West Virginia LLC Annual Report
LLCs formed in West Virginia need to file this report with the West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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?
West Virginia 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 West Virginia.
Filed every year
Each and every LLCs formed in West Virginia must file this report every year.
Update your business information
The annual report is primarily used to update business data such as number of employees, registered agent address and Names and addresses of LLC officials (i.e., members, managers, directors, or officers). However, Registered agent changes require consent from new agent.
File Online
Annual report can only be filed online. There is no option to file by mail
Change in Business Address
You can also change your company address by updating it on the annual report when it is due.
West Virginia actions
Here are some of the actions business owners can take in West Virginia:
How to file Annual Report in West Virginia?
Follow these steps:
1. Visit official website
Every West Virginia LLC is required to file an annual report each year. Every year between January 1 and June 30 is the due date for your West Virginia LLC annual report. The earliest you may file is January 1.
Due
annually by July 1
The Annual report must be post marked, completed before July 1 to avoid late fee.
LLC Annual Report
Every LLC has to file this report in West Virginia to stay compliant with the state laws.
Filing Annual Report
West Virginia LLC is expected to file this report annually by July 1
File it online on West Virginia Secretary of State website
Visit
Online fee
$25
Online processing time
instant
Failure to pay
West Virginia charges a $50 penalty for late filings. In addition, the state may administratively dissolve your LLCs for failure to file an annual report.
Articles of Organization
In West Virginia, Articles 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 Articles of Organization
There are a couple of ways to file
File it online on West Virginia Secretary of State website
Visit
Mail a form to the state department
PDF
Address
One-Stop Business Center
1615 Washington St. E.
Charleston, WV 25311
Online fee
$100
Online processing time
Instant
Mailing fee
$100
Mail processing time
2 weeks
Entity name
Every LLC should have a unique name in West Virginia. West Virginia 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 West Virginia 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 West Virginia business 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
120 days
LLC naming guidelines
The name you choose for your LLC must the official naming guidelines.
West Virginia Code §31B-1-105
Visit
Here are some of the guidelines in simple language:
- 1
Must contain "limited liability company" or "limited company" or the abbreviation "L.L.C.", "LLC", "L.C." or "LC". "Limited" may be abbreviated as "Ltd." and "company" may be abbreviated as "Co.".
- 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 West Virginia
It is very important to maintain full compliance in West Virginia. 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 West Virginia.
West Virginia LLC
West Virginia Business search