Every Georgia corporation, LLC and limited partnership must file an annual registration with the Secretary of State between 1 January and 1 April each year. The fee is $60 for most for-profit entities and LLCs, $40 for nonprofits, and filing late adds a $25 penalty, as of October 2026.
It's Georgia's version of an annual report, and it's short. But it's also how the state keeps your officers, registered agent and address current, and missing it's the most common reason a Georgia company is administratively dissolved. Here's how the filing works, using the Secretary of State's own guide.
When the first one is due
The first deadline depends on your entity type, which is where new owners get caught out:
| Entity | First annual registration | Every year after |
|---|---|---|
| Georgia corporation | Within 90 days of incorporation | 1 January to 1 April |
| LLC | 1 January to 1 April of the year after formation | 1 January to 1 April |
| Limited partnership | 1 January to 1 April of the year after formation | 1 January to 1 April |
| Foreign corporation | 1 January to 1 April of the year after registering | 1 January to 1 April |
The fees
| Filing | Fee (online or paper) |
|---|---|
| Annual registration: profit corporation, professional corporation, benefit corporation, LLC, LP, LLLP, trust estate | $60 |
| Annual registration: nonprofit corporation | $40 |
| Annual registration: foreign LLP | $35 |
| Amended annual registration | $30 |
| Penalty for late filing | $25 |
Those are the Secretary of State's figures as of October 2026. Fees are non-refundable, and the office says it can't rescind a filing once it's submitted, so check the entity before you pay. Online filings are processed immediately; paper ones can be expedited for $60 with a two-business-day service.
The multi-year option most owners don't know about
Here's a useful one. Georgia lets you file the current year, two consecutive years or three consecutive years at once. The guide says an entity may file its annual registrations in advance for up to and including 3 calendar years. If you're the kind of owner who forgets, paying three years in one go removes two deadlines from your life.
How to file
- Have your control number or the exact entity name ready.
- For a corporation, have the name and address of each officer (CEO, CFO and Secretary). An LLC only lists its registered agent.
- Confirm the registered agent's address, which must be a physical street address in Georgia.
- Use One Click Annual Registration if nothing has changed and you're current on fees, or log in to eCorp to make changes.
- Pay by card online, or print the form and post it with a check.
- Keep the receipt the system emails to you.
If something changes mid-year, such as a new officer or registered agent, you file an amended annual registration rather than waiting.
What happens if you don't file
The Secretary of State's FAQ says that in most cases, a corporation or LLC is administratively dissolved because it failed to file its annual registration. If you get a Notice of Administrative Dissolution, you can still file the annual registration within 60 days of that notice to avoid it. After dissolution, the entity continues to exist but can't carry on business except to wind up, and reinstatement costs $260, as of October 2026. Georgia also makes signing a document you know is false a misdemeanour with a fine of up to $500.
If you're also registered for sales tax, that's a separate filing with the Department of Revenue, covered in my Georgia sales tax guide. For how other states handle their yearly filing, see my LLC annual report guide.
What each entity needs to have ready
| Information | Corporation | LLC | Limited partnership |
|---|---|---|---|
| Control number or exact name | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name of the person filing and a valid email | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Registered agent name and Georgia street address | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Mailing address of the principal office | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Name and address of each officer (CEO, CFO, Secretary) | Yes | No | No |
Processing time depends on how you file. The Secretary of State says online filings are generally processed within 7 to 10 business days, while paper filings sent by post or hand delivery take around 15 business days, with longer waits from late December through January when volumes peak. Annual registrations filed online are the exception: they go through immediately. That alone is a good reason to file online.
That officer row is why LLC filings are quicker. Georgia law only requires an LLC to list its registered agent, so members and managers don't appear on the annual registration at all. A corporation, by contrast, uses the filing to update its officers, and doesn't need a separate amended filing for officer changes until the next annual registration is due.
Two practical points on payment. Georgia accepts Visa, Mastercard, American Express and Discover online, and only pre-printed checks by post: counter or starter checks are refused. A dishonoured payment carries a $30 charge, and the Secretary of State can start dissolution proceedings if it isn't made good within 10 days of notice.
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My verdict
This is a ten-minute job with an outsized penalty for forgetting. File in January rather than March, use the three-year option if you can, and make sure your registered agent's address is right, because that's where any dissolution notice will land.
Florida's yearly report has a different deadline and late fee, covered in the Florida annual report.
Frequently asked questions
When is Georgia annual registration due?
Between 1 January and 1 April each year. A new Georgia corporation files its first one within 90 days of incorporation; LLCs file from the year after formation.
How much is the Georgia annual registration fee?
$60 for profit corporations, LLCs and limited partnerships, $40 for nonprofits and $35 for foreign LLPs, as of October 2026, with a $25 late penalty.
Do Georgia LLCs list their members on the annual registration?
No. Georgia law only requires an LLC to list its registered agent, so members and managers aren't shown on the filing.
Can I change my registered agent on the Georgia annual registration?
Yes. The registered agent's name or office can be changed by filing an annual registration, or an amended annual registration if this year's has already been filed.
Can I file Georgia annual registration for multiple years?
Yes. You can file for the current year, two consecutive years or three consecutive years at once.
What happens if I miss the Georgia annual registration?
The entity can be administratively dissolved. You can avoid that by filing within 60 days of the Notice of Administrative Dissolution; reinstatement later costs $260.
