California doesn't use one deadline for everyone. Your filing window depends on the month you registered. Enter that date and we'll show you the exact window.
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This is the "Date Filed" on your entity's record in the state's Business Search. Look it up free — no account needed.
| Entity type | |
|---|---|
| How often you file | |
| Your filing window opens | |
| Your deadline | |
| State filing fee | |
| Penalty if you miss it |
Since August 1, 2026 the state requires established User Access before anyone can file online for your entity — including you. Most people find that out the week it's due.
California gives you a six-month window, not a single date. The window ends on the last day of the month you registered in, and opens on the first day of the month five months before that. File any time inside the window.
| If you registered in… | Your window opens | Your deadline |
|---|---|---|
| January | August 1 | January 31 |
| February | September 1 | Last day of February |
| March | October 1 | March 31 |
| April | November 1 | April 30 |
| May | December 1 | May 31 |
| June | January 1 | June 30 |
| July | February 1 | July 31 |
| August | March 1 | August 31 |
| September | April 1 | September 30 |
| October | May 1 | October 31 |
| November | June 1 | November 30 |
| December | July 1 | December 31 |
For the biennial filers, the years line up with your registration year. Register in an odd year and you file in odd years; register in an even year and you file in even years.
Your initial Statement of Information is due within 90 days of registration, regardless of the window above. After that first one, you fall into the regular cycle.
The Secretary of State sends a notice of delinquency giving you additional time to file. If you still don't file, the SOS refers it to the Franchise Tax Board, which assesses a penalty of $250 for most businesses and $50 for exempt organizations. The FTB collects it on the SOS's behalf — and only the SOS can waive it.
Beyond the money, continued failure to file can lead to suspension or forfeiture of your entity. A suspended entity loses the right to do business in California, can't defend or bring a lawsuit, and can lose the exclusive right to its own name.
Yes. Filing is done at bizfile Online and the state fee is $25 for corporations and $20 for LLCs. The friction is the access step: since August 1, 2026 the state requires established User Access on your entity's record before an online Statement of Information can be submitted. If your business hasn't set that up, the state mails a PIN letter to your address on record — which takes about a week.