A California LLC’s initial Statement of Information is due within 90 days of registration. After that, the statement is due every two years by the end of the calendar month in which the LLC originally registered. These are separate deadlines: completing the initial filing does not eliminate the recurring requirement. See the California Secretary of State’s LLC welcome letter.
The statement is also separate from forming the LLC and handling Franchise Tax Board tax tasks. Keep those obligations on your checklist independently; submitting a Statement of Information does not complete them. The state’s business entities FAQ provides related filing guidance.
Keep the initial 90-day deadline separate
Start with the LLC’s registration date. The initial statement must be filed within 90 days of registration, as explained in the official welcome letter. Do not use the later recurring filing window as the deadline for this first statement.
For filing access, follow the Secretary of State’s current Statement of Information guidance to the current bizfile portal. The welcome letter supports the deadline, but its older portal references should not guide your filing route.
Find your recurring six-month filing window
California LLCs follow a biennial cycle tied to the year of initial registration: an even registration year means an even-year recurring cycle, and an odd registration year means an odd-year cycle. The recurring filing window lasts six months and ends in the original registration month. See the state’s filing-window guidance and filing-frequency FAQ.
For example, suppose an LLC registers in November 2026. Its initial 90-day deadline is a separate obligation. Its next recurring statement is due by the end of November 2028, with a filing window running from June through November 2028.
Record both the opening of the recurring window and its closing deadline. That gives you a practical opportunity to file earlier in the window instead of relying on a reminder at the end.
Use this direct-filing checklist
- Check the entity record. Confirm the LLC’s name, entity number and status before starting. Use the official filing route linked from the state’s guidance.
- Identify the applicable deadline. Determine whether you are preparing the initial statement or a recurring filing. Keep the initial 90-day deadline distinct from the biennial six-month window.
- Gather current information. Review relevant agent, name and address information. When information changes, consult the state’s update guidance and the portal’s current requirements rather than assuming your previous statement remains sufficient.
- Reach the current portal through the state. Follow the bizfile link on the official guidance page rather than relying on a link in an unsolicited payment notice.
- Complete the filing under current instructions. Review the information and payment details before submitting. Submission alone does not guarantee state acceptance or completed processing.
- Save the receipt. Keep the filing receipt with your LLC records, and follow any instructions about checking the filing’s status.
- Set the next reminder. Record the next recurring filing window and deadline alongside your other business obligations.
Check the official fee before paying a solicitation
The official California LLC Statement of Information filing fee is $20. The Secretary of State warns that private solicitations may resemble state forms while seeking much higher processing fees. Compare any notice with the state’s misleading-solicitation guidance.
Private filing services are optional. You are not required to pay an unsolicited third-party invoice to complete this filing; you can use the official route linked from the Secretary of State’s filing page. Distinguish the state filing fee from any separate service charge before deciding whether to pay for assistance.
Short FAQ
Are the initial deadline and recurring window the same?
No. The first statement is due within 90 days of registration. Later statements follow the biennial six-month window ending in the original registration month, as described in the state’s filing guidance.
What if relevant information changes?
Check the Secretary of State’s FAQ and current portal requirements for updates involving agent, name or address information.
Does this replace formation or tax filings?
No. Keep formation, Statement of Information and Franchise Tax Board tasks separate. For broader context, see our California LLC guide and annual reporting and good standing guide.
Sources checked November 5, 2026.