PA Annual Report Filing: Latest Requirements and How to File
Running a business in Pennsylvania (PA) means staying on top of state compliance. One requirement that tends to catch founders off guard is PA annual report filing. It’s simple in theory, but easy to miss in practice, and the consequences of ignoring it aren’t worth the risk. This guide breaks down what the Pennsylvania annual report is, who needs to file, when it’s due, and how to handle it without turning it into another recurring headache. Let’s start with the basics.
What is a Pennsylvania annual report?
A Pennsylvania annual report is a state-required filing that keeps your business’s core information current with the Department of State. Think of it as a yearly snapshot of who the entity is, where it operates, and who’s responsible for it.
Starting in 2025, Pennsylvania moved away from its old once-every-ten-years reporting model and adopted an annual system that aligns with how most states already operate. The goal is to maintain accurate, up-to-date public records for active businesses registered in the state.
The report itself doesn’t involve financial disclosures or operational detail. It focuses on confirming basic entity information, such as addresses and leadership, so the state knows how to reach you and who’s accountable. The report is simple in scope, but filing it is mandatory.
Who has to file an annual report in PA
Most registered business entities in Pennsylvania are required to file an annual report. This applies to both domestic entities formed in Pennsylvania and foreign entities registered to do business in the state.
If your business is active and registered, there’s a good chance this applies to you.
Entities required to file a Pennsylvania annual report include:
- Business corporations (domestic and foreign)
- Nonprofit corporations (domestic and foreign)
- Limited liability companies (LLCs), domestic and foreign
- Limited partnerships (LPs), including LLLPs
- Limited liability partnerships (LLPs)
- Business trusts
- Professional associations
- Electing partnerships that are not limited partnerships
Entities that do not have to file include:
- Fictitious names
- General partnerships that are not LLPs
- Authorities and government entities
- Name reservations and name registrations
- Trademarks, insignias, and marks
- Financial institutions and credit unions
One important nuance is that if your entity is listed as inactive with the Department of State, meaning it’s dissolved, terminated, withdrawn, or cancelled, then an annual report isn’t required. If it’s marked active, it is.
If you’re unsure where you fall, that’s understandable. Many businesses are navigating this requirement for the first time.
How to file your Pennsylvania annual report
Pennsylvania requires annual reports to be filed through the Department of State’s online system. While paper filing is technically allowed, online filing is strongly encouraged and significantly faster. At a high level, filing looks like this:
- Access the Pennsylvania Business Filing Services portal. Go to the Department of State’s online filing system and log in. If you don’t already have an account, you’ll need to create one first.
- Search for your business. Use the business search tool to locate your entity by name. No PIN is required to file an annual report.
- Select “File Annual Report”. Once you open your entity record, choose the annual report filing option. Much of your existing information will already be prefilled. That includes registered office details, which are handled by a registered agent.
- Review and confirm your details. Confirm or update required information, such as addresses and leadership details, so everything is current as of the filing date.
- Submit and pay the filing fee. Complete the filing and pay the applicable fee online. Once submitted, online filings are processed automatically.
- Download your confirmation. After filing, your approved report and acknowledgment are available for immediate download, and you’ll receive a confirmation email.
Pennsylvania annual report due dates
Pennsylvania doesn’t use a single universal deadline for annual reports. Instead, due dates are based on your entity type, with filing windows spread across the calendar year. Missing the correct window is one of the most common ways businesses fall out of compliance. Here’s a high-level breakdown by entity type:
A couple of clarifications that often trip people up:
- Your first annual report is due the year after your entity is formed or registered in Pennsylvania.
- Each entity type has its own filing window, rather than a single statewide deadline.
If you manage multiple entities or operate across states, these different windows are easy to miss, especially if you’re used to one fixed annual date.
Annual report filing fees
Pennsylvania keeps annual report filing fees relatively low. What you pay depends on your entity type, with nonprofits and certain not-for-profit entities exempt from fees altogether. Here’s a simple breakdown:
A couple of notes worth keeping in mind:
- The fee is per entity, per year, not a one-time charge.
- Payment is made at the time of filing through the Department of State’s online system.
PA annual report requirements by entity type
While the Pennsylvania annual report follows the same general structure across entity types, requirements vary slightly depending on how your business is classified. The table below summarizes the key details of how to file, what it costs, when it’s due, and what happens if you don’t file.
This is meant as a practical reference, especially if you manage more than one entity or need to sanity-check your obligations quickly.
*Enforcement note: Pennsylvania introduced a transition period for the new annual reporting system. Enforcement actions for failure to file begin with reports due in 2027, applied six months after the applicable due date.
The filing process is the same across entity types and is handled online through the Department of State. What varies is the filing window and the consequences for missing it.
What’s changed
Pennsylvania’s annual report requirement is new, which is why it has caught many businesses off guard.
For years, the state used a decennial reporting system, requiring entities to confirm their information only once every ten years. That changed under Act 122 of 2022, which replaced the decennial model with an annual reporting requirement.
Businesses must now review and confirm their entity information every year. Compliance is no longer something you can revisit occasionally, and missed filings are easier for the state to identify over time.
To ease the transition, Pennsylvania introduced a grace period. Although annual reports are required starting in 2025, enforcement actions for missed filings begin with reports due in 2027 and are applied six months after the relevant deadline. For businesses planning ahead, a broader 2026 compliance checklist can help put annual reporting in context with other upcoming obligations.
How we simplify filing in Pennsylvania
Annual reports are easy to forget when business mail, state notices, and compliance reminders are scattered across inboxes and addresses. That’s where Postal comes in.
With a virtual mailbox, your Pennsylvania mail is received, scanned, and organized in one place. No digging through envelopes or wondering what you missed. Everything is searchable, easy to track, and tied to your entity.
If you need more hands-on help, Postal also offers a built-in registered agent service, so state notices and service of process are handled reliably without changing addresses every time your business evolves.
For filings themselves, our compliance support connects you with experts who can handle annual reports and related requirements for you accurately, on time, and at low rates.
All of this means fewer reminders to manage, fewer deadlines to track, and less risk of something important slipping through the cracks.
Frequently asked questions about PA annual report filing
A few questions around PA annual report filing typically come up repeatedly. Here are the direct answers below.
How do I file an annual report in PA?
You file a Pennsylvania annual report online through the Department of State’s Business Filing Services portal. Search for your business, review or update your information, submit the report, and pay the required fee.
Do PA LLCs have to file annual reports?
Yes, Pennsylvania limited liability companies are required to file an annual report if the entity is active and registered with the state. This is part of Pennsylvania LLC filing requirements and applies to both domestic and foreign LLCs doing business in the state.
How much is the annual report for an LLC in PA?
The PA LLC annual report filing fee is $7. This fee is charged per entity, per year, and is paid when you submit the report through the Pennsylvania Department of State.
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Tommy has a background in Defense, Intel and Commerce. Back in the day, Tommy studied physics at Harvard and directed the mariachi band while he was there.
