Annual reports are updates to entity information that are due to the secretary of state every year. To remain in good standing, LLCs, corporations, and nonprofits must file annual reports.
Due dates, filing fees, and forms differ significantly depending on the entity type and whether the entity is domestic or foreign to the state. Some states require biennial reports (due every two years) and even decennial filings, as Pennsylvania does.
In addition to ongoing annual reports, some states require an initial report, which is usually due shortly after filing formation or qualification documents.
On this page, you can quickly navigate to the specific annual report requirements for your corporation, LLC, or nonprofit. The annual report due dates and filing fees for each entity type in each state are listed in our handy reference table.
With little consistency across jurisdictions, organizations of all sizes face difficulties in tracking deadlines and filing on time.
Delaware Annual Report Information
To maintain good status with the secretary of state, corporations and nonprofit organizations must submit annual reports. Most states demand annual reports. Depending on the state and type of company, different deadlines and costs apply.
The deadlines for yearly reports are not consistently communicated by state authorities. You might therefore be keeping track of the deadlines for your company’s annual reports on your own. Perhaps the state sent you a letter notifying you that a yearly report is approaching or, worse still, past due.
What Is an Annual Report?
Business filings with the secretary of state are normally required to include annual reports. Most states require businesses to notify them of any changes to their address, ownership, officers, and registered agent. Certain states demand additional data regarding earnings, possessions, shares, and paid-in capital.
It can be difficult to keep track of many states’ deadlines and submit paperwork on time. A business that registers in several states will have deadlines spread out over the course of the year. They might need to file every two years (biennially) in some states.
Companies invest a great deal of resources in managing annual reports on their own. It takes ongoing attention throughout the year to keep track of deadlines, acquire data, navigate forms and online filing portals, and submit reports on time. Companies with many entities or those registered in multiple states simply add to the complexity. Additionally, to organize their yearly reports, most businesses use spreadsheets, calendar reminders, and file folders.
Why Is a Delaware Annual Report Required?
Nearly every state has laws requiring annual reports. They offer up-to-date data on the organizations registered in their state-to-state agencies. To stay in good standing and carry on with business, your company must submit annual reports.
Late fees may apply if annual reports are not filed on time. Most states impose additional penalties on lapsed entities. These include losing naming rights, losing access to the courts, and being administratively dissolved. Many banks, licensing agencies, and even prospective clients require proof of a company’s good standing. Companies can avoid the costly and potentially embarrassing consequences of noncompliance by filing annual reports on time each year.
How Do I File a Delaware Annual Report?
There are two ways to file a Delaware annual report:
- If you plan to file your Delaware Alternative Entity Tax / Annual Franchise Tax Report / Annual Report on your own, please see the table below for the filing methods available for your legal entity type.
- Sign up for Managed Annual Report Service. Simply enter your information once and update it with us whenever it changes. Throughout the year, our software keeps track of your due dates and automatically files your annual reports.
Where Do I File a Delaware Annual Report?
Alternative Entity Tax / Annual Franchise Tax Report / Annual Reports in Delaware are filed with the Alternative Entity Tax / Annual Franchise Tax Report / Annual Report. Most states will require you to look up your business entity in public records. Make sure to locate your state’s corporate filing authority and conduct a Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations business search.
When is a Delaware Annual Report Due?
The due dates of your annual reports will depend on the type of entity you have and whether your company is based in Delaware. Most of the time, the annual report due date is determined by the date that you form or register with the state. The due dates for your state can be found in the table below.
Databases for the secretary of state are immediately integrated into Harbor Compliance’s software. With our Managed Annual Report Service, we track your annual report due dates properly and file on time each time using your entity data.
What Is the Delaware Annual Report Filing Fee?
Fees for filing annual reports vary depending on the type of entity you have and whether your company is based in or outside of Delaware. The filing costs for your state are listed in the table below.
You no longer need to figure out your charge or send payments to several agencies when using our Managed Annual Report Service. Your precise filing fee is calculated by our program. Just 90 days before the due date for your report, we simply invoice your filing fee through your Client Portal.
Who Can File a Delaware Annual Report?
A Delaware Alternative Entity Tax/Annual Franchise Tax Report/Annual Report may be submitted by any person who is authorized to create and submit company filings. The difficulty arises from having to ensure compliance across organizations and jurisdictions.
Harbor Compliance makes filing annual reports easier. To track deadlines and file annual reports, our Managed Annual Report Service has taken the place of outdated systems. We take care of the need for you to look up requirements, set reminders for due dates, and use government websites to navigate forms and files.
Our service promotes time savings while ensuring filing accuracy. We first check your entity registrations when you sign up to look for noncompliance. To prepare and submit past-due reports, register entities, and restore them to good standing, we also provide additional services.
We keep the quantity of information you give us to a minimum. Simply enter your company’s information into a safe web form, updating it only when necessary. We use the data to automatically file your reports all year round. The annual report filing deadlines and filing costs are tracked by Entity Manager Software for all states and businesses. Obtain rapid access to registration information, entity statuses, and approaching deadlines.
Delaware Annual Report Requirements by Entity Type
To file an annual report in Delaware, see the information in the table below. For information on your Delaware annual report filing fee and due date, select the type of entity you represent.
Domestic Delaware Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $50 annual report fee + franchise tax (minimum of $175) |
| Due | Annually by March 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Law | Delaware Code Title 8 Chapter 5 § 502. |
| Original Ink | Not required |
| Notarize | Not required |
| Penalties | Failure to file the report and pay the required franchise taxes will result in a penalty of $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty. |
| Notes | The report must be signed by the corporation’s president, secretary, treasurer or other proper officers duly authorized so to act, or by any of its directors, or by any incorporator, in the event its board of directors shall not have been elected (Title 8 Chapter 5 § 502 (a) ). |
Foreign Delaware Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $125 |
| Due | Annually by June 30 |
| Law | Delaware Code Title 8 Chapter 5 § 502. |
| Original Ink | Not required |
| Notarize | Not required |
| Penalties | If the Annual Report and remittance is not received by the due date, a $125.00 penalty will be added to filing fee. |
| Notes | The report must be signed by the corporation’s president, secretary, treasurer or other proper officer duly authorized so to act, or by any of its directors, or by any incorporator in the event its board of directors shall not have been elected (Title 8 Chapter 5 § 502 (a) ). |
Delaware Limited Liability Company Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $300 |
| Due | Annually by June 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Law | Delaware Code Title 6 § 18-1107. |
| Original Ink | Not required |
| Notarize | Not required |
| Penalties | $200 + 1.5% interest per month |
Domestic Delaware Nonprofit Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $25 |
| Due | Annually by March 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Law | Delaware Code Title 8 Ch. 5 § 501 |
| Penalties | $200 fee if not filed on time |
Foreign Delaware Nonprofit Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $125 |
| Due | Annually by June 30. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Law | Delaware Code Title 8 Ch. 5 § 501 |
| Penalties | $125 fee if not filed on time |
Domestic Delaware Professional Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $50 annual report fee + franchise tax (minimum of $175). |
| Due | Annually by March 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Penalties | Failure to file the report and pay the required franchise taxes will result in a penalty of $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty. |
| Notes | The report must be signed by the corporation’s president, secretary, treasurer or other proper officer duly authorized so to act, or by any of its directors, or by any incorporator in the event its board of directors shall not have been elected (Title 8 Chapter 5 § 502 (a) ). |
Delaware Limited Partnership Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $300 |
| Due | Annually by June 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Penalties | $200 + 1.5% interest per month |
Delaware Limited Liability Partnership Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Form | LLP Annual Report |
| Agency | $200 per partner |
| Due | Annually by June 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Law | Delaware Code Title 6 Chapter 15 § 1003. |
Delaware General Partnership Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $300 |
| Due | Annually by June 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Penalties | $200 + 1.5% interest per month |
Domestic Delaware Benefit Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $50 annual report fee + franchise tax (minimum of $175) |
| Due | Annually by March 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Penalties | Failure to file the report and pay the required franchise taxes will result in a penalty of $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty. |
| Notes | The report must be signed by the corporation’s president, secretary, treasurer or other proper officer duly authorized so to act, or by any of its directors, or by any incorporator in the event its board of directors shall not have been elected (Title 8 Chapter 5 § 502 (a) ). |
Domestic Delaware Close Corporation Annual Report Requirements:
| Agency | Delaware Department of State – Division of Corporations |
| Filing Method | Online |
| Agency Fee | $50 annual report fee + franchise tax (minimum of $175) |
| Due | Annually by March 1. The first report is due in the calendar year following initial registration. |
| Penalties | Failure to file the report and pay the required franchise taxes will result in a penalty of $200 plus 1.5% interest per month on tax and penalty. |
This guide is part of Taxation & Accounting in our Launch Guide.
