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North Carolina LLC · Step 6 of 8 · Verified July 2026

North Carolina LLC Annual Report: $200, Due April 15 (2026)

North Carolina's annual report is one of the more expensive flat-fee filings in the country — $200 by mail or $203 online, due every year by a fixed April 15 date. Here's the full playbook and a calculator for your exact status.

Ahmad Adil Written & verified by Ahmad Adil, LLC School·Updated July 2026
Quick Answer

Every North Carolina LLC files an annual report with the Secretary of State by April 15 each year — a fixed date, not tied to your formation anniversary. The fee is $200 by mail or $203 online. Your first report is generally due the year after formation. Miss the deadline and North Carolina moves toward administrative dissolution — this is actively enforced, not a formality. At $200+, North Carolina's annual report runs roughly four times Virginia's fee and more than double Georgia's.

NC Annual Report Fast Facts
Fee
$200 mail / $203 online
Due date
April 15 — fixed, every LLC
Filed with
Secretary of State
First report
Year after formation
Missed deadline
Administrative dissolution risk
Relative cost
~4x Virginia, 2x+ Georgia

What the North Carolina Annual Report Is

A compliance confirmation, not a financial disclosure. The annual report confirms your LLC's current information: registered agent, registered office, and principal office address. No revenue data. Its defining features:

  • $200 by mail, $203 online — one of the higher flat-fee annual reports in the country, regardless of your LLC's size or revenue.
  • April 15 for everyone — a fixed calendar date shared by every North Carolina LLC, not an anniversary date.
  • Filed with the Secretary of State — online (fastest, small electronic transaction fee) or by mail with a paper form.
  • Genuinely enforced — missing it leads toward administrative dissolution, not just a late fee.

Your Status — Calculated

North Carolina Annual Report Status Calculator

Formation year + filing status · your status as of July 20, 2026

Next / First Due
Apr 15, 2027
Status Today (Jul 20, 2026)
On track

Based on North Carolina's rule: first report due the year after formation, fixed April 15 deadline every year after. Educational estimate \u2014 confirm with the Secretary of State.

How to File in 10 Minutes

1

Log in to the Secretary of State's portal

The same account that formed your LLC files your annual report — search your entity and select the annual filing.

2

Confirm your information

Registered agent, registered office, and principal office address. Update anything that changed during the year.

3

Pay $203 online (or $200 by mail) and archive

Download the confirmation — your proof of good standing — and verify next year's April 15 reminder exists.

File in early spring, not April 14: since every North Carolina LLC shares the same April 15 deadline, the filing system tends to see a rush right before the date. File in February or March instead — nothing about the process requires waiting, and filing early avoids any last-minute portal congestion.

If You Miss April 15

1

Out of good standing

Your LLC's status changes with the Secretary of State. Financing or deals can stall while you're not in good standing.

2

Administrative dissolution risk

Continued failure to file leads toward administrative dissolution — your liability shield's legal foundation, gone. North Carolina actively enforces this deadline.

3

Reinstatement

File the overdue report and any reinstatement paperwork the Secretary of State requires to restore good standing — always more friction than filing on time.

Never-Miss Tips

  • File in February or March — well before the shared April 15 rush.
  • Set a recurring calendar reminder for February 1 with a hard deadline of April 15.
  • Keep your registered agent address current so Secretary of State notices actually reach you.
  • Budget the $200+ every year — treat it as a fixed annual line item, not an afterthought.

Ahmad Adil's Take: North Carolina's annual report is expensive enough that I don't want any client treating it as an afterthought the way you might a $25 filing in a cheaper state. My rule here: put $200+ into your actual annual budget the day your LLC forms, the same way you'd budget rent or software subscriptions. Filing itself is easy — the risk isn't forgetting how, it's forgetting that a real bill is coming due every April 15 whether your business had a good year or not. Set the reminder for February, file early, and you'll never be scrambling in the second week of April with everyone else in the state.

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Next Step · Step 7 of 8
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Step 7: Licenses
Frequently Asked Questions

North Carolina LLC — FAQ

When is the North Carolina LLC annual report due?
April 15 every year \u2014 a fixed date shared by every North Carolina LLC, not an anniversary date tied to your formation month. Your first report is generally due the year after formation.
How much is the North Carolina annual report?
$200 if filed by mail, or $203 if filed online (a small electronic transaction fee). This is one of the higher flat-fee annual reports in the country, regardless of your LLC\u2019s revenue or size.
Why is North Carolina\u2019s annual report so much higher than other states?
At $200+, it runs roughly four times Virginia\u2019s annual report fee and more than double Georgia\u2019s. It\u2019s a flat fee for every LLC, making it a meaningful line item to budget for compared to many neighboring states.
What happens if I miss the North Carolina annual report deadline?
Your LLC falls out of good standing, which can stall financing and deals. North Carolina actively enforces this deadline, and continued failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution.
Does a first-year North Carolina LLC file an annual report?
Generally not in the formation year itself \u2014 the first report is typically due the year after formation, by the following April 15.
Where do I file the North Carolina annual report?
Online through the Secretary of State\u2019s portal (fastest, small electronic fee) or by mail with a paper form. Both accomplish the same filing, just at slightly different total cost.
Can I reinstate a North Carolina LLC after administrative dissolution?
Yes, but it requires filing the overdue report and any reinstatement paperwork the Secretary of State requires \u2014 always more time and cost than filing on time would have been.
Ahmad Adil, founder of LLC School
About the Author
Ahmad Adil

Ahmad Adil is the founder and CEO of LLC School. The figures here — the $125 Articles of Organization, the $200 annual report due April 15, and North Carolina’s flat 3.99% income tax — reflect current North Carolina Secretary of State and Department of Revenue guidance. This is educational content, not legal or tax advice.

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