Iowa LLC Biennial Report: What It Is and How to File

What Is an Iowa Biennial Report? Why Is It Important?

Consider a biennial report the state’s yearly checkup on your LLC. It’s similar to a census in that its purpose is to collect the necessary contact and structural information about each Iowa business.

Each state has its own annual or biennial reporting requirements, and some don’t even require them. But in most states, you’re required to submit one per year that includes your LLC name, principal office address, registered agent information, and member/manager names and addresses. Whether you run a domestic or foreign LLC, you should plan on submitting biennial reports.

Don’t be intimidated, but it’s not something you want to take lightly. This is how the state updates your LLC’s record with the most recent information. They need to know how to reach you with important information about your business status, upcoming filings, taxes, and service of process.

For example, if you change your registered agent, or your current agent resigns, you’ll need to keep the state informed so they can update their contact information. Miss one of their communications and your LLC in Iowa might end up falling out of good standing or, even worse, administratively dissolved.

Moreover, keeping your information current will help other businesses and potential customers find you. Anyone who performs a name search on the Secretary of State website will see your most recent information, so keeping it updated is crucial.

How Much Does the Iowa LLC Biennial Report Fee Cost?

If you’re putting together a budget for all your LLC’s costs – like formation costs, name reservation fees, and initial operating expenses – it’s important to include biennial filings like this one, just so that there are no surprises.

Costs vary from state to state. Some are free while others can be several hundred dollars. Iowa biennial reports, however, won’t break the bank. You’ll only need to pay $60 for hard copy submissions and $45 for online ones.

Due Date and Frequency for a Biennial Report in Iowa

Iowa is one of the states that only requires its businesses to file reports once every two years, hence the name biennial report. No matter which year you formed your LLC, you will need to file by April 1st on every odd-numbered year, starting with the first odd-numbered year after you form your LLC.

For example, if you initially file your Certificate of Organization to register your LLC in 2021 or 2022, you won’t need to file your first report until 2023.

What Happens if You Don’t File?

You might be thinking, “that sounds like a pain. How bad could it be if I just fly under the radar?” The short answer: don’t try it. Failing to file your biennial report can yield some serious consequences.

There’s no fee for late filings, but don’t let that mislead you into thinking there are no penalties. Missing the deadline will cause the state to label your LLC “delinquent.” Remain in delinquent status long enough and the state can administratively dissolve your business. At this point, you would need to file an Application for Reinstatement and any outstanding reports.

Required Information

Whether April 1 of an odd-numbered year is coming up or you still have several months, it’s good to know what information you’ll need to provide. Here’s what each biennial report will require:

• LLC name
• Registered office street address
• Registered agent name
• Principal office street address
• Signature of the LLC’s authorized person

It’s that easy! You probably have all of this information nearby, if you don’t already know it off the top of your head. The filing shouldn’t take much longer than a few minutes, especially if you’re filing online.

Filing Options

If you’re reading this in January, February, or March of an odd-numbered year, it’s filing season! You can submit your biennial report either online or as a hard copy. They’re both equally effective, although online filing is both faster and cheaper.

Online: Head over to the Secretary of State’s biennial report filing page. Enter your business name and temporary code, which you or your registered agent should have received in the mail. From there, you can follow the instructions to file your report. You will also need to pay the $45 filing fee.

Filing by Mail: You can access a print form from the same biennial report filing page. Enter your business name and code, then click “Print Form.” Complete the form and include your $60 payment. Then mail it to:

Secretary of State

Lucas Building, 1st Floor

321 E. 12th Street

Des Moines, IA 50319

Does the State Send Reminders?

Reminders are always nice. They help you stay on top of your business requirements and ensure that you won’t fall out of good standing.

The Secretary of State will mail out a biennial report postcard in early January of every odd-numbered year. This postcard isn’t just a reminder, though – it also contains your business’ temporary code, which you’ll use to access and print your report, so don’t lose it! If you didn’t receive a postcard reminder, check with your registered agent.

Even though you’ll receive notification from the state, it’s still a good idea to set your own reminders. Use your planner, phone, calendar, post-it notes, whatever helps you remember, so you can avoid the penalties for delinquent reports.

Conclusion

There you have it, everything you need to know about Iowa’s reporting requirements. Follow this guide to a T and your LLC will be prepared to operate smoothly and in good standing long into the future.

And remember, if at any point it seems overwhelming, you’re not alone. A good LLC service like ZenBusiness (or LegalZoom) can be a valuable resource, taking care of all the little details, so you can focus on growing your business.