State Secretary of State (varies by state)
Registered agent + annual/biennial report (general)
Every registered entity must maintain a registered agent (a person or company with a physical in-state address to receive legal process and government mail) and, in most states, file a periodic annual or biennial report to stay in good standing.
Not legal or tax advice. Compliance Radar is an informational directory.
This is general information, not legal or tax advice. Deadlines and penalties change and depend on your specific facts — verify with the official source and a licensed CPA or attorney before acting.
We surface only obligations we can anchor to an official government source, each with the
date we last verified it. Sources change; always confirm against the linked official page.
- What it is
- Every registered entity must maintain a registered agent (a person or company with a physical in-state address to receive legal process and government mail) and, in most states, file a periodic annual or biennial report to stay in good standing.
- Who must file
- LLCs, corporations, LPs/LLPs, and nonprofit corporations, in each state where they are registered or qualified.
- Deadline
- The registered-agent requirement is continuous from formation. Report cadence and due dates are set per state (annual, biennial, or anniversary-based) — check your state's Secretary of State.
- Penalty if missed
- Loss of good standing, leading to administrative dissolution or revocation. Practical consequences include loss of liability protection, inability to sue in state courts, and missed legal service (default judgments).
- Official source
- U.S. SBA — Register your business — verified as of 2026-06-22