Starting January 1, 2025, nearly every registered business entity in Pennsylvania will be required to file an annual report with the state. This is a new requirement under Pennsylvania law. The first annual report for a business is due in the calendar year following its formation or initial registration in Pennsylvania. Compliance officers and business owners should prepare now, as missing the deadline can result in severe penalties. Below, we explain who must file, what information is required, when reports are due, how to file (and the associated costs), and what happens if you fail to file.
Who Must File
Pennsylvania’s Department of State is clear that many types of domestic and foreign entities are required to file an annual report. Required filers include:
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Business corporations – domestic and foreign (for-profit and nonprofit)
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Limited Liability Companies (LLCs) – domestic and foreign
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Limited Partnerships (LPs) and Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs) – domestic and foreign
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Professional associations and domestic business trusts
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Other registered foreign associations of the above types
Excluded entities: Fictitious name registrations, ordinary general partnerships (not LLPs), and various state authorities or financial institutions do not file annual reports.
What Information Is Required
Each annual report must include current, basic information about the entity. In particular, the report must list:
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Full Legal Business Name: exactly as registered in Pennsylvania.
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Jurisdiction of Formation: the state or country where the entity was formed.
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Registered Office Address: the official PA address on file.
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Principal Office Address: if different from the registered address.
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Name of at least one governor: (e.g. director, manager, or trustee, depending on entity type).
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Names and titles of principal officers: (such as President, Secretary, Treasurer) if the business has any.
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PA Entity Number: the unique number assigned by the PA Department of State.
No financial or tax information is required – the report is purely administrative.
Important Filing Deadlines
Deadlines vary by entity type. Pennsylvanian businesses should note:
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Corporations (domestic and foreign, including nonprofits): Annual reports are due by June 30 each year.
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Limited Liability Companies (Domestic & Foreign): due September 30 .
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Other Required Entities (Domestic & Foreign LPs, LLPs, business trusts, professional associations, etc.): due December 31.
The filing period opens on January 1 each year. For example, a corporation formed in 2023 must file its first report by June 30, 2024. An LLC formed in 2024 must file by September 30, 2025.
Filing Process and Fees
The easiest and fastest way to file is online via the PA Department of State’s Business Filing Services (BFS) portal. The portal (at file.dos.pa.gov) opens January 6, 2025, and filings submitted online are approved almost immediately. A paper form will also be available, but it processes more slowly (it will be date-stamped on receipt and handled in regular order).
The filing fee is modest: $7.00 for most business entities. Specifically:
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$7 fee: for business corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs (domestic and foreign).
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No fee (free): for nonprofit corporations and LPs or LLCs with a specifically designated not-for-profit purpose.
(There is no fee waiver for any other reason.)
Consequences of Not Filing
It’s important to file on time. Starting with reports due in 2027, failure to file an annual report within six months after the deadline will result in administrative penalties. If you miss the deadline:
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Domestic entities (including PA corporations, LLCs, trusts, etc.) will be administratively dissolved or canceled.
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Foreign entities (out-of-state companies registered in PA) will have their PA registration terminated .
In either case, the entity loses its good standing. You’ll lose the exclusive right to the business name, as it becomes available to others, and you won’t be able to obtain a “Certificate of Good Standing” from the state.
To become active again, domestic entities must reapply by paying all missed report fees and penalties, and possibly even adopting a new name if the original name has been taken. Foreign entities cannot simply reinstate – they must re-register by filing a new foreign registration statement and obtaining a new entity number. In short, noncompliance creates serious hurdles and costs for the business.
How to File
To file your Pennsylvania Annual Report, you can use the following official resources:
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Pennsylvania Department of State Business Filing Services (BFS) Portal: This is the primary portal for online filings. You can log in or register for an account here:
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Pennsylvania Department of State Annual Reports Information Page: This page provides detailed information about the annual report requirements, including deadlines, fees, and filing instructions:
For step-by-step guidance on filing your annual report, you can refer to the “How to File an Annual Report” PDF guide provided by the Pennsylvania Department of State:
How to File an Annual Report (PDF)
How 2 Acre Studios Can Help
Navigating these new annual report rules can be complex, but 2 Acre Studios is here to guide you. We offer fractional CFO and compliance services tailored to meet the needs of small businesses. Our services include:
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Compliance assessments: We review your entity structure and filings to determine which Pennsylvania obligations apply specifically to your entity.
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Filing support: We can gather the required information (names, addresses, officers, etc.) and prepare your annual report to ensure accurate and timely filing.
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Ongoing monitoring: We keep track of deadlines so you never miss a filing period. We also assist with any necessary reinstatements or new registrations if needed.
By partnering with 2 Acre Studios, you free up your team to focus on the business while we handle the paperwork and deadlines. We tailor our support on a fractional (as-needed) basis, whether you need a one-time audit of compliance or regular quarterly check-ins.
Don’t wait until the deadline is near or penalties loom. Let 2 Acre Studios be your resource for PA compliance. Contact us today to learn how we can help keep your business in good standing and compliant with Pennsylvania’s annual report requirements.
