{"id":3175,"date":"2026-09-04T14:34:46","date_gmt":"2026-09-04T19:34:46","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/business-engagement\/?p=3175"},"modified":"2026-09-04T14:34:46","modified_gmt":"2026-09-04T19:34:46","slug":"office-of-the-secretary-of-state-registration-file-your-annual-report-to-stay-in-good-standing","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.und.edu\/business-engagement\/2026\/09\/office-of-the-secretary-of-state-registration-file-your-annual-report-to-stay-in-good-standing\/","title":{"rendered":"Office of the Secretary of State Registration: File Your Annual Report to Stay in Good Standing"},"content":{"rendered":"
Written by the Secretary of State staff<\/pre>\n
Corporations, limited liability companies, partnerships, and cooperatives are required to file an annual report to keep their business registration\"\"<\/a> in good standing under state law. Sole proprietorships transacting business under a Trade Name and general partnerships transacting business under a Fictitious Partnership Name do not file annual reports. The annual report is a simple online filing that ensures the information associated with the registration is current.<\/p>\n
To complete the annual report, you review and update business activities, the business mailing address, and stakeholders, such as officers, directors, members, managers, governors, or partners. Financial statements are not required to be submitted with the annual report.\u00a0 Farming or ranching and authorized livestock farm corporations and LLCs need to include shares\/membership interests and owned or leased land used.<\/p>\n
Filing the Annual Report<\/h5>\n
Each business type has a different annual reporting period. Letters are mailed to businesses by the Office of the Secretary of State when its filing window opens, which is two months before the due date. For a new business, the first annual report is due in the year following the calendar year in which the business was first registered.<\/p>\n
Your business can complete the filing through the Secretary of State\u2019s FirstStop Portal<\/a>, which often takes only a few minutes.\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n
Be wary of third parties who contact businesses offering to file their annual reports for a fee. Often, the third-party correspondence is\u00a0misleading, as they make it appear as if they are working with the North Dakota Office of the Secretary of State. The letter or email may look like a bill, request hefty fees, and\/or convey a sense of urgency. It\u2019s important for businesses to know that the annual report filing doesn\u2019t require the services of a third party, and you can reach out to the Secretary of State\u2019s Business Services team for assistance with completing the filing.<\/p>\n
Reporting Periods and Fees<\/h5>\n
January 31 – March 31<\/p>\n