Filing
Statement of Information
How often
Every two years
Due
Every two years during the filing window made up of the calendar month the Articles of Organization were filed and the five months before it
When the California Statement of Information is due
California LLCs file a Statement of Information every two years. It is due every two years during the filing window made up of the calendar month the Articles of Organization were filed and the five months before it.
The first one is due within 90 days after the Articles of Organization are filed.
Because it is filed every two years, it is easy to forget. Put the month in your calendar now, or let our compliance tracker work out the date for you.
What the Statement of Information asks for
It confirms or updates what the state holds about your LLC. Expect to give:
- The LLC's name and California file number
- The principal office and mailing address
- Your registered agent's name and address in California
- The members or managers, as your state's form asks
If something has changed since the last filing, such as a new member or manager, update your operating agreement first so the two match.
If you miss it
The LLC falls out of good standing on California's records. Most states also add a late penalty, and many administratively dissolve an LLC whose report stays unfiled. Without good standing, banks and partners ask questions, some contracts cannot be signed, and a dissolved LLC has to file for reinstatement. The sources below set out exactly what California does.
State tax on California LLCs
Every LLC organized or doing business in California owes an annual LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board, first due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the start of its first taxable year and on the same schedule each year after. LLCs with higher total California income also owe an LLC fee that scales with that income, estimated and paid by the 15th day of the 6th month of the tax year. LLCs file Form 568 with the Franchise Tax Board.
Read more: California LLC annual tax and LLC fee.
How to file
File with the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, online. Have your file number and your current agent and address details ready.
Or have it done
$899 / year annual LLC tax included
We file the Statement of Information whenever it is due and pay the annual LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board.
Worth knowing in California
- Failing to file the Statement of Information can lead to Franchise Tax Board penalties and suspension or forfeiture of the LLC.
- Articles of Organization and Statements of Information are filed online through bizfile Online.
Sources
Related
Frequently asked questions
When is the California Statement of Information due?
California LLCs file a Statement of Information every two years. It is due every two years during the filing window made up of the calendar month the Articles of Organization were filed and the five months before it. The first one is due within 90 days after the Articles of Organization are filed.
Where do I file the California Statement of Information?
With the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division, which accepts it online. You will need the LLC's name or file number to find it.
What happens if I miss the California Statement of Information?
The LLC falls out of good standing on California's records. Most states also add a late penalty, and many administratively dissolve an LLC whose report stays unfiled; reinstating it takes another filing. Check the California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division's rules, linked below, for exactly what California does.
Does every California LLC have to file, even with no income?
Yes. The Statement of Information is about keeping the LLC active on the state's records, not about income. An LLC with no activity still files.
Can StartGlobal file my California Statement of Information?
Yes. For $899 a year we file the Statement of Information whenever it is due and pay the annual LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board. The LLC fee that applies only to LLCs with higher California income is not included.
Is there also a state tax on California LLCs?
Every LLC organized or doing business in California owes an annual LLC tax to the Franchise Tax Board, first due by the 15th day of the 4th month after the start of its first taxable year and on the same schedule each year after. LLCs with higher total California income also owe an LLC fee that scales with that income, estimated and paid by the 15th day of the 6th month of the tax year. LLCs file Form 568 with the Franchise Tax Board.
