File Annual Report Florida: How, When and Penalties

If you run an LLC or corporation, you need to file an annual report in Florida to keep your business in good standing. Miss it, and things can escalate from late fees to administrative dissolution. This guide breaks down what the Florida annual report is, who needs to file, key deadlines, penalties, and how to handle it without turning compliance into a recurring headache. Whether you’re filing yourself or delegating it, the goal is to get it done correctly and move on.

What is a Florida annual report?

A Florida annual report is a required filing that keeps your business’s official records up to date with the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations. It confirms basic information like your business address, registered agent, and management details so the state knows your company is still active.

Despite the name, it’s not a financial report. No revenue, expenses, or balance sheets are involved. Think of it as a yearly check-in with the state.

Active companies must file one each year, even if nothing has changed. Once filed, the information in your annual report becomes the most current data on record for your entity, which is what banks, partners, and regulators will see when they look your business up.

Florida annual report due date

Florida annual reports are filed once per year, during a fixed window. The filing period opens January 1 and closes May 1.

There’s no flexibility here. Florida does not offer extensions, and the deadline doesn’t shift if May 1 falls on a weekend or holiday. If your business exists at any point during the year, you’re expected to file within that window.

Most founders don’t run into trouble because the process is hard. It’s because the deadline sneaks up while they’re focused on other business priorities. Treat this as a standing annual obligation, not a one-off task, and it becomes much easier to manage.

Who needs to file in Florida

If your business is registered in Florida, you almost certainly need to file an annual report. You’re required to file if your entity is any of the following:

• Florida LLCs.
• Florida corporations (for-profit and nonprofit).
• Professional LLCs and professional corporations.
• Limited partnerships (LPs).
• Limited liability partnerships (LLPs).
• Foreign entities registered to do business in Florida.

A few important clarifications:

• You must file even if your business had no activity during the year.
• You must file even if nothing has changed since last year.
• If your entity exists on record with the state, the filing is required.

Sole proprietorships and general partnerships that are not formally registered with the state are typically excluded. Everyone else should assume the obligation applies unless confirmed otherwise.

How to file an annual report in Florida

Filing a Florida annual report is a structured process with a few required steps. Once you know where to start and what to confirm, the rest is straightforward.

Locate your business record on Sunbiz

The process starts by locating your entity in the Florida Division of Corporations database. You can search using your legal business name or the document number assigned when the entity was formed or registered.

Confirming the correct record upfront ensures you’re filing for the right entity, especially if you manage multiple businesses or similar names. You don’t need to create an account to get started, access is immediate.

Review and update required business information

Once you’re in the correct record, you’ll be asked to review your entity’s core details. This typically includes your principal business address, mailing address, registered agent information, and the names and addresses of officers, directors, managers, or partners.

Most of these fields can be updated directly as part of the annual report. Even if nothing has changed since last year, you’re still required to review and confirm the information. Skipping this step isn’t an option as confirmation itself is what keeps the record current.

Confirm registered agent details and consent

Florida requires every active entity to have a registered agent with a physical street address in Florida. As part of the annual report, you’ll need to confirm that the registered agent information on file is accurate.

If you’re changing the registered agent, there’s an extra requirement: the new agent must formally accept the appointment. This acceptance happens electronically during the filing process and isn’t optional.

This step is where filings most often stall. Missing acceptance, outdated agent details, or using an invalid address can delay processing or cause the filing to be rejected, so it’s worth double-checking before moving forward.

Submit the filing and receive confirmation

Once everything is reviewed, the annual report is submitted electronically through Sunbiz. There’s no separate mailing step or offline follow-up required.

After the report is accepted, you’ll receive a confirmation email at the address provided during filing. At that point, the information you submitted becomes the entity’s official public record with the state.

Save that confirmation. It’s your proof of compliance and is often needed for internal records, audits, or when a bank or partner asks for verification later on.

How to file an amended annual report in Florida

An amended annual report is used to correct or update information after your original annual report has already been filed. This might include fixing an address, updating management details, or correcting a registered agent entry that was submitted incorrectly.

Amendments are filed electronically through the Florida Division of Corporations, using the same entity record as your original filing. You’ll review the current information on file, make the necessary changes, and submit the amendment online. A couple of important things to keep in mind:

• Amendments are only available after the annual report has been filed.
• Not every change can be made via amendment. Certain updates, like legal name changes, require separate filings.
• Once accepted, the amended information immediately replaces the prior record and becomes the official public version.
  

If you spot an error, it’s better to correct it sooner rather than letting inaccurate information live on the state record.

DIY vs filing services

You have two options when it comes time to file. Either do it yourself or use a filing service. There’s no right or wrong choice, and it depends on how much attention you want compliance to take.

DIY filing works well if your business structure is simple and you’re comfortable tracking deadlines, reviewing records, and handling corrections on your own. Florida’s system is accessible, but it’s still manual, and mistakes can pop up later when something else depends on the record being accurate.

Filing services make sense once compliance starts competing with other priorities. They’re designed to reduce risk, catch issues early, and take the filing work off your plate entirely. Many also bundle reminders, recordkeeping, and support when something changes mid-year. If you’re comparing options, it’s worth understanding how modern filing compliance services differ in terms of scope, automation, and ongoing support.

Penalties for not filing in Florida

Florida is strict about annual report deadlines. If you miss the May 1 deadline:

• A late fee of $400 is automatically applied.
• Your entity’s status becomes noncompliant with the state.

If the report remains unfiled by the third Friday of September:

• Your business can be administratively dissolved (for Florida entities).
• Foreign entities can lose their authority to transact business in Florida.
• You may lose access to courts, financing, or contracts tied to good standing.

Once your business is dissolved:

• Reinstatement requires additional filings and fees.
• Any compliance issues that occurred during dissolution still need to be resolved.
• Third parties can see the lapse in public records.

Tips for smooth filing

Most missed filings come down to poor timing, not intent. Having deadlines flagged automatically removes the need to track dates or monitor state calendars. With Postal, compliance deadlines are identified from your incoming mail and surfaced for you, so nothing slips by in the background.

If you’d rather not handle filings at all, delegation is the cleanest option. Postal’s virtual mailbox and registered agent products include access to compliance services that let you tag the team to take care of the filing while you move on.

Frequently asked questions about filing an annual report in Florida

If you’re looking for quick confirmation before filing, these FAQs address the most common questions businesses ask about Florida annual reports.

Do you need to file an annual report in Florida?

Yes, if your business is registered with the state of Florida, you’re required to file an annual report each year. This applies even if the business had no activity and even if none of the information has changed.

If your entity exists on record with the Florida Division of Corporations, the filing requirement applies. Missing it puts your business out of good standing, which is where problems tend to start.

How to file an annual report for LLC in Florida online?

You file an LLC annual report in Florida online through the Florida Division of Corporations website. Start by locating your LLC’s record, review and confirm the required information, and submit the report electronically.

Once it’s accepted, you’ll receive a confirmation email and the updated information becomes the official public record.

How much is it to file an annual report for LLC in Florida?

Florida’s annual report fees vary by entity type:

• Profit corporation: $150.00
• Nonprofit corporation: $61.25
• Limited liability company (LLC): $138.75
• Limited partnership (LP) or limited liability limited partnership (LLLP): $500.00

These are standard state filing fees and apply when the report is filed on time. Late fees and reinstatement costs are additional.