North Carolina lesson 6 of 6
File the North Carolina Annual Report
North Carolina's ongoing filing is the Annual Report, due to the Secretary of State every year and priced well above what most states charge for the equivalent paperwork.
What is due and when
Every LLC must file an Annual Report with a $200 fee. The first report is due by April 15 of the year after the calendar year in which your Articles of Organization became effective, and a report is due by April 15 every year after that until the LLC is dissolved, converted or merged out of existence.
The report confirms or updates your registered agent and office, principal office address and details of your principal company officials, and it must be filed electronically. North Carolina does not accept paper annual reports for LLCs.
If you miss it
A missed Annual Report can lead to a late fee and, after a further period of noncompliance, administrative dissolution by the Secretary of State. A dissolved LLC can generally be reinstated by filing the outstanding reports and fees, but reinstatement takes time and the LLC loses good standing in the interim.
Set a recurring reminder well before April 15 each year. The Secretary of State sends notices, but the statutory duty to file sits with the LLC regardless of whether a reminder arrives.
Key takeaways
- The Annual Report costs $200 and is due April 15 every year.
- Filing is electronic only through the Secretary of State's portal.
- Missing it risks administrative dissolution, which is reversible but costly.
Frequently asked questions
Can I file the North Carolina Annual Report on paper?
No. The Secretary of State requires LLC annual reports to be filed electronically.
What happens if my North Carolina LLC is administratively dissolved?
You can generally apply for reinstatement by filing the missing reports and paying the fees owed, but the LLC is not in good standing until reinstatement is granted.
Official sources
Or let us file your North Carolina LLC for you
Everything above is yours to use for free. If you would rather hand it over, we prepare and file the Articles of Organization (Form L-01), act as your registered agent, and track your ongoing deadlines.
Last reviewed: September 2026 - reviewed by Gullia Filing Legal & Formation Team