Forming an LLC is generally a good idea if you’re starting a business. If your business is based in New Hampshire, then you have to file your LLC with the New Hampshire state government. That way, you’re legal to operate and you avoid unnecessary fines and penalties.
However, if it’s your first time to form an LLC, then you need to know that it will involve quite a bit of paperwork. And that paperwork doesn’t end once you’ve formally established your LLC. To maintain the good standing of your Limited Liability Corporation, you have to periodically send in more paperwork.
These paper works include filing your LLC Annual Reports. New Hampshire law requires all LLCs based in New Hampshire to file an Annual Report with the Secretary of the State of New Hampshire.
What is an LLC Annual Report?
An LLC Annual Report is a report you file every year, and it’s meant to furnish the state government with the crucial details regarding your LLC. This report should include any updated info or changes that may have happened since the last filing period. As the annual report contains crucial data, it’s also sometimes referred to as a statement of information.
Every LLC in most states has to submit its annual reports. The required information may change a bit depending on the state, but usually, the report will contain the following information:
The name of the LLC
- The main business address of the LLC
- The names of each LLC member (owner), and their addresses
- All the crucial ID numbers for the LLC, such as the state entity number
- The main purpose of the LLC
- A list of authorized signatories
- Information regarding your registered agent
Filing Options
In the State of New Hampshire, the annual report can be filed online or non-electronically through the mail. Submission through the mail Is similar to the online filing option which will be explained below. However, you’ll have to print the form you’ve completed online, append your signature on it, and finally, instead of making payment online, you’ll need to mail a check of the payment along with the printed form to the address below if you’re submitting through the mail.
Corporation Division
NH Department of State
107 North Main Street, Room 204
Concord, NH 03301-4989
Your submission through the mail will be processed between 1 to 3 weeks by the Secretary of the State of New Hampshire.
The cost of the Annual Report in the State of New Hampshire is 100 USD only. However, it may cost more if you fail to file the report on time, as it may result in a penalty fee of 50 USD in addition to the 100 USD Annual report filing fee as your LLC will first be placed under the “Not in Good Standing status” by the State of New Hampshire. If you fail to submit your annual report for two years straight, the State will then dissolve your LLC administratively. You’ll then have to spend more money, time, and effort to reestablish the LLC.
Filing the Annual Report helps to make sure that your LLC is compliant with all state regulations. That should keep your LLC in good standing with the New Hampshire state government, ensuring that your business enjoys all the LLC benefits and protections.
Deadlines
If you’re a member (owner) of a New Hampshire LLC, you have to ensure that you send in these Annual Reports on time. You can file your Annual Report starting from January 1 of the year. The absolute deadline is by April 1 of the year.
Your LLC’s first Annual Report is required for the year right after the LLC’s year of formation. For example, let’s assume your LLC was formed on January 27, 2021. Your first Annual Report will be due by April 1, 2022. Note that you can submit your Annual Report as early as the 1st of January of the year.
To keep you from forgetting, the state helpfully sends out courtesy reminders starting from the month of January before the date your LLC annual report is due (1st of April). These courtesy reminders will be sent to the email or mail address you listed on your application when you filed the Certificate of Formation.
Required Steps
It’s easy since you only have to go online. Here are the detailed steps you need to take to file your New Hampshire LLC Annual report:
- Log in to the QuickStart filing portal of the State of New Hampshire and choose the file annual report icon on the page.
- You’ll need to create a new account on the system if you don’t have an account yet.
- After logging into the portal, follow the instructions on the screen and input all the necessary information as required.
- Choose the “Proceed to Pay” icon after you have entered the correct information into the system.
- Input your payment information and make the payment of the filing fee.
- The system will process your annual report immediately.
- The next page will confirm that you’ve submitted your Annual Report for Filing and have made the payment.
Again, just make sure you do all this on or before April 1. Your annual report will be processed immediately after submission.
Who Should Do This Task?
Basically, the right person to do the task is the person with access to the necessary information that must be included in the Annual Report. This can be a member or LLC officer. It can be someone that the LLC authorizes to file on its behalf.
Professional Assistance
It’s very possible that you can foist this task to professionals, such as the online service provider that helped you with the LLC formation procedure and provided you with its registered agent services. This may be part of a package (usually the medium or premium package), though it may be available as an extra service for a fee with the basic formation package.
This does save you a lot of time and tedium. Plus, you can concentrate on your business while the service deals with all the necessary report filing.
In addition, the service provider can maintain your privacy, as it will take care to submit only the absolutely required information. The privacy benefits may include the following:
- The service provider can list their contact information, so that you won’t have to file your residential address and personal smartphone number.
- The service provider will also list only their IP address. This limits the connection between your smartphone, personal PC, and LLC work computers. That way, advertisers can’t track you online.
- In case that the report asks for bank and credit card information (when the filing suddenly comes with a fee), then the service providers also furnish their own bank and credit card information. You still protect your own bank and credit card info.
An online service provider charges much more reasonable rates, compared to what a lawyer might charge. A reputable service provider can also file the Annual Report as soon as possible, so you can be sure that it won’t be late and your LLC won’t suffer any fines and penalties (such as dissolution). You can check our top brands such as ZenBusiness or Northwest Registered Agent.
There’s no uniform fee as to what a service provider will charge for filing the New Hampshire LLC Annual Report. The best brands in the business usually charge $100 or so.
Conclusion
If you’re the sole owner of the LLC and you have the time to spare, then it’s no trouble doing this yourself. The main risk is that you may make a mistake, by entering the wrong information or by pressing the wrong keys. A professional with extensive experience with this task will be very unlikely to make those mistakes.
Still, it’s all up to you. Just make sure you get the Annual Report filing done for the year!