How to File a Statement of Information in California

To file a Statement of Information in California, use the Secretary of State’s bizfile online portal at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov, select your entity, complete the form the system loads for you, and pay the filing fee. The fee is $20 for LLCs and nonprofit corporations and $25 for stock and foreign corporations. Corporations file every year; LLCs and nonprofits file every two years. You can also file by mail, but online is faster, cheaper in effort, and gives you immediate confirmation.1California Secretary of State. bizfile

When You Have to File

Every new entity must file its first Statement of Information within 90 days of the date on its articles of organization (for LLCs) or articles of incorporation (for corporations).2California Secretary of State. Statements of Information Filing Tips Don’t wait until day 89. If the filing is rejected for an error, you need time to fix it and refile before the window closes.

After that initial filing, your schedule depends on entity type:

  • Stock, agricultural cooperative, and foreign corporations file annually.3California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 1502
  • Domestic and foreign LLCs file every two years.4California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 17702.09
  • Nonprofit corporations file every two years.

Your filing window is a six-month period tied to the calendar month your entity originally registered. It includes your registration anniversary month and the five months immediately before it.6California Secretary of State. Statements of Information Filing Tips

What to Gather Before You Start

Pull everything together before you open the portal. Any discrepancy between your filing and existing state records can trigger a rejection.

Entity Name and File Number

You need your exact legal name as it appears in state records and your Secretary of State file number. Corporation numbers are seven digits beginning with “C.”5California Secretary of State. Business Search – Frequently Asked Questions LLC numbers are twelve digits with no letter prefix. If you don’t have it, look it up through the free business search on bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov.

Addresses

You must provide a physical street address for your principal office. A P.O. Box is not acceptable for that field. A separate mailing address is optional, and a P.O. Box works there. Foreign corporations also list the street address of their California principal business office, if they have one.7California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 2117

Officers, Directors, Managers, or Members

Corporations must list the names and complete business or residence addresses of all current directors, plus the chief executive officer, secretary, and chief financial officer.3California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 1502 A manager-managed LLC lists all managers and the CEO, if one has been appointed. A member-managed LLC lists every member instead.4California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 17702.09

Agent for Service of Process

You must designate someone who can accept legal documents for the entity. That agent can be an individual who lives in California, listed with a California street address, or a registered corporate agent, listed by the name that appears in state records.3California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 1502 Commercial registered agent services generally run between $35 and $350 a year, which can be worth it if you don’t want a personal address on a public record.

LLC and Corporation Extras

LLCs must describe the general type of business (something like “retail clothing” or “consulting services”) and disclose whether any manager has an outstanding final judgment for wage violations.4California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 17702.09 Corporations have a similar wage-judgment disclosure.3California Legislative Information. California Code CORP 1502

Which Form and What It Costs

If you file online, the portal loads the correct form once you look up your entity. If you file on paper, you pick the form yourself, and picking the wrong one gets your filing rejected.

All forms are on the Secretary of State’s forms page or inside the bizfile portal.10California Secretary of State. Forms, Samples and Fees

Filing Online Through bizfile

Online filing is the fastest path. The system auto-fills fields the state already has on record, which cuts down on errors, and you get immediate confirmation.1California Secretary of State. bizfile

First-time users create a free account at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov.11California Secretary of State. bizfile Online Once logged in, search for your entity by name or file number and select “File a Statement of Information.” The portal walks you through each required field, lets you review before submission, and takes payment electronically. Online filings typically appear in the state’s database within a few business days.

One limit worth knowing: the Secretary of State’s special handling and expedite service fees do not apply to Statements of Information.12California Secretary of State. Service Options There’s no way to pay extra for same-day turnaround. Standard online processing is already the fastest option.

Filing by Mail

If you prefer paper, download the correct form, fill it out completely, and mail it with a check or money order payable to the Secretary of State for the full fee:

Statement of Information
P.O. Box 944230
Sacramento, CA 94244-230013California Secretary of State. Contact Information – Business Entities

If you want a file-stamped copy returned, include a duplicate of the completed form and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Mailed filings take several weeks to process, so plan ahead if you’re close to a deadline, and use tracking so you can confirm delivery.

If Something Changes Between Filings

When officers, managers, the registered agent, or the office address change before your next scheduled filing, file an updated Statement of Information right away rather than waiting for your window.2California Secretary of State. Statements of Information Filing Tips A change of agent for service of process specifically requires a new filing. Keeping the record current protects you: if someone tries to serve your company at an outdated agent address, you might not learn about the lawsuit until a default judgment has been entered.

A mid-cycle update uses the same form and the same fee as a regular filing, and it does not reset your normal cycle.

What Happens If You Miss the Deadline

Failing to file on time can trigger suspension or forfeiture of the entity by the Secretary of State, and the Franchise Tax Board may collect a $250 penalty.14Franchise Tax Board. My Business Is Suspended Suspension carries consequences well beyond the fine:

  • A suspended entity cannot legally do business.
  • You cannot prosecute or defend a lawsuit while suspended, and an opposing party can raise your status as a defense.
  • You cannot sell or transfer California real property.
  • Contracts you enter while suspended are voidable by the other party.
  • You can lose your business name if another entity claims it during the suspension.

Suspension can come from the Secretary of State alone for failure to file the Statement of Information, from the Franchise Tax Board for unpaid taxes, or from both at once.14Franchise Tax Board. My Business Is Suspended Reinstatement means filing every delinquent statement, paying the penalty, clearing any back taxes, and then waiting for the state to process the revival. That takes weeks, and the business operates in legal limbo the whole time. Filing on time takes about fifteen minutes online.