Key Takeaways

  • All Montana corporations, LLCs, and nonprofits must file a Montana Annual Report each year by April 15.
  • The filing keeps your business in good standing with the Secretary of State and ensures continued authorization to operate.
  • Reports must be filed online through the Montana Secretary of State’s Business Portal; paper filings are no longer accepted.
  • The annual report fee is $20 if filed on time and $35 after the deadline.
  • Businesses that fail to file by December 1 (domestic) or November 1 (foreign) risk dissolution or revocation.
  • Charities and certain partnerships are not required to file annual reports in Montana.
  • Maintaining accurate business information—such as your registered agent, principal address, and officers—is key to compliance.

Montana Annual Report

The Montana Annual Report is required of registered businesses and must be filed yearly by April 15. Once a business is registered in Montana, an initial report is not required.                         

Who Needs to File an Annual Report in Montana

In Montana, every domestic and foreign corporation, LLC, and nonprofit registered to do business in the state must file an annual report with the Secretary of State. The requirement ensures that the state maintains accurate, up-to-date information about each business, including:

  • Legal business name
  • Registered agent and office address
  • Principal office address
  • Names and addresses of company officers, directors, or members

Entities formed late in the year are still required to file by April 15 of the following year. However, partnerships—including LPs, LLPs, and LLLPs—are on a five-year renewal cycle instead of an annual one.

The Montana Secretary of State provides a centralized online filing system that allows business owners to manage filings, check good standing status, and view previous reports.

Pros for Filing

  • By filing a timely Montana Annual Report, a business is deemed in compliance with the state, which results in the business being considered in good standing.
  • Partnerships in Montana are not required to file an annual report. Registration for partnerships must be renewed every five years.
  • There are no registration requirements for charities registered in Montana.
  • The registered agent for a Montana business will receive a reminder to file an annual report sometime in January or February.

Annual Report Filing Fees in Montana

The Montana annual report filing fee is $20 when submitted on or before April 15. If you miss this deadline, the fee increases to $35.Payment can be made securely online using:

  • Credit or debit card
  • eCheck

Businesses that repeatedly miss filing deadlines may incur additional administrative costs if reinstatement becomes necessary.

To file annual report Montana efficiently, confirm that your registered agent’s contact information and business address are current before submission. Outdated information can delay filing approval or affect your compliance status.

Cons for Not Filing

  • Failure to file an annual report by April 15 will result in a late fee of $15.
  • It can also lead to the involuntary revocation or dissolution of the business by the Secretary of State if the report has not been filed by September 1. A notice is sent to the business to inform those in authority that the business will be revoked or dissolved.
  • A foreign entity that has not filed a report by November 1 will be revoked. A domestic entity has until December 1 to file. If the filing does not take place, the entity is dissolved.

Consequences of Failing to File a Montana Annual Report

Failing to file your annual report in Montana on time has significant consequences:

  • Late fees: A $15 penalty is assessed immediately after the April 15 deadline.
  • Administrative dissolution or revocation:
    • Domestic entities are dissolved if reports remain unfiled by December 1.
    • Foreign entities lose their authority to conduct business in Montana after November 1.
  • Loss of good standing: Your company becomes noncompliant and cannot obtain a Certificate of Good Standing, often required for financing or contracts.
  • Reinstatement costs: Reinstating a dissolved business requires filing all overdue reports and paying both reinstatement and late fees.

Keeping up with your Montana Annual Report helps prevent disruptions to your business operations and ensures you maintain full legal recognition with the state.

Deadline for Filing

In Montana, the annual report for domestic and foreign non-profits, PCs, LLCs, and PLLCs needs to be filed by April 15. Foreign and domestic LPs, LLPs, and LLLPs are due every five years on the anniversary of the initial registration date.

How to File Annual Report Online in Montana

The state has made filing simple by moving to a fully digital system. Follow these steps to file your annual report:

  1. Visit the Montana Secretary of State’s Business Services Portal.
  2. Log in or create an ePass Montana account.
  3. Search for your business using its name or folder number.
  4. Select “File Annual Report” under the “Maintain Business” section.
  5. Review and update key business details such as:
    • Principal office address
    • Registered agent information
    • Member or officer details
  6. Confirm your information and proceed to payment.
  7. Pay the filing fee using a credit card or eCheck.
  8. Submit your report and save the confirmation email for your records.

The Secretary of State typically processes the report immediately, and you’ll receive a confirmation once accepted.

Charities do not need to file an annual report.

Q: Do I have to file my Montana Annual Report online?

A: No. Access the Secretary of State website and click on “Business Forms” to print an annual report. The form will already have information printed on it from the official record. Review the information, then place the form — along with payment for the filing fee using a money order or check made out to the Secretary of State — in the mail.

Q: Where do I mail the annual report?

A: Mail the annual report form and filing fee to the Montana Secretary of State, P. O. Box 202801, Helena, MT 59620-2801.

Steps for Filing a Montana Annual Report

  1. Sign in or create an ePass account on the government website. An ePass account is necessary to file an online annual report in Montana.
  2. Access the government's Business Services homepage found here.
  3. Type in your business name or folder number into the search box.
  4. Select the appropriate LLC, click the tab titled “maintain entity,” and select "Annual Report" from the displayed options.
  5. Read the information to verify that it is correct. If necessary, update any information for the LLC.
  6. Continue through the form to the payment information section.
  7. Fill in the required information for the payment along with contact information.
  8. Submit the annual report.
  9. A confirmation will be sent via email from the Secretary of State once your annual report has been processed and the payment has been accepted.
  10. Not receiving a confirmation may indicate a problem with processing. In this case, a Secretary of State representative will contact you.

Updating Business Information During Filing

During the annual report filing process, businesses can update key details such as:

  • Registered agent or office address changes
  • Business mailing address updates
  • Officer, director, or member information changes

If your registered agent changes, you must file a separate “Registered Agent Change” form before submitting your annual report to ensure accurate processing.

Maintaining current information not only ensures compliance but also ensures you receive timely notices from the Montana Secretary of State about future filings or compliance alerts.

Reinstating a Business After Missing the Deadline

If your business is dissolved or revoked for not filing an annual report, you can reinstate it by:

  1. Logging into your ePass Montana account.
  2. Filing all past-due reports.
  3. Paying all applicable late and reinstatement fees.

The reinstatement process restores your business’s good standing, but future filings must remain timely to avoid permanent closure. It’s best practice to set calendar reminders for upcoming filing deadlines each year.

Frequently Asked Questions

  1. Can I file my Montana annual report by mail?
    No. All Montana annual reports must be filed online through the Secretary of State’s Business Services Portal.
  2. What is the annual report fee in Montana?
    The fee is $20 if filed by April 15, and $35 if filed after that date.
  3. What happens if I miss the filing deadline?
    A late fee applies, and if the report remains unfiled by December 1 (domestic) or November 1 (foreign), your business will be dissolved or revoked.
  4. How can I check if my annual report was processed?
    After filing, you’ll receive a confirmation email. You can also log in to the state’s business portal to verify your filing status.
  5. Do nonprofits and charities have to file annual reports in Montana?
    Nonprofits must file annual reports, but charitable organizations are exempt from this requirement under Montana law.

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