What a Statement of Information is
The Statement of Information (SI) is California's periodic report for corporations and LLCs. It keeps the state's public record current: your entity's addresses, its officers or managers, and your agent for service of process. Corporations file it every year, LLCs every two years, and it is filed online at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. Corporations use form SI-550 and LLCs use form LLC-12.
How to file a Statement of Information, step by step
The whole thing is done online and usually takes a few minutes if your details haven't changed.
- 1. Go to bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov and create an account or sign in. An account isn't strictly required for every filing type, but it makes retrieving confirmations far easier.
- 2. Find your entity by business name or by the entity number the state assigned you. Confirm you have the right record before continuing; similar names are common.
- 3. Choose the Statement of Information filing for your entity type. Corporations are filing SI-550, LLCs are filing LLC-12.
- 4. Confirm or correct each section: the principal and mailing addresses, the officers, directors, managers or members, the type of business, and the agent for service of process.
- 5. Name your agent exactly as the state has them registered. If you use a professional agent, use their registered corporate name and leave the agent address blank; the state already has it on file. Guessing here is the most common reason a filing gets rejected or documents go astray.
- 6. Pay and submit. The fee is currently $25 for corporations and $20 for LLCs, payable by card.
- 7. Save the confirmation. The filing shows up in your entity's public record on the state's business search shortly afterward, which is the real proof it landed.
When your Statement of Information is due
Your due date has nothing to do with the calendar year or your tax year. It is set by the month your entity originally registered with the California Secretary of State.
| Entity type | How often | The window |
|---|---|---|
| Stock corporations (and qualified out-of-state corporations) | Every year | A 6-month window: your registration month plus the five calendar months immediately before it |
| LLCs and nonprofit corporations | Every two years | The same 6-month window: your registration month plus the five calendar months immediately before it, in even or odd years depending on the year you registered |
| Newly registered entities of either type | Once, up front | An initial statement within 90 days of filing your original formation or registration papers |
A worked example: a corporation whose articles were filed in September has a filing window running April through September, every year. An LLC registered in September of an even year files April through September of even years. Out-of-state corporations and LLCs registered to transact business in California are on the same footing as domestic ones.
You can also file at any point in between. California lets you file a current statement whenever the required information changes, so a new address or a new agent doesn't have to wait for your window.
What it costs, and what skipping it costs
The filing fee is small: currently $25 for corporations and $20 for LLCs. Not filing is what gets expensive, and the penalty is not the same for both. Once the Secretary of State certifies that a statement wasn't filed, the Franchise Tax Board assesses the penalty: $250 against a corporation and $50 against an LLC. Beyond the penalty, the entity can be suspended or forfeited after notice. A suspended business loses important rights, including the ability to prosecute or defend a lawsuit in California courts, until it goes through revival.
The registered agent connection
Your agent for service of process is designated in the Statement of Information, which makes the SI the vehicle for agent changes too: switching agents means filing an updated statement. Two things follow from that:
- If your agent situation changes, don't wait for your normal window; you can file an updated SI at any time. Check the fee shown at the time you file, since an out-of-period update isn't always free
- If you're switching to a new agent, sign up with the agent before you file the form that names them; filing first can result in lost documents and compliance problems with the state. Full walkthrough: how to change your registered agent
Keep it boring
The SI is one of those filings that should never be interesting: put your window on the calendar, keep your addresses current, and keep a reliable agent on record. Corpgate, Inc. clients get exactly that on the agent side, with flat pricing ($49/year on a 3-year plan or $79 year-to-year) and instructions after signup for naming us correctly on the form.
Statement of Information questions
How do I file a Statement of Information in California?
File it online at bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov. Create or sign in to a bizfile Online account, search for your entity by name or entity number, choose the Statement of Information filing, confirm or update the addresses, the officers or managers or members, and the agent for service of process, then pay by card. Corporations file form SI-550 and LLCs file form LLC-12. The confirmed filing appears in the entity's public record, and you should save the confirmation.
When is my California Statement of Information due?
Your due date is set by the month your entity originally registered with the state, not by the calendar year. Corporations file every year during a 6-month filing window made up of the registration month plus the five months immediately before it. LLCs and nonprofit corporations get the same 6-month window but file every two years, in even or odd years depending on the year they registered. Both must also file an initial statement within 90 days of registering.
What does it cost to file?
The state filing fee is modest, currently $25 for corporations and $20 for LLCs. The penalty for not filing is larger: the Franchise Tax Board assesses $250 against a corporation and $50 against an LLC once the Secretary of State certifies the failure to file.
Can I file a Statement of Information early or outside my window?
Yes. California law lets you file a current statement whenever the required information changes, so you don't have to wait for your normal window to report a new address or a new agent for service of process. Check the current fee at the time you file, since an out-of-period update isn't always free.
What happens if I don't file?
The Secretary of State certifies the failure to file, the Franchise Tax Board assesses a penalty ($250 for a corporation, $50 for an LLC), and the entity can ultimately be suspended or forfeited. A suspended entity loses important rights, including the ability to prosecute or defend a lawsuit in California courts, until it's revived.
Does my registered agent file the Statement of Information for me?
No. The Statement of Information is the entity's own filing. Your agent is designated in it, and a good agent makes that part simple, but the filing itself is submitted by the business at bizfileonline.sos.ca.gov.
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Filing requirements and fees can change; verify current details at sos.ca.gov or with a licensed attorney.
More guides: What does an agent do? · What does an agent cost? · What happens without one? · Out-of-state companies in CA · The 1505 corporate agent · Other states' names for it
Registered agent service for California LLCs and corporations since 2008.
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