Washington LLC renewal services

Research summary and findings for: "Washington LLC renewal services" (as of 2026-01-03).Steps taken / methodology:- Performed broad web searches focused on Washington state LLC renewal, annual reports, and renewal/renewal-fee processes using official and reputable sources.

Search terms prioritized: Secretary of State annual report, RCW citations, Business Licensing Service (BLS) renewal, reinstatement/reactivation, foreign LLC rules, registered agent requirements, and penalty/late fees.- Prioritized official state sources (Washington Secretary of State and Washington Department of Revenue) and corroborated with reputable compliance/legal vendors for practical guidance.Key findings (concise):

Annual report requirement

All domestic and registered foreign business entities (including LLCs) must file an Annual Report each year with the Washington Secretary of State to maintain active status. The annual report affirms or updates entity information on record. (Due date tied to the entitys expiration date the last day of the month the business was formed/registered.)

Filing window

Annual Reports may be filed up to 180 days before the expiration (due) date. Filing earlier does not change the entitys expiration month. The Secretary of State sends courtesy notices ~60 days before due date but lack of notice does not excuse the filing obligation (statute referenced).

Filing method and processing

The preferred method is online via the Secretary of States Corporations & Charities Filing System (CCFS). There are online filing instructions and an online filing page for Annual Reports.

Fees

The standard Secretary of State annual report filing fee for profit entities (including LLCs) is $70 (online). An additional delinquency fee of $25 is assessed if the entitys status is Delinquent. Expedited service is available for an extra charge. (Sources vary on combined BLS/license totals; see below.)

Business license (Department of Revenue / BLS) vs. Secretary of State filing

Annual report (Secretary of State) and Business License renewal (Department of Revenue / Business Licensing Service) are separate processes. The Department of Revenues guidance points customers to file Annual Reports directly with the Secretary of State. Local/city endorsements and other license endorsements may have separate fees and renewal cycles.

Consequences of noncompliance

Failure to file by the due date leads to a delinquent status and may lead to administrative dissolution. The state provides a window (and notice) but filing remains the businesss responsibility. If administratively dissolved, domestic entities generally have up to five years to reinstate; reinstatement requires filing missed annual reports, paying past-due fees, and a reinstatement penalty (the Secretary of State references a $140 penalty assessed for reinstatement in its materials).

Registered agent and contact info

Annual Report process allows/requests updates to registered agent and principal office information. The online system requires an email address for Registered Agent & Principal Office fields per cited WAC.

Domestic vs foreign entities

Domestic and foreign entities are generally subject to the same annual report timing and fee rules; filing and fees are handled through the Secretary of State for the annual report. Local license/endorsement differences may still apply.

Practical guidance for business owners/LLC founders

File up to 180 days early, use the CCFS online system, track the anniversary month due date, maintain a reliable registered agent/service for reminders, budget ~ $70 for the SOS annual report plus any local or BLS license fees (and possible delinquency/reinstatement penalties if late), and prepare to supply UBI/Entity number and email addresses when filing.Recommended next steps (for preparing content or a newsletter/blog):- Use official SOS pages for step-by-step filing instructions and direct links to the CCFS annual report filing page. Include screenshots or step list for completing the CCFS Annual Report online (login, search by UBI/name, update fields, pay fee).- Explain the separation between SOS annual report and Dept. of Revenue/BLS business license renewal; include links to BLS guidance and city endorsements where relevant.- Provide an easy checklist and timeline (e.g., set calendar reminders 120180 days before due month; collect UBI number, registered agent details, principal office email; file online; retain confirmation).- Note penalties and reinstatement costs (delinquency fee $25; reinstatement penalty $140; past-due annual report fees) and five-year reinstatement window for administratively dissolved domestic entities.Citations and verbatim excerpts supporting the summary (each entry lists the source URL and one or more verbatim excerpts from that source):