A Washington LLC Annual Report is the yearly filing that keeps your company active with the state. As of 2026, every domestic and foreign LLC owes one. New owners often confuse it with their initial setup, so it helps to see how it fits the Washington LLC formation process.
Does Washington Require an Annual Report for LLCs? (RCW 25.15.106)
Yes, Washington requires every LLC to file an Annual Report each year with the Washington Secretary of State to keep the company in active status. This applies to domestic Washington LLCs and to foreign LLCs registered to transact business in the state. The rule sits in RCW 25.15.106, which directs LLCs to deliver initial and annual reports under RCW 23.95.255.
The filing authority is the Corporations and Charities Division of the Secretary of State. Its Annual Reports page confirms that every business entity files yearly to keep an active Unified Business Identifier, or UBI.
If the LLC is brand new, the Annual Report isn't the first thing on the list. A domestic LLC also files a separate Initial Report within 120 days of formation; that's a step covered in Boost Suite's guide on how to start an LLC in Washington.
Washington LLC Annual Report Due Date: The Last Day of Your Anniversary Month
Washington skips the single statewide deadline that states like Florida use. The Annual Report is due by the LLC's expiration date, which the Secretary of State defines as the last day of the month the business was first formed or registered.
Say an LLC was formed on March 15. Its Annual Report is due every year by March 31, not March 15. The day of the month doesn't matter; the anniversary month does.
The good part is the runway. An LLC can submit the Annual Report up to 180 days before the expiration date, and filing early doesn't push the date forward. Boost Suite recommends filing about a month into that filing window rather than waiting, since a missed deadline triggers fees.
The table below shows the earliest filing date for each due month.
| Annual Report due date | Earliest filing date |
|---|---|
| January 31 | August 1 of the prior year |
| February 28 or 29 | September 1 of the prior year |
| March 31 | October 1 of the prior year |
| April 30 | November 1 of the prior year |
| May 31 | December 1 of the prior year |
| June 30 | January 1 |
| July 31 | February 1 |
| August 31 | March 1 |
| September 30 | April 1 |
| October 31 | May 1 |
| November 30 | June 1 |
| December 31 | July 1 |
How to Find Your Washington LLC's Expiration Date
Not sure which month applies? The Secretary of State's business search lists every LLC's expiration date on its public record. Pull up the entity, check that field, and calendar the last day of the month shown. Boost Suite's Washington LLC search walkthrough explains how to read the filing history if the record looks unfamiliar.
Washington LLC Annual Report Fee in 2026: $70, Not $60
The current Annual Report fee for a Washington LLC is $70, and it's the same flat amount for single-member, multi-member, and foreign LLCs registered in the state. The table below covers the related fees an owner might run into.
| Filing or service | Fee |
|---|---|
| Annual Report, filed on time | $70 |
| Annual Report, delinquent | $95 ($70 plus $25 delinquency fee) |
| Amended Annual Report | $10 |
| Expedited service | $100 |
| Same-day service, front counter | $150 |
Worth flagging: plenty of older guides still list $60 with an $85 delinquent total. Those numbers are stale. The official Washington Secretary of State fee schedule and WAC 434-112-085 both confirm $70.
Washington also passed SHB 2248, Chapter 80, Laws of 2026, effective June 11, 2026. It modernizes RCW 23.95.255 and RCW 23.95.260, and the RCW pages carry a “change in 2026” note; the published LLC Annual Report fee still reads $70.
Filing fees aren't the whole picture. Boost Suite breaks down what running a company here actually costs in its guide to Washington LLC costs, from formation through annual upkeep.
The single most common error I see in Washington LLC content is the fee. Plenty of guides, and some official-looking mailers that land in business owners' inboxes, still quote $60. That number is outdated.
How to File the Washington Annual Report Through CCFS
Most Washington LLC owners file the Annual Report online in under ten minutes. There are two routes, and the online one is faster.
Filing Online via the Corporations and Charities Filing System (CCFS)
Online filing runs through the Corporations and Charities Filing System, known as CCFS. The steps below reflect the current 2026 process:
- Log in to your account at the CCFS portal, or create one if your LLC has never filed online.
- Select Business Maintenance Filings, then choose Annual Report.
- Search for your LLC by UBI number or business name and select it.
- Review and update the registered agent, principal office, governors, and nature of business.
- Answer the controlling interest questions tied to Washington real property.
- Check out and pay the $70 fee by card.
A straightforward Annual Report can complete automatically right after checkout. Washington also runs an Express Annual Report route through CCFS for eligible filings, and owners who need speed can pay $100 for expedited service or $150 for same-day service at the front counter. The confirmation letter and file stamped document then land in the Notices and Filed Documents folder of the account.
Filing the Paper Annual Report by Mail
Paper filing still works, though it's slower. The official form is titled Annual Report – 23.95.255, revised June 2025, and goes to the address below.
Corporations and Charities Division
PO Box 40234
Olympia, WA 98504-0234
One trap sits in that route: the postmark date isn't the received date. A form mailed on the due date can still arrive late and trigger the $25 delinquency fee.
Nonexpedited mailed filings are processed within 15 business days, so paper filers should send the report well ahead of the deadline. Owners weighing online against paper can also check Boost Suite's note on how long Washington LLC filings take.
Two things on Washington's Annual Report catch people off guard. I would slow down on both before clicking through the filing too quickly.
The form asks controlling interest questions tied to RCW 82.45.220 and the real estate excise tax. If your LLC owns Washington real property and ownership shifted, answer those questions carefully.
I've watched owners file an amendment, assume they were done, and get marked delinquent anyway. The regular Annual Report still needs to be filed inside the LLC's filing window.
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What You'll Need Before Filing: UBI Number, Governors, and Registered Agent
Gathering the details before opening CCFS keeps the filing quick. RCW 23.95.255(2) sets out what an Annual Report must state, and the list below covers what an LLC owner needs on hand:
- The LLC's exact name and UBI number
- Name and Washington street and mailing address of the registered agent
- Street and mailing address of the principal office
- Names of the LLC's governors
- A brief description of the nature of the business
- A required email address for the filing
- Answers to the controlling interest questions
Washington asks for governors rather than members or managers. The state defines a governor as a person or entity with authority to make decisions for the business, which maps to whoever runs the LLC under its operating agreement. Boost Suite's Washington LLC operating agreement guide explains how to document that authority.
A few rules trip filers up. A business can't be its own governor, and the principal office address can't be a PO Box or PMB.
If the registered agent is changing, the incoming agent must consent, and that update flows through the report as a statement of change under RCW 23.95.255(6). Picking a dependable agent matters here, and Boost Suite reviews the options in its best Washington registered agent guide.
Late Penalties and Administrative Dissolution Under RCW 23.95.605
Filing late isn't catastrophic, but it isn't free. Once an LLC's status shows as delinquent, the $25 delinquency fee applies on top of the $70 report fee, with no formal grace period.
The Secretary of State sends a courtesy notice before the expiration date. RCW 23.95.255(7) requires notice 30 to 90 days out, and the agency's FAQ describes the practical timing as roughly 60 days before expiration. Here's the catch: failing to receive that notice does not excuse a late filing.
Administrative dissolution doesn't happen the day after the deadline. Under RCW 23.95.605, the Secretary of State may begin a dissolution proceeding only if the LLC has not delivered its Annual Report within 120 days after it is due. Some guides claim the trigger is 90 days; the statute says 120.
After the agency finds a ground and serves notice, RCW 23.95.610 gives the LLC 60 days to cure. Miss that window, and the state files a statement of administrative dissolution. A dissolved LLC keeps existing on paper but can only wind up its affairs or seek reinstatement, not operate normally.
How to Reinstate an Administratively Dissolved Washington LLC
An administratively dissolved Washington LLC can come back. Reinstatement runs through CCFS, the same portal used for the Annual Report, and Secretary of State staff review each application before it takes effect.
The cost is where it stings. Washington sets reinstatement at a $140 penalty fee plus $70 for every Annual Report year the LLC missed, under RCW 23.95.615 and the Secretary of State fee schedule. A company dissolved for three years pays the $140 penalty plus $210 in missed reports.
One more risk: the LLC's name isn't held during dissolution. If another business claims it, the company can't reinstate without filing a name change. Once approved, reinstatement relates back to the dissolution date, so the LLC is treated as if it never lapsed.
Reinstatement in Washington almost always costs more than people expect. The $140 penalty is just the entry fee, not the full cost of fixing the lapse.
I've seen an owner lose a brand name to a competitor who registered it during the dissolved window.
File the $70 Annual Report on time. In my experience, it is the cheapest compliance task a Washington LLC has.
Washington LLC Annual Report Questions: Fees, Deadlines, and CCFS Filing
A few questions come up again and again from Washington LLC owners. Clear answers to the most common ones follow.
Is the Washington Annual Report the same as the Initial Report?
No. The Initial Report is a one-time filing due within 120 days of forming a domestic LLC. The Annual Report is the recurring yearly filing. A new LLC files the Initial Report first, then begins filing Annual Reports.
Is the Washington Annual Report the same as a Department of Revenue business license renewal?
No. The Annual Report goes to the Secretary of State and keeps the entity active. The business license renewal goes to the Washington Department of Revenue and is a separate filing with its own fee and deadline. The business and occupation tax return is separate again.
Does Washington charge a late fee if I miss the Annual Report deadline?
Yes. A delinquent LLC pays a $25 delinquency fee on top of the $70 filing fee, for a $95 total. That fee can apply as soon as the report is received after the expiration date.
Can I change my registered agent on the Washington Annual Report?
Yes. If the report lists a registered agent that differs from the state's record, RCW 23.95.255(6) treats it as a statement of change. The incoming agent has to consent to the appointment.
Does Washington have a franchise tax or income tax on LLCs?
No. Washington has no franchise tax and no personal income tax. It does levy a business and occupation tax on gross receipts through the Department of Revenue, which is unrelated to the Annual Report.
How early can I file my Washington LLC Annual Report?
Up to 180 days before the expiration date. Filing early doesn't move the due date, so the next report stays tied to the same anniversary month.
Can someone else file the Washington Annual Report for my LLC?
Yes. A member, manager, attorney, or registered agent service can file on the LLC's behalf. Owners comparing formation and compliance services can see Boost Suite's Washington LLC service reviews before delegating the task.
Looking for an overview? See Washington LLC Services
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