Louisiana Annual Report: Due Dates and the New $35 Fee

If you operate an LLC, corporation, or other registered business entity in Louisiana, you face one non-negotiable deadline every year: your annual report filing. This is not optional paperwork. Missing it puts your business at legal and financial risk, including potential loss of liability protection and state authorization to operate.

Unlike many states that enforce a single statewide deadline for all businesses, Louisiana ties your annual report due date directly to your business formation anniversary. This means a Louisiana LLC formed on March 15 files its report by March 15 each year. Another business formed on September 1 files by September 1. There is no universal deadline, and that's a detail many business owners miss.

As of October 1, 2026, the filing fee for LLCs and corporations increased to $35 per year under Act 921. This represents a change from the prior $30 fee. If your business anniversary falls after October 1, 2026, you will pay the new rate.

Here is what you need to know about Louisiana annual report filing, due dates, fees, and the real consequences of missing your deadline.

When Is Your Louisiana Annual Report Due?

Your Louisiana annual report is due each year on or before your business formation anniversary. This is the date your LLC or corporation was officially organized and filed with the Louisiana Secretary of State.

If you do not know your formation date, find it on your Articles of Organization (for LLCs) or Articles of Incorporation (for corporations). The certificate you received from the Secretary of State when your business was formed also shows this date clearly. Mark it in your calendar as a recurring yearly reminder. Missing it by even one day creates legal exposure.

The Louisiana Secretary of State permits filing within a designated window around your renewal date, not at any arbitrary time. This window typically opens a few weeks before your anniversary date and closes on or shortly after the anniversary itself. The exact window dates are specific to each business and can be verified when you log into your geauxBIZ account or by calling the Commercial Division directly.

Do not assume you can file your annual report months early or months late. The filing window is designed to keep all business records current as of the actual anniversary date. If you miss the window, you will be considered delinquent, and your business faces the revocation process described below.

The $35 Louisiana Annual Report Fee: What Changed and When

Effective October 1, 2026, the Louisiana annual report fee for LLCs and corporations is $35. This is a permanent increase from the prior fee of $30.

This increase was established by Act 921 and applies to all annual reports filed on or after the effective date. If your business anniversary is October 15, 2026, you will pay $35 when you file. If your anniversary is June 15, 2026, you already paid the $30 fee earlier in the year and will not pay the higher rate until next year's filing.

The $35 annual report fee for a Louisiana LLC or Louisiana corporation is the state filing fee only. This fee covers the Secretary of State's processing, maintenance of your business record, and provision of filing services. It does not include state income tax, sales tax, occupational license fees, or local licensing costs. Those are separate obligations that vary by business type and location.

Louisiana does not impose an annual LLC franchise tax or an annual corporation franchise tax beyond this filing fee. The corporation franchise tax was repealed for franchise tax periods beginning on or after January 1, 2026. If you operate your LLC as a pass-through entity (the default), income is taxed at the individual rate level, not the entity level. If you elect to be taxed as a corporation, you pay Louisiana's flat 5.5% corporate income tax on net income, but this is separate from and in addition to the annual report fee.

Nonprofit organizations and charitable entities pay a reduced $10 annual report fee. The $35 fee applies only to LLCs and for-profit business corporations.

The annual report fee is mandatory and non-refundable. Once you submit your filing and payment, you cannot request a refund even if you dissolve your business later in the same year or if circumstances change. Budget for this cost as a recurring annual business expense.

How to File Your Louisiana Annual Report

Louisiana's sole official filing method for annual reports is the geauxBIZ portal, operated by the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division. You cannot file by mail, email, or in person. The system is online only.

To file your Louisiana SOS annual report:

1. Access the geauxBIZ portal. Go to https://geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/ and log in using your business ID (also called a FEIN or entity identification number) and your PIN. This information was provided when your business was initially registered.
2. Locate your business record. Once logged in, find your business in the system. The portal displays all entities associated with your account.
3. Select the annual report option. The portal prompts you when an annual report is due or can be filed. Click the button to begin the annual report filing process for the specific business you want to update.
4. Review and update information. The form pre-fills most information from your last filing, including your registered agent, principal office address, and member or officer names. Review every field carefully. Update any information that has changed, such as an address change, a new registered agent, or changes to the management structure of the LLC.
5. Submit and pay the fee. Complete the form, review it for accuracy one final time, and submit. The portal directs you to a payment page where you pay the $35 fee by credit card or ACH transfer. Save your confirmation number and the filing receipt for your records.

The entire process typically takes 10 to 15 minutes if your business information has not changed substantially. If you need to update management details or corporate address information, allow extra time to gather supporting documentation or make decisions about those changes before you start the filing.

If you have lost your business ID or PIN, the geauxBIZ portal includes an option to retrieve or reset these credentials. Alternatively, you can contact the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division at the phone number listed on the main Secretary of State website.

The Louisiana Secretary of State does not publish a standard processing time for annual reports, but filings typically process within a few business days. Once your report is accepted, your business record is updated and your registration remains active for another year.

What Happens If You Miss Your Louisiana Annual Report Deadline

Missing your Louisiana annual report deadline triggers a serious chain of consequences. Your business does not maintain its legal standing, and you lose the liability protection and state authorization that your LLC or corporation provides.

If your annual report is not filed by the deadline, the Louisiana Secretary of State initiates a revocation process. A revoked business is no longer authorized to conduct business in Louisiana. This means you cannot legally sign contracts, hire employees, open a business bank account, obtain financing, or conduct commerce in your business name. Customers and vendors may refuse to work with an entity that has lost its state registration. Banks will close your business accounts. Lenders will not advance credit.

One missed filing does not trigger immediate revocation. However, the Secretary of State counts consecutive missed years. After three consecutive years of non-filing, your Louisiana LLC or corporation registration is formally revoked by the state.

Once revoked, the Secretary of State removes your business name from the active registry. For three years after revocation, that business name is unavailable. You cannot register a new business with the same name during this three-year period, nor can anyone else. This prevents you from simply re-registering the same business name as a workaround.

In addition to the loss of liability protection and state authorization, personal liability may attach to you. If your business is revoked and someone sues the business or is injured due to business operations, the lack of active registration can affect the liability shield that an LLC or corporation normally provides. You could personally face judgment for business debts and obligations.

If you discover you have missed a filing deadline, the solution is to file the overdue annual report as soon as possible. Contact the Secretary of State's Commercial Division to confirm whether your business can still be restored or whether formal revocation has already occurred. If you have not yet hit the three-year threshold, you can usually file the missed report retroactively and pay any applicable fees. This is far simpler and less expensive than dissolving the business and starting over with a new formation.

Louisiana Certificate of Good Standing

A related benefit of maintaining a current annual report is your eligibility to obtain a Louisiana certificate of good standing. This is an official document issued by the Secretary of State that verifies your business is registered with the state, your annual filings are current, and you are authorized to conduct business in Louisiana.

You may need a certificate of good standing if you are applying for a business loan or line of credit, opening a business bank account, applying for a professional license, contracting with government agencies, or expanding your business into another state. Banks, lenders, and regulatory agencies often request this certificate as independent verification that your business is legitimate and in compliance with Louisiana state law.

You can request a certificate of good standing through the geauxBIZ portal or by contacting the Louisiana Secretary of State directly. There is typically a small fee for this certificate, separate from and in addition to your annual report filing fee.

Keeping your Louisiana LLC annual report current ensures you can obtain a certificate of good standing whenever you need one. If your business falls into delinquent status or is revoked, you cannot obtain this certificate until you restore your business to good standing by filing the overdue report and resolving any delinquency status.

Key Takeaways

• Your Louisiana annual report is due each year on or before your specific business formation anniversary, not on a statewide deadline.
• The filing fee is $35 for LLCs and corporations for filings on or after October 1, 2026.
• File through the geauxBIZ portal at https://geauxbiz.sos.la.gov/ during the filing window around your anniversary date.
• One missed filing does not trigger immediate revocation, but three consecutive years of non-filing will result in revocation.
• A revoked business name is unavailable for three years following the revocation date.
• Staying current on your annual report maintains your eligibility for a certificate of good standing.
• The annual report fee is separate from any state income tax, sales tax, or local occupational license requirements.
• If you miss a deadline, file the overdue report as soon as possible to restore your business to good standing.

This Is Informational Content, Not Legal or Tax Advice

This article provides general informational guidance about Louisiana annual report filing requirements based on state law and Secretary of State procedures as of October 2026. Requirements can change, and individual circumstances vary significantly. Always verify current fees, deadlines, filing procedures, and the exact filing window for your business with the Louisiana Secretary of State before you file.

For specific questions about your Louisiana annual report filing, contact the Louisiana Secretary of State's Commercial Division or visit https://www.sos.la.gov/business-services. If you have questions about the tax implications of your business structure or filing status, consult a Louisiana accountant or CPA. If you need guidance on LLC or corporation compliance, business liability, or other legal matters, consult a Louisiana attorney who specializes in business formation and entity management.

Staying on top of your annual filing keeps your business legally compliant, protects the liability protection that your LLC or corporation provides, and ensures your business maintains its state authorization to operate.