Statement of Information in California

A Statement of Information is a form that helps the State of California keep your business records up to date. In this post, you’ll learn what it is, who must file it, what goes on the form, how to file it online, and what happens if you miss the deadline.

Why this form matters

Imagine you run a business and you move, change managers, or update your registered agent. If the state and the public can’t find the newest details, it can create delays in getting legal notices and cause confusion in business checks.

That is what the Statement of Information fixes. It gives the state a current snapshot of your business so filings and official communications reach the right people.

What a California Statement of Information is

A California statement is a required filing submitted to the California Secretary of State. It’s commonly described as a report that keeps the state informed about:

your business address information
your registered agent
your key officers/managers/members (depending on your entity)
other identifying details needed for the state records

You’ll also hear it called a biennial or annual report depending on the business type.

Who must file

The Statement of Information is required for businesses registered in California. In particular:

LLCs registered to do business in California
Corporations registered to do business in California

It is filed for the state’s records through the Secretary of State process (often via BizFile Online).

How often LLCs and corporations file

Deadlines depend on the type of entity and the date the business was approved/formed.

Filing schedule by entity type

Entity type	How often you file	Typical timing idea
LLC	Every 2 years	By the anniversary of approval (within the required window)
Corporation	Every 1 year	By the anniversary of incorporation (within the required window)

Newly formed or newly registered businesses have a first filing due within 90 days of formation or registration.

When the due date happens

California uses a timing window based on when your year of formation/registration lands. For LLCs and corporations, the “due” date is tied to the month/day your business was approved or incorporated.

Simple due date rule of thumb

flowchart TD
A[Know your approval or incorporation month] --> B[Use the required reporting schedule]
B --> C[File within the due window for that month]
C --> D[Keep filing on the same yearly or 2-year cycle]

If you’re trying to figure out your due date, start with your formation or registration date from your approval paperwork, then follow the LLC (every 2 years) or corporation (every year) schedule.

What specific information goes on the form

The form collects details about the business and who runs it. While exact boxes can vary, common items include:

Core items

Item on the Statement	Why it’s included
Exact legal business name	Lets the state match your record correctly
12-digit entity number	Identifies the specific record
Address info (principal office and/or mailing)	Ensures official mail reaches you
Registered agent (agent for service of process)	So you can be legally served
List of managers or members (for LLCs) or officers/directors (for corporations)	Identifies leadership/contact points
Type of business / primary activity	Gives a basic description of what you do

For accuracy, double-check names and addresses against your records before you submit the statement.

Fees

The filing fee depends on whether you’re an LLC or a corporation.

Entity type	Filing fee
LLC	$20
Corporation	$25

First Statement vs ongoing Statements

Initial filing

Your first Statement of Information is due within 90 days after your business is approved/formed.

Ongoing filing

After the first one:
- LLCs file every 2 years
- Corporations file every 1 year

Can you file a Statement of No Change

Yes. A Statement of No Change is used when nothing important needs updating.

Common situations include:
- your address did not change
- your managers/members/officers are the same
- your registered agent info is the same

For LLCs, it’s often referenced as Form LLC-12NC. (The same idea exists for corporations as well.)

How to file online in California

California generally supports online filing through the Secretary of State’s BizFile system.

Typical online steps

1. Go to BizFile
2. Choose File a Statement of Information
3. Search your business (name or entity number)
4. Select your entity
5. Complete the form fields
6. Review, sign, and submit
7. Pay the required fee

When filed online, processing is often immediate, and you can download a receipt and filing acknowledgment from the system.

Protecting personal information

Most Statement information is publicly accessible through the Secretary of State’s business search.

That can be stressful if you don’t want your home details visible online. A common way people reduce exposure is to use a registered agent service and/or choose addresses that don’t expose personal information unnecessarily—within what the state allows.

Practical idea:
- If your goal is privacy, focus on registered and professional addresses where possible (like a registered agent office) rather than a personal home address.

Penalties for missing the filing

Failing to file can lead to penalties and even business status problems.

Common consequence timeline

Stage	What may happen
After the due date	A grace period may apply
After grace period ends	A late fee can be charged
Continued non-filing	The state may take serious action, such as suspension or dissolution

From the available guidance, a 60-day grace period may apply, and if you still don’t file, a $250 penalty may be assessed. Continued non-filing can lead to loss of good standing.

Grace period and late fees

A helpful way to think about it:

If you realize you missed the deadline, treat it like an emergency task.
Don’t assume “extra time” will solve it. Use the grace period only as a last resort.

Filing timing tips and reminders

Because the due date is tied to your approval month or anniversary, calendar planning helps a lot.

Reminder strategy that works

When	What to do
1–2 months before due date	Create a repeating calendar event
1 week before	Gather updated manager/member/officer info
Day you file	Do a final address and name check

Some guidance also notes that reminders may be sent as a courtesy, but it’s still your responsibility to file on time.

Statement filing assistance services

Many business owners use help from registered agent services or compliance providers, especially if they want:

fewer mistakes on the form
on-time submissions
reminders for the next due cycle

What matters most is that whoever helps you files accurate information and follows the required process.

Common mistakes and how to avoid them

Here are frequent problems that can cause trouble:

Mistake	What it can cause	How to avoid it
Using an outdated address	Mail and legal notices may go wrong	Update addresses before filing
Wrong registered agent details	Service of process may fail	Confirm agent info matches your current records
Missing required manager/officer names	Incomplete filing risk	List all required people based on your entity type
Typos in names	State record mismatch	Copy from your official business documents
Submitting after the deadline	Late fee and possible penalties	Set calendar reminders early

Inaccurate information and legal implications

Submitting inaccurate information can create serious problems. It can lead to penalties and may also complicate business disputes.

One guidance source specifically highlights that filings can need to disclose certain labor judgment information where required, such as wage/order violations from the appropriate labor enforcement processes or courts.

Bottom line: accuracy isn’t optional. Treat the Statement of Information as a legal record.

Labor judgment disclosure on the LLC form

For LLC filings, there may be a section that asks whether any managers or members have certain judgments related to labor law violations (answering Yes/No as required). This matters because the state uses the filing as part of compliance tracking.

If you’re unsure, check the form instructions carefully and ensure your answer matches the requirements.

Where to get step-by-step guidance

Best sources for step-by-step help include:

California Secretary of State’s BizFile guidance and FAQs
the specific form instructions for the Statement of Information you’re filing
your business records (approval documents, current registered agent details, current manager/member/officer list)

Using the state’s own instructions helps avoid guessing.

Secretary of State contact

For questions about the Statement of Information process, you can contact the California Secretary of State by phone:

916-657-5448
Hours often listed as Monday–Friday, 8am to 5pm Pacific Time

Quick checklist before you submit

- [ ] Correct legal business name
- [ ] Correct entity number
- [ ] Principal and mailing address are current
- [ ] Registered agent details are correct
- [ ] Correct managers/members or officers/directors
- [ ] Primary business activity description matches your records
- [ ] Labor judgment question answered as required
- [ ] Review for typos
- [ ] Pay the $20 (LLC) or $25 (corporation) fee

Summary

A California Statement of Information is a required filing that keeps the state updated on your business details. LLCs file every 2 years (starting within 90 days of approval), corporations file every year (also starting within 90 days). It costs $20 for LLCs and $25 for corporations, can be filed online, and missing the deadline can lead to penalties such as a $250 late fee after a 60-day grace period.