The North Carolina Annual Report is a mandatory regulatory filing for business entities registered to operate within the state. This yearly submission serves to update the entity’s structure and contact details with the Secretary of State (SOS). Timely filing is necessary for any corporation or limited liability company to maintain its legal status and remain in good standing. Understanding the specific due date for your entity type is a fundamental compliance obligation.
The Critical Distinction: Entity Type Determines Reporting
Compliance requirements can be confusing because the Annual Report is often conflated with a business’s annual tax filing. North Carolina’s filing schedule is closely integrated with the tax calendar, unlike some other states that require a separate informational filing. Although the report is a distinct document submitted to the SOS, the deadline for its submission is directly linked to the entity’s chosen fiscal year or the federal tax deadline. This integration creates the variation in due dates across different business structures.
Deadlines for Corporations
North Carolina corporations (C-Corporations and S-Corporations) must submit their Annual Report based on their fiscal year. The report is due on the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of the corporation’s fiscal year. This requirement is established under North Carolina General Statute G.S. 55-16-22.
For a corporation operating on a standard calendar year (ending December 31st), the filing deadline is typically April 15th. This date aligns with federal and state corporate income tax return deadlines. If a corporation’s fiscal year ends on a different month, such as June 30th, the Annual Report is due on October 15th of the same year. This fiscal-year-based schedule ensures the state receives updated corporate information.
Reporting Requirements for Limited Liability Companies and Partnerships
Limited Liability Companies (LLCs), Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs), and Limited Liability Limited Partnerships (LLLPs) must file an annual informational report with the SOS. The reporting schedule for LLCs differs from corporations: LLCs must file their Annual Report by April 15th each year, regardless of their fiscal year or formation date.
This fixed April 15th deadline for LLCs removes the complexity of calculating the due date based on the fiscal year end. Partnerships (LLPs and LLLPs) follow the corporate schedule, requiring their Annual Report submission by the 15th day of the fourth month following the close of their fiscal year. For calendar year partnerships, this results in an April 15th due date, tied to their tax year.
Filing the Report: Required Information and Submission Process
The Annual Report confirms and updates the entity’s basic administrative details. Businesses must confirm or update their registered agent’s name and physical street address, which is the official contact point for service of process. The filing also requires the principal office address and telephone number to be provided.
For corporations, the report must include the names, titles, and business addresses of the principal officers and directors. Submissions are generally completed electronically through the SOS website, which is the most efficient method for processing the report. Filing fees vary by entity type: corporations typically pay $20 to $25, while LLCs and partnerships incur a higher fee, generally between $200 and $203, depending on the filing method.
Penalties for Non-Compliance
North Carolina does not assess monetary late fees or fines for a delinquent Annual Report filing. Instead, the state utilizes a more severe consequence to enforce compliance. If an entity fails to submit the report by the due date, the SOS will send a notice indicating grounds for administrative dissolution or revocation of the entity’s authority.
Upon receiving this notice, the business has a 60-day window to file the missing Annual Report and restore compliance. Failure to remedy the delinquency within this period results in the administrative dissolution of a domestic entity or the revocation of authority for a foreign entity. This action terminates the entity’s legal status and can expose owners to personal liability for business debts.