Washington LLC Annual Report
LLCs formed in Washington need to file this report with the Washington 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 Washington 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?
Washington LLC Annual Report
An annual report is used to keep an LLC’s contact information up-to-date and to keep your LLC in compliance and in good standing with the state of Washington.
Filed every year
Each and every LLCs formed in Washington must file this report every year.
Update your business information
The annual report is primarily used to update business data such as the business purpose, Registered agent address and Names and addresses of LLC officials (i.e., members, managers, directors, or officers). However, Registered agent changes require a consent from the new registered agent.
File Online or via mail
Annual report can be filed either online or by mail.
Change in Business Address
You can also change your principal office address by updating it on the annual report when it is due.
Washington actions
Here are some of the actions business owners can take in Washington:
How to file Annual Report in Washington?
Follow these steps:
1. Visit official website
Every Washington LLC is required to file an annual report each year. Your Washington LLC Annual Report is due annually by the end of your LLC’s anniversary month.
Due
annually
The Annual report must be postmarked, complete and compliant, before the end of your LLC’s anniversary month to avoid late fees.
LLC Annual Report
Every LLC has to file this report in Washington to stay compliant with the state laws.
Filing Annual Report
Washington LLC is expected to file this report annually
File it online on Washington Secretary of State website
Visit
Mail a form to Washington Secretary of State
PDF
Address
Corporations and Charities Division
P.O. Box 40234
Olympia, WA 98504
Online fee
$60
Online processing time
instant
Mailing fee
$60
Mail processing time
10-12 days
Failure to pay
The state charges a $25 penalty for failure to file on time. In addition, LLCs may be dissolved for failing to file an annual report.
Note
An initial report is due within 120 days of forming an LLC. After that it is due annually by the end of the registration anniversary month. So if you incorporated or foreign-qualified on March 4, then your annual report is due every year by March 31. You can start filing 45 days prior.
Certificate of Formation
In Washington, Certificate of Formation 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 Formation
There are a couple of ways to file
Address
Secretary of State
Corporations Division
P.O. Box 40234
Online fee
$200
Online processing time
Instant
Mailing fee
$200
Mail processing time
5 - 7 days
Note
When you are filing online, the Initial Report is included at no extra cost. However if you choose to file it later (within 120 days), you'll have to pay $10 by mail or $30 online.
Entity name
Every LLC should have a unique name in Washington. Washington 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 Washington corporations 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 Washington 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
$40
Reservation period
180 days
LLC naming guidelines
The name you choose for your LLC must the official naming guidelines.
RCW §23.95.305
Visit
Here are some of the guidelines in simple language:
- 1
Must contain the words "Limited Liability Company," the words "Limited Liability" and abbreviation "Co.," or the abbreviation "L.L.C." or "LLC"
- 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 Washington
It is very important to maintain full compliance in Washington. 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 Washington.
Washington LLC
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