LLC Compliance Checklist

File Your Annual Report or Franchise Tax on Time

Most states require a periodic filing, commonly called an annual report, biennial statement, or franchise tax report, to keep the LLC in good standing. Fees and cadence vary widely by state, from no periodic fee at all in a handful of states to several hundred dollars a year in others. Know your specific state's deadline and fee, and don't assume it falls on the same date your federal tax return is due.

Maintain a Registered Agent at All Times

Every state requires an LLC to continuously maintain a registered agent with a physical street address in that state, whether that's a member, manager, or a paid registered agent service. If your agent resigns, moves, or stops being reachable and you don't replace them promptly, the LLC can fall out of good standing or, in some states, eventually be administratively dissolved.

Keep Business Licenses and Permits Current

Beyond the state-level LLC filing, check for any city, county, or industry-specific license or permit your business needs, and track each one's own renewal date separately from your LLC's state filings. These are set by local governments or regulators, not your state's Secretary of State, so they don't appear on the same compliance calendar automatically.

Update the IRS When Your Responsible Party Changes

The IRS requires you to report a change in your LLC's "responsible party," the individual who controls or owns the LLC, using Form 8822-B within 60 days of the change. This applies whenever the controlling member or manager changes, even though the LLC's EIN itself doesn't change.

Know Your Beneficial Ownership Reporting Status

Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) reporting requirements have changed substantially. Per FinCEN's August 11, 2026 final rule, U.S.-formed companies, including LLCs, are exempt from BOI reporting, and U.S. persons aren't required to provide beneficial ownership information to any company. The requirement now applies only to entities formed under a foreign country's law that register to do business in the United States. Confirm your current obligation, if any, directly on FinCEN's website, since this area has changed more than once.

File State and Federal Taxes on Schedule

Depending on your LLC's tax classification, you file a personal Schedule C, a partnership Form 1065, or a corporate Form 1120 or 1120-S, each with its own deadline, plus any state income, franchise, or sales tax return your state requires. If you have employees, add payroll tax deposit and filing deadlines to the list as well.

Keep Your Operating Agreement and Records Current

If your LLC admits or removes a member, changes its management structure, or makes another significant change, update the operating agreement to reflect it. Keep records of major decisions, even in states that don't legally require formal meeting minutes, since clear documentation supports both your LLC's liability protection and your own ability to resolve disputes later.

Missing One Filing Can Cascade Into Administrative Dissolution

Many states follow a predictable pattern: miss the annual report, get assessed a late fee, and if it's still not filed after a further grace period, the state administratively dissolves the LLC. Reinstating a dissolved LLC typically costs more in fees and paperwork than simply filing on time would have, so treat the annual filing as a hard deadline, not a flexible one.

A Registered Agent Lapse Is an Easy, Preventable Mistake

If you act as your own registered agent and move, or a paid service you use stops renewing, your LLC can lose its registered agent without you immediately realizing it. Set your own reminder to confirm your registered agent status at least once a year, separate from whatever reminder the agent or state sends.

Multi-State Businesses Have a Separate Checklist for Each State

If your LLC is registered as a foreign LLC in more than one state, each state has its own annual report deadline, its own fee, and its own registered agent requirement. Track each state's compliance calendar separately rather than assuming one state's deadline applies everywhere you're registered.

Build a Calendar Around Your Specific Deadlines

Generic compliance checklists, including this one, describe categories of requirements, not your exact dates and amounts. Pull your LLC's actual deadlines from your state's filing agency, the IRS, and any local licensing agency, and set calendar reminders well ahead of each one. This isn't tax or legal advice; talk to a tax professional about your specific filing obligations.