Washington LLC Annual Report: What It Is and How to File

You did it. Your Washington 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 Washington, an LLC’s annual report includes some vital information about your business, and it helps the state keep its records up-to-date regarding commercial activity within its borders. 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.

Find Your Zen

★★★★★

Get Started

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 Washington 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 Washington 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 Washington 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. Anyone can access your LLC’s contact information through a business name search, so keeping this information updated will ensure that future partners, clients, etc. can reach you.

How Much Does the Washington 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. Fortunately for you, Washington’s annual reporting fee isn’t a huge expense. It’s just $60 whether you file online or using a paper form.

Due Date and Frequency for an Annual Report in Washington

As the name suggests, you must file one annual report each year. It’s due by the last day of your LLC’s anniversary month (the month you initially formed it). So, if you formed your LLC on June 18, 2021, your annual report would be due by June 30 every year after that.

Washington’s Secretary of State also requires an initial report, due within 120 days of filing your Certificate of Formation. However, this filing is cheaper, just $10.

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.

Fail to file your annual report on time and you’ll incur a $25 late fee. Plus, if you go 120 days past your due date, the state may administratively dissolve your LLC. At that point, you would need to file for reinstatement, which costs an additional $140.

Required Information

We’ve covered the basics, so now it’s time to nail down the details. If your LLC’s anniversary month is approaching, you’ll want to start preparing for your annual report filing. Here’s the information it requires:

LLC name
Unified Business Identifier (UBI) – You can find this on your LLC’s online record
Principal office address
Mailing address (optional)
Phone number and email address
At least one LLC member or manager name
Nature of business
Answer four questions about the LLC’s controlling interest
Name, signature, and title of the LLC’s authorized person
Registered agent name, address, phone number, and email address

All of this information is easily accessible, and you might even know it off the top of your head. Once you’ve collected everything, you should be able to breeze through the filing.

Filing Options

Got your information? Then you’re ready to file, and you have three options. The easiest is filing online, but you can also submit your annual report by mail or in person.

Online Filing: Start by going to the Secretary of State’s Corporations and Charities Filing System page. From here, you have a few options. If you have an account, you can log in and access your annual report from there. But you don’t need an account to file. You’ll also find two buttons, one that says “Express Annual Report Without Changes” and another that reads “Express Annual Report With Changes.” Neither of these options requires you to sign in. Once you finish your digital annual report and enter your credit or debit card information, you’re all set! Your filing will be processed immediately.

Filing by Mail: If you prefer a paper form, you’re in luck, because the Secretary of State also has a hard copy annual report. Download and complete it, then include your payment and send it to:

Corporations and Charities Division

P.O. Box 40234

Olympia, WA 98504-0234

Filing In Person: Live near Olympia? You’re also welcome to hand-deliver your form to the physical office at 801 Capitol Way S.

Typical processing times for hard copy filing are 10-12 business days. If you’re in a hurry and that’s not quite fast enough, you can pay an additional $50 for expedited processing – two business days for mailed forms or the same day for in-person ones. Or, you could just file online for immediate processing.

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.

To help you out, the Secretary of State will send a courtesy reminder 45 days before your LLC’s annual report due date. We think it’s a good idea, however, to set up your own system of reminders closer to the deadline, just to make sure you don’t forget.

Conclusion

There you have it, everything you need to know about Washington’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 Washington 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?

Your Washington LLC’s annual report deadline is the end of your anniversary month. Therefore, if you formed your LLC at any point in the month of March, your annual report will be due by March 31 every year.

Does Washington 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.

In Washington, you must file an initial report within 120 days of forming your LLC. Most entrepreneurs choose to file this report with their Certificate of Formation.

What if I need more time to complete my annual report?

The state of Washington does not offer extensions for annual reports. Fail to file your annual report on time and you’ll incur a $25 late fee. That said, the state does give you an additional 120 days to make up your missing report before it may administratively dissolve your LLC. At that point, you would need to file for reinstatement, which costs an additional $140.

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

Unfortunately, Washington doesn’t do a great job of providing official info about annual reports online. If you have a question that this article cannot answer, you might need to contact 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.