The Florida LLC Annual Report is the state's once-a-year compliance filing that keeps every LLC in active status. Florida LLCs file it through Sunbiz between January 1 and May 1, and as of 2026, the fee is $138.75. Many owners call it the “Florida LLC renewal.”
Does Florida Require an Annual Report for Every LLC?
Florida requires an Annual Report from every domestic LLC and every registered foreign LLC, every calendar year. The obligation sits in Fla. Stat. § 605.0212, part of the Florida Revised Limited Liability Company Act. Sunbiz, operated by the Florida Department of State, Division of Corporations, is the only official filing channel.
Despite the name, the report isn't a financial statement and isn't a tax return. It updates or confirms public record information about the LLC. State and federal tax filings sit with the Florida Department of Revenue and the IRS, separate from this Sunbiz filing. Search traffic often shortens the filing to “Florida LLC renewal,” and the two terms point to the same thing. For a wider look at every Florida LLC compliance touchpoint, see the Florida LLC review.
Florida Annual Report Deadline for 2026
Florida uses a fixed calendar window for every LLC, not an anniversary date. The window opens January 1 and closes at 11:59 PM EST on Friday, May 1, 2026. Every domestic LLC and every foreign LLC registered to do business in Florida shares the same deadline. Some search results claim the deadline is the LLC's anniversary date. That's wrong.
The first-year rule trips up many new owners. An LLC formed in 2025 files its first Annual Report between January 1 and May 1, 2026. An LLC formed at any point in 2026 doesn't file in 2026 at all; the first window opens January 1, 2027. Owners still in formation can plan ahead with Boost Suite's step-by-step Florida LLC guide.
September dates matter, but not as a free extension. The $400 late fee applies the moment May 2 begins. September is the last chance before administrative dissolution. For 2026, the check payment cutoff is September 18 (the third Friday), and credit card payment runs through 5:00 PM EST on September 25 (the fourth Friday).
How to Confirm Your Florida LLC's First Filing Year
Sunbiz hosts a free entity lookup that shows formation date and current status. Boost Suite's Florida business entity search guide walks through how to use it. A quick check of the formation date confirms whether the current calendar year is the LLC's first Annual Report year.
Florida LLC Annual Report Fee in 2026 ($138.75 Breakdown)
Most competitors list the total as $138.75 and stop there. Florida law actually splits the fee into two statutory components, and both show up on the Sunbiz receipt. It's the same total for domestic LLCs and registered foreign LLCs. Full breakdown straight from the Sunbiz LLC Fees page:
| Fee item | Amount | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Annual Report filing fee | $50.00 | Fla. Stat. § 605.0213 |
| Supplemental corporate fee | $88.75 | Fla. Stat. § 607.193 |
| Total on-time fee | $138.75 | Sunbiz LLC Fees |
| Late fee (after May 1) | $400.00 | Sunbiz LLC Fees |
| Total after May 1 | $538.75 | Sunbiz LLC Fees |
| Amended Annual Report | $50.00 | Sunbiz LLC Fees |
| Certificate of Status (optional) | $5.00 | Sunbiz LLC Fees |
| Reinstatement fee (separate from missed reports) | $100.00 | Fla. Stat. § 605.0213 |
Sunbiz accepts credit card, debit card (Mastercard, Visa, American Express, Discover), check, money order, and the Prepaid Sunbiz E-File Account. Credit card payments post immediately; mailed payments don't. For every dollar a Florida LLC pays in year one and beyond, see Boost Suite's Florida LLC cost breakdown.
How to File the Florida Annual Report on Sunbiz Step-by-Step
The entire filing happens through Sunbiz, and most owners finish in under 10 minutes once the 12-digit document number is in hand. One warning before starting: the filing is irreversible, and Sunbiz can't cancel, refund, or remove an Annual Report once submitted. Secretary of State Cord Byrd's 2026 press release also warned about third-party mailings charging $200 or more for a service Sunbiz performs for $138.75.
Step-by-Step Filing on the Sunbiz Annual Report Portal
The Sunbiz portal handles every Florida LLC and registered foreign LLC. The flow runs eight short screens, all on the same domain.
- Find the 12-digit document number: Sunbiz's free entity search returns it for any active or inactive Florida LLC.
- Open the filing portal: Enter the document number plus the FEI/EIN. If the FEIN is applied for but not yet issued, check the “applied for” box.
- Verify principal office and mailing addresses: Both populate from the prior year. A P.O. Box is allowed for mailing but not for the principal office.
- Update the registered agent if needed: A Florida physical street address is required; P.O. Boxes aren't permitted.
- Edit managers or authorized members: Add, delete, or rename. The Annual Report is the easiest way to refresh this list.
- Enter a current email address: Sunbiz publishes a notice that this email becomes public record. A business address beats a personal one.
- Sign electronically: Electronic signatures carry full weight under Fla. Stat. § 15.16; false statements fall under Fla. Stat. § 817.155.
- Pay and confirm: Credit card payments post within seconds. A confirmation email and a downloadable PDF copy of the filed report arrive within minutes.
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Paying by Check or Money Order
The filing itself stays online; only payment can be mailed. The Sunbiz portal generates a payment voucher at the end of the flow. Make the check or money order payable to “Florida Department of State.” Mailed payments are processed in the order received, not immediately, so a check sent close to May 1 risks landing after the late fee trigger. Mailing by mid-April is the safer practice for any owner using this method.
Common Sunbiz Filing Errors to Avoid
A handful of mistakes show up over and over in Sunbiz support tickets and reinstatement queues.
- Confusing the document number with the FEIN: The 12-digit document number is the Sunbiz identifier; the FEIN is the IRS tax ID.
- Using an abandoned email: Sunbiz reminders go to the email on file. If that inbox is dead, no warning ever lands.
- Trying to change the LLC name on the Annual Report: Name changes require a separate Articles of Amendment for $25.
- Listing a P.O. Box for the registered agent: Florida law requires a physical street address.
- Paying twice: Submitting online and mailing a check produces a duplicate, and refunds aren't automatic.
Information You'll Need Before You File
Sunbiz pulls most LLC data from prior filings, but the Annual Report still asks the owner to confirm or update every field. The statutory list under Fla. Stat. § 605.0212 plus the practical fields Sunbiz requires:
- LLC name, exactly as on file with the Division of Corporations
- 12-digit Sunbiz document number
- Principal office street address (no P.O. Box)
- Mailing address (P.O. Box allowed)
- FEIN, or confirmation that one has been applied for
- Name, title, and address of at least one person with authority to manage the LLC
- Registered agent name, Florida street address, and electronic signature
- Current email address (becomes a public record entry)
- Optional Certificate of Status request for a $5 add-on
Foreign LLCs add two fields: the jurisdiction of formation, and the date the LLC became qualified in Florida. The Annual Report can't change the LLC name itself; that requires a separate Articles of Amendment filing. Internal governance changes such as member voting rights, profit splits, or manager authority also fall outside the Annual Report and belong in the Florida LLC Operating Agreement, which isn't filed with the state.
Late Penalties and Administrative Dissolution in Florida
A late or missed Annual Report follows a fixed escalation in Florida. The $400 late fee starts on May 2 and doesn't get waived; administrative dissolution follows in September if the report still hasn't landed.
| Trigger | Date | Consequence |
|---|---|---|
| Late fee triggered | After May 1, 2026 | $400 added per Sunbiz LLC Fees; total becomes $538.75 |
| Check payment cutoff | September 18, 2026 | Last day to pay by check before dissolution |
| Credit card cutoff | September 25, 2026, 5 PM EST | Final compliance window before dissolution |
| Administrative dissolution | Fourth Friday in September | Domestic LLC loses active status under Fla. Stat. § 605.0714 |
| Court access lost | While delinquent | LLC can't maintain or defend any action in Florida court under Fla. Stat. § 605.0212(8) |
Foreign LLCs face the parallel consequence under Fla. Stat. § 605.0908: revocation of the certificate of authority to do business in Florida. Administrative dissolution doesn't terminate the registered agent's authority for service of process under § 605.0714(6), a detail confirmed in the 2025 federal case AVmedia, Inc. v. Axle Logistics, LLC (M.D. Fla.), where the court referenced an entity record showing “ADMIN DISSOLUTION FOR ANNUAL REPORT” status mid-dispute.
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How to Reinstate an Administratively Dissolved Florida LLC
Reinstatement runs through Sunbiz under Fla. Stat. § 605.0715. The cost is a $100 reinstatement fee plus $138.75 for every missed report year, so two missed years total $377.50 before any operational damage. Florida is one of the rare states that doesn't require a tax clearance certificate, which speeds the process up. Reinstatement relates back to the dissolution date and restores active status as if the gap never happened. Name protection lasts one year after dissolution; after that, any third party can claim the dropped name. Foreign LLCs follow a parallel process under Fla. Stat. § 605.0909.
A reliable registered agent in Florida is the most effective way to avoid the entire reinstatement loop, because the agent forwards Sunbiz notices the moment they arrive. Boost Suite's Florida registered agent comparison covers the top services.
Florida LLC Annual Report Questions Owners Ask Most
These questions surface repeatedly in Sunbiz support inquiries and search traffic around the May 1 deadline.
Is the Florida LLC Annual Report the same as an LLC renewal?
Yes. “Florida LLC renewal” is the informal term most owners use; “Annual Report” is the legal term Sunbiz and Florida Statutes use. Both point to the same filing.
Why is the Florida LLC Annual Report fee $138.75?
The total combines a $50 filing fee under Fla. Stat. § 605.0213 and an $88.75 supplemental corporate fee under Fla. Stat. § 607.193. Sunbiz publishes the combined number on the receipt, but the underlying breakdown is statutory.
Can the $400 late fee be waived?
No. Sunbiz confirms the late fee isn't subject to waiver or abatement. The fee is structural, published on the Sunbiz LLC Fees page, and applies the moment May 2 begins.
Does a newly formed Florida LLC file an Annual Report in its first year?
No. An LLC formed in 2026 files its first Annual Report between January 1 and May 1, 2027. The first filing year is always the calendar year after formation, regardless of how late in the year the LLC was formed.
Can the registered agent or LLC name be changed on the Annual Report?
The registered agent yes, the LLC name no. Updating the agent through the Annual Report is free and authorized by Fla. Stat. § 605.0212. Changing the LLC name requires a separate Articles of Amendment filing for $25.
Is the Florida Annual Report a tax return or a financial statement?
No on both. The Annual Report is filed with the Florida Department of State, not the Florida Department of Revenue or the IRS. Florida LLC tax obligations are entirely separate, and Boost Suite covers them in detail in the Florida LLC taxes guide.
What happens if both the May 1 and September deadlines are missed?
The LLC is administratively dissolved. Bank accounts can be frozen, contracts may face enforceability questions, the LLC loses standing to sue or defend in Florida court, and the LLC name is protected for only one year before another entity can claim it.
- Sunbiz Annual Report page
- Sunbiz Annual Report filing portal
- Sunbiz LLC Fees
- Fla. Stat. § 605.0212 – Annual report for department
- Fla. Stat. § 605.0213 – Fees of the department
- Fla. Stat. § 607.193 – Supplemental corporate fee
- Fla. Stat. § 605.0714 – Administrative dissolution
- Fla. Stat. § 605.0715 – Reinstatement
Looking for an overview? See Florida LLC Services
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