Annual reports with the Secretary of State in Delaware are formal documents that businesses are required to file each year to provide important information about their company's activities, financial status, and ownership structure. These reports help maintain transparency and compliance with state regulations, and are crucial for businesses to stay in good standing and avoid penalties.
There are 4 different ways to file an annual report in Delaware depending on your legal entity type and tax classification. Follow the guide below to help you file your annual report with the Secretary of State in Delaware or use Mosey to do it.
Use Mosey to automate annual reports in Delaware.
Avoid the hassle of doing it yourself and use Mosey to automate foreign qualification, annual reports, and registered agent service.
Delaware Annual Report for LLP
If you are incorporated in Delaware, you must file an Annual Report for Limited Liability Partnership with the Secretary of State on or before June 1 each year.
Complete the Annual Report
Fill out an Annual Report for Limited Liability Partnership and save it as a PDF.
File the Annual Report
File your completed Annual Report for Limited Liability Partnership and pay the filing fees through the Delaware eCorp Document Filing Service.
Delaware Annual Report for LLP
If you are authorized to "do business" in Delaware, you must file an Annual Report for Foreign Limited Liability Partnership with the Secretary of State, due on or before June 1 each year.
Complete the Annual Report
Fill out an Annual Report for Foreign Limited Liability Partnership and save it as a PDF.
File the Annual Report
File your completed Annual Report for Foreign Limited Liability Partnership and pay the filing fees through the Delaware eCorp Document Filing Service.
Delaware Annual Report for Corporation
If you are authorized to "do business" in Delaware, you must file an Annual Report with the Secretary of State on or before June 30 each year. Note: There is a $125 penalty if the Annual Report and filing fee is not received by the due date.
File Annual Report Online
Use the eCorp service to file your annual report. Note: Online filing is available daily between 8:00 am and 11:45 pm ET.
Delaware Annual Report and Franchise Tax for Corporation
If your business is incorporated in Delaware, you are required to file an annual report and pay franchise tax online every year. By default the Division of Corporations calculates Franchise Tax using the Authorized Shares method, which is based on the total number of shares authorized in your Certificate of Incorporation. You can alternatively use the Assumed Par Value Capital Method, which also factors into the calculation your gross assets, total issued shares and par value. For example: If a startup issued half of its 10 million authorized shares at a $.00001 par value and has $1 million in gross assets, it would owe over $84,000 in Franchise Tax with the Authorized Shares method and around $800 with the Assumed Par Value method. Note: For newly formed corporations, the first annual report and franchise tax are due on the calendar year following the incorporation date. Nonprofits recognized as 501(c) organizations by the IRS are exempt from franchise taxes, but must file an annual report. The filing fee is $25 for domestic exempt nonprofit organizations and $50 for non-exempt corporations.
File Annual Report and Pay Franchise Tax Online
Use the eCorp service to file your annual report and pay franchise tax online. To calculate franchise tax using the Assumed Par Value method, enter your total issued shares and gross assets then click "recalculate." Note: Online filing is available daily between 8:00 am and 11:45 pm ET.
What else do I need to know?
There may be additional things you will need to do to maintain your "good standing" in the state including having a registered agent and other kinds of taxes.
Maintaining a Registered Agent
Most states require that you have a registered agent that can receive important mail from the Secretary of State should they need to contact you. There are many commercial options available or you can use Mosey to be your registered agent and keep your information private in Delaware.
Other Taxes
In addition to maintaining a registered agent, maintaining your good standing can include additional taxes. This can include franchise tax, sales tax, or other state taxes. You can use Mosey to identify these additional requirements to maintain good standing in Delaware.
