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The objective of the annual report is three-fold. The annual report keeps the Government informed about all the updates, communicates about all the modifications or changes, & keeps the LLC members informed about the necessary taxes and costs. This article has all the information about Illinois LLC Annual Report filing in Illinois.
An annual report can be called an address book, as it features all the relevant addresses of the company & the members. This yearly report is a record of all the company’s activities in an entire year. It is also referred to as the Annual Franchise Tax Report because it helps in filing the franchise tax.
Contents of the Annual Report
Typically the annual report filed by an Illinois LLC (or any other business entity for that matter) will include all the information related to its business & members. The standard contents of the annual report or the annual franchise tax report are
- Office Address of the LLC
- Names & Addresses of the Members & managers.
- Identification Documents
- Social Security numbers of the key members of LLC
- The objective of the business of LLC
- List of all the signatories of the LLC
- Information of the registered agent, if any
Illinois LLC Annual Report
An Annual report is essential for all business types. It authenticates that the information provided to the Secretary Of the State is accurate & updated. The information provided in the annual report helps the State officials to ensure that all the companies pay taxes. The Illinois Annual Report is filed with the Illinois Secretary of State.
Does the State of Illinois Require an Annual Report Filing?
In Illinois, it is essential for all Business Entities to file an Annual Report. This includes all the legal entities such as C Corporations, Limited Partnerships, Limited Liability Companies, bound to file the Annual Report. In Illinois, the annual report is filed with the office of the Secretary of State.
Annual Report Deadline
As mentioned above, filing the Annual report is a mandatory requirement even for an LLC. An LLC operating in Illinois has to file the Annual report with the Illinois Secretary of State. The due date of the Annual Report is the first day of the company’s anniversary month.
Penalties for Non-filing or late filing
An Annual Report is one of the important documents filed by an LLC. The Illinois Government doesn’t charge any late fee for the late filing of an annual report. However, if the LLC is unable to file the annual report, the Secretary of State has the right to dissolve the LLC.
Why Do LLCs Have to File the Annual Report?
Some of the states are not required to file this yearly report, commonly known as the Annual Report. However, there are some reasons why states should file an LLC Annual Report. Here are some reasons,
To Maintain the Accuracy of the Information
An annual report filed by the LLC has all the updated information about its official addresses & the names or addresses of all its officials. This updated information allows the State authorities to track down any LLC when communicating.
To provide the Correct Correspondence
Many times, any creditor or other entity willing to transact with the LLC requires the correct correspondence address. If this information (which can only be modified with the help of an annual report) is not updated every year, such entities will not be able to communicate with them.
To Notify the Government About All the Significant Changes
If you have changed your main business address or had new business appointments of managers or members, the annual public information report notifies the State Government Entities about it. So, the next time someone questions a newer reform that you have introduced in your LLC, you will be saved because you had submitted the information with the Government.
To Provide an Activity Log of an LLC
The Annual report is like an activity log of the LLC. It brings on record; all the transactions, new associations, appointments, etc. & keeps those records intact for all future references.
To Help You With the One-time Filing of Taxes
The annual report is an excellent means to keep you on your toes in case of your dues payment. Every LLC must pay the taxes through the annual report filing. By filing the report on time, the LLC can manage the exemptions & can avoid penalties imposed by the Government.
To Enable the State to Track the Payments
The government authorities use all the information filed through the annual report, for tracking the payment of State Taxes.
How to File an Illinois LLC Annual Report
Time needed: 5 minutes
To file an Annual Report in the state of Illinois, LLCs have two options, online and by mail. Filing online requires a few steps. Here are the steps to file annual reports in Illinois,
- Visit the Official Website
Visit the official website of the Illinois Secretary of State. You will be prompted to start the Annual Report filing process.
- Enter LLC File Number
You need to provide the file number of your LLC. If you don’t have the file number, click on the ‘Click Here’ link to find it. Enter the number on the box and click on continue.
- File Annual Report
Upon clicking on ‘Continue’ you will be redirected to the next page. You need to fill-up the form to proceed with the annual report filing.
- Submit the Form
Once done filling up the form, submit the form online after reviewing. Make sure to provide correct information.
File Illinois Annual Report By Mail
To file the LLC Annual report in Illinois, you can follow the steps as mentioned below:
- Go to Illinois Registration Forms, Fees & Information page.
- Scroll down & choose ‘Domestic or Foreign LLC’ in the type of corporations’ tabs.
- In the list of forms, choose & download the Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report (Form 50.1)
- Download the form on your computer.
- Fill the form with correct information.
- Send the printed copies of the forms and relevant documents with the $75 fees to the address: Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division, 501 S. Second St., Rm. 351, Springfield, IL 62756
Illinois LLC Annual Report (Domestic & Foreign)
| State Office: | Department of Business Services, Limited Liability Division, 501 S. Second St., Rm. 351, Springfield, IL 62756 Links to Website, Form |
| Due Date: | The due date of the Annual Report is calculated on the basis of the quarter in which the Business was registered. The Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs notifies the businesses when the annual report filing is due. |
| Filing Fee: | The Online/by mail filing fee of the Illinois LLC’s Annual Report is $75 |
| Penalty: | An Annual Report is one of the important documents filed by an LLC. The Illinois Government charges a $100 late fee for the late filing of an annual report. If the LLC is unable to file the annual report for two or more consecutive years, the Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs has the right to dissolve the LLC. |
| Filing Method: | An LLC can file the Annual Report Online, or by mail. |
| Forms: | Domestic Limited Liability Company Annual Report (Form 50.1) |
| Important Information: | Once a Domestic or Foreign Illinois Limited Liability Company submits the Annual Report along with the prescribed fees to the Illinois Department of Commerce and Consumer Affairs, the filing is said to be complete. |
Seek the Help of a Registered Agent
Every State will have a different rule for filing the Annual Report. Usually, it is submitted every year, but it is submitted once in two years in some states. Some states require the filing of the report only once in ten years.
Not only the timing, the mode of filing, the proper addresses, exemptions, legality, annual report compliance, etc., have to be taken care of while paying the taxes or filing any reports with the State authorities. In many such scenarios, it is advised that an LLC appoints a Registered Agent to manage all this. Check out the best LLC service that offers all the services at an affordable price. An experienced agent is required for:
- Streamlining the mandatory processes & filing.
- Sending or receiving any documents.
- Reminding you about important dates of filing or payment of taxes.
- Simplifying the filing procedures.
- Avoid any penalties.
- Flexibility in working.
- Maintaining Privacy (as it keeps your personal records off the public record)
You can read more about an Illinois Registered Agent here.
FAQs
Yes, an annual report is essential for every business entity in most states. Some states also ask to file biennial or decennial reports to be filed.
A Yearly Business Report or the annual report typically incorporates the address of the business, names & addresses of the members, a list of all the signatories, SSN of the members, & details of the registered agent.
A Registered Agent is well-aware of all the filing requirements, annual report filing fee, & overall Annual Report compliance. The knowledge & proficiency of the registered agent allows the smooth filing of reports & other fees.
The most important thing for filing an Annual Report is record keeping. Make sure that you document every other transaction well.
Yes, the fees may vary depending on the type of entity or the type of legal entity you are representing.
In Conclusion
In conclusion, we can see that the annual report – which is also called the Franchise Tax Public Information Report is much easy to be filed. However, it is mandatory to file the report on time to avoid any penalties. If you are running an LLC in the state of Illinois, you have to comply with the filing of certain important documents including the annual report or the Franchise Tax Public Information Report as it is named in the state of Illinois.
It is also important to note that once this Public Information Report is filed with the Comptroller of Public Accounts, there is no need for additional filing with the secretary of state.