A Statement of Information is the report California corporations and LLCs file with the Secretary of State to keep their business details current. Corporations file every year and LLCs every two years, in a six-month window ending in the month they registered, and the fee is $20 or $25 as of October 2026.
This page uses the California Secretary of State's own filing tips and FAQs, checked in October 2026. One thing changed this year that a lot of business owners haven't noticed, and it can stop you filing online: it's in the next section.
The August 2026 change: User Access
From 1 August 2026, web User Access is required to file a Statement of Information online. The filing option only shows for users who've established access in the bizfile Online portal. The Secretary of State says it's there to prevent unauthorised filings on your entity's record and to let the entity control who can file for it.
So if you're the person who files, request access in bizfile Online before your window opens. Don't leave it until the last week.
Who files and how often
| Entity | How often |
|---|---|
| California stock corporations | Every year |
| Cooperative and credit union corporations | Every year |
| Qualified out-of-state corporations | Every year |
| California nonprofit corporations | Every two years |
| California and qualified out-of-state LLCs | Every two years |
Two-year filers file only in odd years or only in even years, depending on the year they first registered. Every business should also file when its information changes, and must file a new statement when its agent for service of process resigns or is no longer valid. If you need one, my registered agent guide explains the role.
Your filing window
The Secretary of State uses a six-month window that ends in the month you registered. Your registration date is the "Date Filed" on the Business Search page.
| Month you registered | Window opens | Window closes |
|---|---|---|
| January | 1 August | 31 January |
| March | 1 October | 31 March |
| June | 1 January | 30 June |
| September | 1 April | 30 September |
| December | 1 July | 31 December |
The pattern holds for every month: the window starts on the first day of the month five months before and ends on the last day of your registration month.
The fee
The Secretary of State says the fee for filing a Statement of Information is $20 or $25, as of October 2026, depending on the type of entity. Termination documents have no filing fee. Both can be filed online at bizfile Online.
The labor judgment question
The statement isn't just addresses. California stock corporations, qualified out-of-state corporations and all LLCs have to say whether any officer, director, member or manager has an outstanding final judgment for violating a wage order or the Labor Code, issued by the Division of Labor Standards Enforcement or a court, with no appeal pending. If an entity owes employees wages, that can lead to such a judgment, so answer this one carefully rather than ticking past it.
It's not the same as franchise tax
Filing your Statement of Information doesn't cover your tax. The Secretary of State notes that most businesses must also pay a minimum franchise tax of $800 each year, as of October 2026, which is handled separately. The Secretary of State points businesses to its tax information page and the CalGOLD website for licences and permits.
The letters you should ignore
This is the insight I'd most want a client to know. The Secretary of State has warned that private companies send letters to California corporations asking them to pay $495 or another amount to file a Statement of Information or dissolve their business, under names like Business Filings Division. Others offer to prepare annual minutes. They aren't affiliated with the Secretary of State or any government agency, even though the forms are made to look similar. You can file it yourself for $20 or $25.
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What happens if you miss it
- The Secretary of State sends a reminder about three months before your filing is due.
- If you don't file, you get a notice of delinquency and another 60 days to file.
- If you still don't file, the Secretary of State notifies the Franchise Tax Board.
- The Franchise Tax Board assesses and collects the penalty.
- Failing to file can also lead to suspension or forfeiture of the entity.
You're responsible for filing even if the reminder never reached you. That's why keeping your address up to date with the Secretary of State matters.
How to file
- Set up User Access in bizfile Online if you haven't already.
- Check your registration month on Business Search to find your window.
- Pick the right form: corporation, nonprofit corporation or LLC.
- Update your addresses, officers or managers, and agent for service of process.
- Pay the $20 or $25 fee and save the confirmation.
If you're forming a new company, my California LLC guide covers the set-up steps that come before this.
My verdict
The Statement of Information is a five-minute job that causes a lot of grief when it's missed. Diary your window, set up User Access now, and never pay a private company hundreds of dollars for a form that costs $20 or $25 to file yourself.
Frequently asked questions
What is a Statement of Information in California?
It's a filing with the California Secretary of State that keeps a corporation's or LLC's details, such as addresses and agent for service of process, up to date.
How often do LLCs file a Statement of Information in California?
Every two years, in odd or even years depending on the year the LLC first registered.
How much does a Statement of Information cost?
The Secretary of State says the fee is $20 or $25, as of October 2026.
What happens if I don't file a Statement of Information?
You get a delinquency notice and 60 more days, then the Franchise Tax Board assesses a penalty, and the entity can be suspended or forfeited.
Do LLCs have to disclose labor judgments on the Statement of Information?
Yes. All LLCs must say whether any member or manager has an outstanding final judgment for violating a wage order or the Labor Code.
Why can't I see the option to file online?
From 1 August 2026, web User Access is required. The option only shows for users who've established access in bizfile Online.
