When you formed your company with the state—whether you opted for a corporation or an LLC—you filed initial formation documents that provided the state with basic information about your company and appointed a registered agent. Those two steps completed the formation process. However, they were not the end of your obligations to the state.
As long as you continue to operate as an LLC or corporation, you must maintain a registered agent. And, most states require that you file an annual report that supplies current information regarding your company.
Your Registered Agent is the state’s official point of contact for our business. The state sends important compliance information and official correspondence to your registered agent, who then forwards those documents to the appropriate contact person in your business. These mission-critical documents include annual report notifications and forms, as well as tax forms and documents.
In addition, the registered agent receives service of process, which is the legal paperwork that gives your company official notice of a lawsuit. Other important legal documents the registered agent may receive include wage garnishment notices and subpoenas. Given the importance of the documents that the registered agent handles, it is essential that your agent be competent and experienced. With official notifications, time is often “of the essence” and a professional registered agent, such as Incorporators.com, Inc, is best equipped to handle the task effectively.
Nearly every state requires a periodic report that updates an LLC’s or corporation’s basic information, such as the principle business location, officers’ (or managers’) names, and the name and address of the registered agent. Most states have an annual requirement, although a few require a report only every other year. In some states, the franchise tax requirement is tied to the annual report filing requirement. In Delaware for example, the annual franchise tax report is used to calculate the franchise tax and update the basic information.
States also vary widely regarding the due dates for the annual reports. Although many do require a report to be filed in the spring, that is certainly not always the case. What’s more, many states tie the annual report due date to the anniversary of the company’s formation. While most states have a penalty for missing the deadline, some states prohibit a company from filing too far in advance of the due date.
Failing to maintain a registered agent or failing to file the annual report within the period allowed by the state can have serious repercussions. A company that does not meet these obligations will forfeit its good standing with the state. This can jeopardize expansion plans and financing opportunities as a certificate of good standing is routinely required to register to do business in a new state and to obtain many types of financing.
The state can administratively dissolve the company if the failure to comply continues long enough. Once administratively dissolved, the company can no longer conduct its usual business and anyone doing business on its behalf may be held personally liable for company debts incurred during that period. An out-of-state company can have its certificate of authority revoked, depriving it of the right to bring lawsuits and increasing the risk of exposure to its owners. Fines and interest charges can also be imposed on the company; and, in some states, fines can also be imposed on the owners.
You can’t run a small business without being ready to tackle whatever comes your way. But, sometimes it makes sense to enlist the help of a seasoned professional to make sure that the job is done efficiently and correctly. Managing your annual report filings often fall into that category—particularly if you are doing business in more than one state.
An annual report managed service:
Ensuring that your report is filed correctly and on time is the most obvious benefit of using an annual report managed service. But there is a more subtle benefit. You do not have to try and determine if there have been any law changes that affect your company. Your compliance partner handles the ongoing monitoring of all the states in which you are doing business.
The best way to prevent compliance obligations from falling through the cracks with disastrous results is to leverage the power of your professional registered agent by allowing your registered agent to manage your annual report obligations. The registered agent is in an ideal position to make sure you stay on track because the agent receives official communication from the state.
Moreover, your agent knows whom to contact within your company to verify information and make needed updates. A professional registered agent company, such as Incorporators.com, Inc, monitors the developments within each state and can alert you when there are changes and help you remain in compliance.
If you operate in multiple states, working with a single registered agent company can ensure that your information is correctly provided to all the jurisdictions and any state-required documents are filed in a timely manner. Missed deadlines and paperwork snafus can derail your business. Empowering your registered agent to handle your annual compliance can prevent that from happening.
