management structure, and registered agent — essentially confirming that your business information on file is still accurate.
The form asks for your LLC's legal name, file number, principal office address, mailing address, agent for service of process, and whether the LLC is member-managed or manager-managed. If manager-managed, you'll also list the names and addresses of your managers.
California catches a lot of business owners off guard with this one — the state doesn't send reliable reminders, so tracking the deadline falls on you.
Who has to file a California annual report?
Yes — every LLC registered in California is required to file a Statement of Information. This applies to domestic LLCs formed in California and foreign LLCs registered to do business in the state. There are no exemptions based on business size, revenue, or activity level.
Even if nothing about your LLC has changed since your last filing, you still need to submit the form. The state requires the update regardless.
California annual report due dates
California LLC filing deadlines work in 2 stages: an initial filing due shortly after formation, and then biennial filings on a rolling schedule tied to your original filing date.
Initial filing deadline
Your first Statement of Information is due within 90 days of filing your Articles of Organization with the California Secretary of State. File it online through the bizfile Online portal or by mail using Form LLC-12. Missing this 90-day window triggers a $250 penalty on top of the $20 filing fee.
Biennial filing deadlines
After your initial filing, you file every 2 years. The deadline falls within the calendar quarter of the anniversary month of your original filing date. The exact timing depends on whether your LLC was formed in an even- or odd-numbered year.
If your LLC was formed in an even-numbered year, your first biennial Statement of Information is due by the end of the calendar quarter of the fifth anniversary of your original filing date. If formed in an odd-numbered year, it's due by the end of the calendar quarter of the fourth anniversary. Each subsequent filing follows the same 2-year cycle from there.
How to file the California Statement of Information
You can file the California Statement of Information online, by mail, or in person. Online filing through the California Secretary of State's bizfile Online portal is the fastest option and is available at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov.
File online
Go to bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov and search for your LLC by name or file number. Select your business, choose the Statement of Information filing, and complete the form with your current business information. Pay the $20 fee by credit card. Online filings are generally processed within 2 to 3 business days.
File by mail
Download Form LLC-12 from the California Secretary of State's website at sos.ca.gov/business-programs/business-entities/forms. Complete the form, include a check or money order for $20 payable to the Secretary of State, and mail it to the address listed on the form. Mail processing takes longer than online filing, so build in extra time before your deadline.
File in person
You can drop off a completed Form LLC-12 in person at the California Secretary of State's Sacramento office. Bring the completed form and payment. In-person drop-off does not guarantee same-day processing.
California annual report fees
The filing fee for the California Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) is $20, whether you file online or by mail. That fee applies to both the initial 90-day filing and every biennial filing after that.
The $20 filing fee is separate from California's annual LLC tax. California LLCs owe an $800 minimum franchise tax to the Franchise Tax Board each year, regardless of whether the business earned any income. That's a different requirement from the Statement of Information — don't confuse the two.
What happens if you miss the deadline?
Missing the California Statement of Information deadline means a $250 penalty on top of the standard $20 filing fee. That's true for both the initial 90-day filing and any biennial filing after that.
If you continue to miss filings, the California Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your LLC — meaning your business loses its legal standing in the state. At that point, you'd need to file reinstatement paperwork and pay all outstanding fees and penalties to get back in good standing.
The state doesn't send reliable reminders before the deadline. Put your filing date on your calendar the day you form your LLC — it's much easier to file on time than to deal with reinstatement later.
Frequently asked questions
California doesn't use the term "annual report" — the equivalent filing is called a Statement of Information (Form LLC-12). Every California LLC files it with the Secretary of State to update the state on the business's current addresses, management structure, and registered agent. The filing fee is $20.
Every 2 years, after the initial filing. Your first Statement of Information is due within 90 days of forming your LLC. After that, you file biennially within the calendar quarter of your LLC's original filing anniversary. The exact schedule depends on whether your LLC was formed in an even- or odd-numbered year.
File through the California Secretary of State's bizfile Online portal at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov. Search for your LLC by name or file number, select the Statement of Information filing, complete the form with your current business information, and pay the $20 fee by credit card. Online filings are generally processed within 2 to 3 business days.
Missing the deadline triggers a $250 penalty on top of the standard $20 filing fee. If filings remain overdue, the California Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your LLC. Reinstatement requires filing all outstanding documents and paying the accumulated fees and penalties.
Yes. A newly formed California LLC must file its first Statement of Information (Form LLC-12) within 90 days of filing the Articles of Organization. This initial filing is separate from the biennial filing schedule that follows. Missing the 90-day window results in a $250 penalty.
No. These are 2 separate requirements. The Statement of Information is a $20 filing with the California Secretary of State, due every 2 years. The $800 minimum franchise tax is paid annually to the California Franchise Tax Board and is owed regardless of whether your LLC earned any income. Both are required to keep your LLC in good standing.
You'll need your LLC's legal name, California file number, principal office address, mailing address, and the name and address of your agent for service of process. You'll also indicate whether your LLC is member-managed or manager-managed. If manager-managed, include the names and addresses of all managers.