Massachusetts LLC Annual Report
LLCs formed in Massachusetts need to file this report with the Massachusetts Secretary of State each and every year. i.e., annually. Read about how to file this report.
File report online
Visit the official state government’s website to submit annual report online.
Visit Massachusetts official website
What is an LLC?
Limited Liability Company
LLC is a business entity in the U.S that provides limited liability to its members. It has characteristics from both corporation and sole proprietorship. LLCs are permitted under State statutes of each US state.
Limited liability
Personal assets are protected for people with limited liability when they are sued.
Corporation
A business entity that can issue shares and give limited liability to shareholders.
Members
Owners of an LLC are referred to as members. They own membership interest in the LLC.
Sole proprietorship
Where an individual engages in business activity without formal organization.
Why file the report?
Massachusetts LLC Annual Report
An annual report is used to keep an LLC’s contact information up-to-date and to track the payment of your LLC state taxes.
Filed every year
Each and every LLCs formed in Massachusetts must file this report every year.
Update your business information
The annual report is primarily used to update business data such as the general character of the business, names and addresses of the registered agent, and also the LLC officials (i.e., members, managers, directors, or officers).
File online or via mail
Annual report can be filed either online or by mail.
Change in Business name and Address
You can also change your business name and/or street address by updating it on the annual report when it is due.
Massachusetts actions
Here are some of the actions business owners can take in Massachusetts:
How to file Annual Report in Massachusetts?
Follow these steps:
1. Visit official website
Every Massachusetts LLC is required to file an annual report each year. Your Massachusetts LLC Annual Report is due annually every year before your anniversary date.
Due
annually
The Annual report must be postmarked, complete and compliant, before your anniversary date to avoid late fees.
LLC Annual Report
Every LLC has to file this report in Massachusetts to stay compliant with the state laws.
Filing Annual Report
Massachusetts LLC is expected to file this report annually
File it online on Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth website
Visit
Mail a form to Massachusetts Secretary of the Commonwealth website
PDF
Address
Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, Room 1717
Boston, MA 02108-1512
Online fee
$520
Online processing time
instant
Mailing fee
$500
Mailing processing time
1-3 days
Failure to pay
Any annual report received after the due date will cause your LLC to become delinquent.
Note
The annual report is due by your formation or foreign qualification anniversary date. So if you formed on February 16th, then your annual report is due by February 16th.
Certificate of Organization
In Massachusetts, Certificate of Organization is the form you file with the Secretary of State to form an LLC. It contains the articles of formation for the LLC.
Filing Certificate of Organization
There are a couple of ways to file
Address
Secretary of the Commonwealth
One Ashburton Place, Room 1717
Boston, MA 02108
Online fee
$500
Online processing time
4 hours
Mailing fee
$500
Mail processing time
4 - 5 hours
Entity name
Every LLC should have a unique name in Massachusetts. Massachusetts maintains a list of names of entities in the state. Go through it to check if your chosen name is available.
Search for names
Go to the official website of the Massachusetts business entity search tool to see if the name you want is available.
Searching fee
Free
Reservation
You can reserve a name for your LLC for a specific duration by paying reservation fees to the Massachusetts corporations division. You will have to file your LLC formation documents within this period to keep the name. Alternatively, you can directly go ahead with the LLC formation without any reservation. That's fine too.
Reservation fee
$30
Reservation period
60 days
LLC naming guidelines
The name you choose for your LLC must the official naming guidelines.
Massachusetts General Laws (sect156C.3)
Visit
Here are some of the guidelines in simple language:
- 1
Shall contain the words ''limited liability company'', ''limited company'', or the abbreviation ''L.L.C.'', ''L.C.'', ''LLC'' or ''LC''.
- 2
Don’t include terms that indicate that you are doing an activity that you are not authorised to do.
- 3
Your name should be ‘distinguishable’ in the Secretary of State records. Adding a punctuation or ‘the’ does not make it distinguishable.
- 4
Don’t use words that makes it seems like you are a governmental entity or has an affiliation.
Frequently asked questions
LLC Annual Report in Massachusetts
It is very important to maintain full compliance in Massachusetts. Filing these reports helps you protect your personal assets by maintaining limited liability and also to be in good standing with the state. Read our guides to learn how to start and manage a business in Massachusetts.
Massachusetts LLC
Massachusetts Business search