New Hampshire LLC Annual Report: How to File

You did it. Your New Hampshire LLC is officially up and running, ready to take on challenges, roll in the profits, and change the world.

There’s no doubt that this is an exciting time in your business journey. After starting your LLC, it’s easy to get carried away in all the excitement and expectations. After all, as a new business owner, you’ve got a lot on your plate.

But the state does too. They need to keep updated records on thousands of businesses so that they can effectively reach out with any important tax or legal communications down the road. How do they do it? With your cooperation, of course.

In New Hampshire, an LLC’s Annual Report includes some vital information about your company’s ownership group, registered agent, and more. With these reports, the state is able to keep its business records up-to-date. Unsure how to go about it? Never even heard of it? No worries at all. That’s why we’re here. Keep reading for everything you need to know.

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If you’d like to hand off this responsibility to save time and focus on running your business, affordable LLC services are a great solution. Not only will they form your business in the first place, but they’ll also manage ongoing requirements like ongoing report filing. Once you're ready to lock it down, have ZenBusiness file all the paperwork.

What Is the New Hampshire Annual Report? Why Is It Important?

Consider an Annual 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 New Hampshire business.

Each state has its own annual 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 an Annual Report.

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 New Hampshire might end up falling out of good standing or, even worse, being administratively dissolved.

Moreover, keeping your information current will help other businesses and potential customers find you. If the Secretary of State has the most updated data on record, any future partners or clients can find your business by performing a name search.

How Much Does the New Hampshire LLC Annual 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 annual 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. New Hampshire’s $100 fee isn’t necessarily cheap, but it’s more reasonable than some other states. Because you’re filing every year, you should write this $100 payment into your annual budget.

Due Date and Frequency for an Annual Report in New Hampshire

Circle April 1st on your calendar because that’s the due date for your Annual Report. You can certainly file earlier if you want to get it out of the way, but not any earlier than January 1st.

The first Annual Report won’t be due until the calendar year after you file your Certificate of Formation to form your LLC. For example, if you started your business on March 10, 2021, your first Annual Report would be due on April 1, 2022.

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 Annual Report can yield some serious consequences.

Miss the April 1st deadline and your Annual Report will automatically incur a $50 late fee and your LLC will lose its good standing with the state. Fail to file your Annual Report for two consecutive years and the state will administratively dissolve your business.

Required Information

We’ve covered New Hampshire’s basic annual reporting principles, but what, exactly, does the form require? Here’s the information you’ll need to provide:

LLC name and business ID
Principal business purpose(s)
Registered agent name and address
Principal office address
Business email address
Member or manager name(s) and address(es)
Filer name

The form itself is fairly quick, and all the required information is pretty easily accessible. If you have it all top of mind or written down, you should be able to cruise right through your Annual Report.

Filing Options

Ready to file? You can either submit your Annual Report online or by mail. Both processes follow many of the same steps.

Online Filing: Head over to the NH QuickStart filing portal and click “File Annual Report.” You will need to create an account if you don’t already have one. Log in and follow the onscreen instructions to enter the necessary information. Then select “Proceed to Pay,” enter your payment information, and you’re good to go! Your report will be processed immediately.

Filing by Mail: Follow all of the same steps as you would to submit your report online, but when you reach the end, you will select “Mail with Check” instead of “Proceed to Pay.” You can then print your completed form, sign it, include your payment, and mail it to:

Corporation Division

NH Department of State

107 North Main Street, Room 204

Concord, NH 03301-4989

The Secretary of State processes mailed reports within 1-3 weeks.

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.

When Annual Report filing opens on January 1st, the state will send a reminder to your registered agent (or your business email address). But just so that you don’t forget, it’s a good idea to set up your own system of reminders. Whether you use a planner, calendar app, Post-It notes, or anything else, use it to ensure that you don’t forget to file.

Conclusion

There you have it, everything you need to know about New Hampshire’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.

Frequently Asked Questions

About Filing the New Hampshire LLC Annual Report

Should I use an Annual Report service, hire an attorney, or prepare and file my own reports?

This question largely comes down to personal preferences, but we do have some general insights. The DIY route can be quite a bit of work, as you’ll need to keep track of your due dates and complete the entire report on your own with no assistance. As for hiring an attorney, this can be prohibitively expensive for many businesses, as a lawyer can charge hundreds or even thousands of dollars to prepare and file your Annual Reports.

You can think of business services companies as a middle ground between these options. While most of these companies charge a fee to prepare and file your Annual Reports, that fee will be significantly less expensive than an attorney’s fee. At the same time, you still aren’t going it alone. Instead, you have an experienced professional guiding you through the entire process.

I’ve heard the most about LegalZoom. Are they the best Annual Report service?

LegalZoom is the most well-known of all business services companies, thanks to its long track record and extensive advertising campaigns. That said, all of that brand power comes at a cost, as LegalZoom’s pricing and features don’t always compare advantageously to its competitors. While we do appreciate LegalZoom’s Annual Report filing service, it isn’t our top choice.

When is my Annual Report due each year?

It doesn’t matter when you formed your LLC, as all LLCs in New Hampshire have the exact same April 1 due date for Annual Reports each year.

Does New Hampshire require LLCs to file initial reports?

In some states, LLCs are also required to file initial reports. These reports are typically quite similar to Annual Reports, with the difference being that an initial report either accompanies your formation documents or follows their filing within a couple of months.

However, New Hampshire has no initial report requirement. Instead, this state gathers all of the information it needs for your LLC’s first year-plus in business from your Certificate of Formation filing.

What if I need more time to complete my Annual Report?

Unfortunately, New Hampshire does not offer extensions for Annual Report filings. That said, the state does have a bit of a built-in buffer period between April 1 and its most severe penalties for missed Annual Reports. While you will be assessed a $50 late fee immediately, and you’ll lose your good standing with the state, New Hampshire will wait an additional two years before administratively dissolving your LLC.

Where can I find more official information about New Hampshire’s LLC annual reporting requirements?

Unfortunately, New Hampshire doesn’t do a great job of providing official info regarding LLC Annual Reports online. If you have questions that this article can’t answer, you might want to call the Secretary of State’s office for further assistance.

LLC Annual Reports in all 50 States

We break down the LLC Annual Reporting process for all 50 states. View our guides below.