Each entity has statutory requirements in order to keep the company current and active on the records of the Secretary of State’s Office, they are:

• Paying penalties, fees or other payments due within sixty (60) days;
• Each business corporation, limited liability company, and limited liability partnership is required to file an annual report timely (see below for specific requirements);
• Notify the Secretary of State’s Office within sixty (60) days of any change in the Registered Agent’s Name and/or Registered Office Address;
• Notify the Secretary of State’s Office within sixty (60) days of any change in the Principal Office Address;
• Respond to any interrogatories promulgated by the Secretary of State’s Office within thirty (30) days;
• If a partnership, notify the Secretary of State’s Office of any change in partnership information originally registered.

Failure to comply with the above requirements may be grounds for administrative dissolution or revocation of the authority to conduct business in North Carolina. For more information about administrative dissolutions, see the Business Service’s Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs).

Annual Report Requirements

Each domestic and foreign Business Corporation, Limited Liability Company, Limited Liability Partnership and Limited Liability Limited Partnership, other than professional entities formed under Chapter 55B of the N.C. General Statutes, is required to deliver an annual report to the Secretary of State. The annual report to be delivered to the NC Secretary of State contains contact information for the company and is due regardless of whether the company is actually conducting business. The information contained in the annual report must be current as of the date the annual report is executed on behalf of the company.

Annual Report Due Dates

Each entity type has its own due date as specified below.

Business Corporation

An annual report filed electronically with the Secretary of State is due by the fifteenth (15th) day of the fourth month following the close of the corporation’s fiscal year. The Business Corporation annual report filed electronically online 24/7 in real-time with the Secretary of State is $18.00, plus a $3.00 electronic filing fee.

Limited Liability Company

The first annual report is due on April 15th of the year following the creation year and every year thereafter on or before April 15th. The annual report may either be filed electronically 24/7 in real-time or a pre-populated annual report may be downloaded online and mailed to the NC Secretary of State’s Office. The address to mail the annual report is listed on the footer of the report. The annual report fee for a limited liability company is $200.00. If filed electronically, there is a $3.00 transaction fee.

Limited Liability Partnership

An annual report filed electronically with the Secretary of State is due by the fifteenth (15th) day of the fourth month following the close of the LLP’s fiscal year. The annual report may either be filed electronically 24/7 in real-time or a pre-populated annual report may be downloaded online and mailed to the NC Secretary of State’s Office. The address to mail the annual report is listed on the footer of the report. The annual report fee for a limited liability partnership, including limited liability limited partnerships is $200.00.