How to File an LLC Decennial Report in Pennsylvania

In Pennsylvania, your LLC is legally required to file a decennial report with the state. Failure to do so can lead to fines and even the closure of your business, so it’s crucial that you stay up-to-date. 

What Is a Decennial Report?

In Pennsylvania, active LLCs must file a Decennial Report of Association Continued Existence every ten years. It’s important to note that the entire state follows the same ten-year filing schedule, and the recognized filing periods are years ending with the number one. 

Decennial reports can be filed at any point within the relevant filing year. This means that the report is also inclusive of the calendar year itself that you’re filing in. 

For example, a decennial report filed in 2021 covers from January 1, 2012, to December 31, 2021. 

In Pennsylvania, this report is often referred to as a decennial report. In many other states, LLCs must file an annual report, also known as a statement of information, with the state to keep their company in good standing every year.

Who Needs to File a Decennial Report?

Typically, any business that is legally registered with the state of Pennsylvania must file this report every ten years, which includes detailed information about your business. However, Pennsylvania law has identified some additional exceptions and regulations to this rule. 

• A business is not required to file a decennial report if:
  • The business has sent LLC officer information to the state’s Department of Revenue
  • At least one new or amended filing has been submitted and processed within the related ten-year period, providing the filing is not:
    • Connected to a name(’s) search, reservation, appropriation consent, or fictitious registration
    • A previous decennial report

If you’re unsure whether your LLC should file, you can review the decennial reports filing exceptions before proceeding to file your decennial report in Pennsylvania.

How to File a Pennsylvania Decennial Report

In Pennsylvania, the decennial report is filed with the Department of State’s Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. The state requires all decennial reports to be filed by mail, so these reports cannot be completed online or submitted via email. 

Remember, your LLC only needs to file a decennial report with Pennsylvania if your business has not had any new or amended filings processed with Pennsylvania’s Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations in the last ten-year stretch. Be sure to review your LLC’s filings within the relevant period to determine if your business needs to file a decennial report. 

You can file by visiting Pennsylvania’s Department of State webpage and then taking the following steps. 

1. Download the state’s Decennial Report of Association Continued Existence form and provide your preferred contact information for any associated correspondence. 

2. Fill in your LLC’s name.

3. Provide either:
   1. Your business’s registered office address, or
   2. The name and county of your business’s commercial registered office provider.

4. If applicable, identify your LLC’s change of address.

5. Complete the report to verify:
   1. That your business has not submitted any filings within the relevant ten-year period.
   2. That your LLC continues to exist.

3. Specify the date, then provide your business’s name, your signature, and business title.

6. Mail your decennial report with the $70 filing fee to the address below:

Pennsylvania Department of State
Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations
P.O. Box 8722
Harrisburg, PA 17105

In Pennsylvania, decennial reports are due every ten years when the year ends with the number one – such as 2011, 2021, and 2031. Decennial reports can be filed at any time during the corresponding year. 

Businesses in Pennsylvania that file their report late or even fail to file a decennial report altogether face the same penalties and risks. Pennsylvania won’t fine or formally close your LLC, but your business’s exclusive rights to its name will be suspended. This means another company could register itself under your LLC’s name, even though your business would still exist.

When a business does file a late decennial report, it will regain exclusivity of its registered name– as long as a different business did not claim the name during the associated suspension period.

Filing Fee

As mentioned above, the fee for filing an LLC’s Decennial Report of Association Continued Existence in Pennsylvania is $70. 

What Happens After I File my Pennsylvania Decennial Report?

After you file your report, you will receive a notification of any errors or omissions, or confirmation that your report has been filed. If you receive a notification, it’s crucial that you respond quickly and address any errors in order to avoid penalties. 

Conclusion

Filing a decennial report is a requirement for LLCs in Pennsylvania that haven’t satisfied the filing exception conditions, so it’s critical that you take the time to accurately fill out the form and file with your state in a timely manner. This will ensure your company is allowed to operate uninterrupted and with no legal penalties.