Georgia Secretary Of State LLC Renewal: Everything You Need to Know
A Georgia Secretary of State LLC renewal is the process followed to renew the status of a limited liability company (LLC) in Georgia by filing an annual report. 3 min read
A Georgia Secretary of State LLC renewal is the process followed to renew the status of a limited liability company (LLC) in Georgia by filing an annual report.
What Is the Georgia Secretary of State?
Georgia residents register to vote through the Secretary of State (SOS), plus this office keeps logs of corporate files (like annual reports), assigns professional licenses, and manages the security markets for the state.
You can contact the Georgia Secretary of State in three ways:
- Visit their website: http://www.sos.ga.gov.
- Send mail to 214 State Capitol, Atlanta, GA 30334.
- Call 404-656-2881.
Business owners starting a new LLC can search for available names on the SOS website. If your desired business name is available for use, it can be reserved for 30 days for $25. Once you're ready to start the business, the filing fee is $100.
How to File the Annual Report or LLC Renewal With the Georgia Secretary of State
All LLCs in the state of Georgia are required to file annual reports with the SOS each year, and any member who is authorized may file the report.
The annual filing fees (after the initial filing) are $50 for most business structures in Georgia, whether foreign or domestic, including the following:
- Corporations
- LLCs
- Nonprofits
- Partnerships
Businesses have two options when they are ready to file the report. They can complete the filing themselves, or hire an agency to do it for them.
If they choose to file on their own, they'll need to visit the Georgia SOS website and follow these instructions:
- Click on the Annual Registration portal.
- Search for their business using its name or EIN.
- Once the correct business is found, select it and update the necessary information or click "confirm" if no information needs to be changed.
Check to make sure the following information is accurate in the SOS records for your business:
- Name of LLC
- Main address of LLC
- Registered agent name and address
- Officer names and address of the LLC
- Authorized person's signature
Any changes to the company must be updated with the SOS by April 1 of each year. If you filed your annual report on January 5, 2018, but your business address changed two weeks later, you'll need to file again to reflect the change by April 1, 2018.
Many online agencies are available to file annual reports for your business, but they charge a fee in addition to the annual report fee charged by the state.
Annual reports or "renewals" can be filed on paper, but it is easier to complete the process online on the SOS Corporate Division website and just pay the fee with a credit card. This way of filing is encouraged, as it helps provide easier and faster processing. The following credit cards are accepted for online payment:
- Visa
- Master Card
- Discover
- American Express
- ATM/debit cards that have the Visa or Master Card logo on the card
If filing by paper form, the form can be printed from the website or obtained in person from the SOS office. Fill out the annual registration form and mail it in with a check or money order for the filing fee. The state will only accept a pre-printed check with the company address included. Counter and starter checks cannot be accepted by the state. If these standards are not met, the state can postpone or even reject your business's annual report filing.
The cost to file an annual report or business renewal (between January 1 and April 1 of each year) in the state of Georgia varies depending on the type of company. Here are the current rates:
- Domestic and foreign corporations and nonprofits pay $50.
- Domestic and foreign LLCs pay $50.
- Domestic and foreign LPs (Limited Partnerships) LLPs (Limited Liability Partnerships), LLLPs (Limited Liability Limited Partnerships) pay $50.
- Charities based in the state pay $20 (these entity types file with the SOS Securities Division and only need to file every two years from when they first registered).
Nonprofits and professional corporations (PCs) in Georgia are required to file an annual report within 90 days of when they incorporated, but other types of business entities in the state don't have this same initial requirement.
If the deadline of April 1 is missed, the LLC owner is required to pay a late fee of $25. If the LLC refuses to file their annual report or ignores the requirement, the business may be dissolved by the state.
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