If you have a business in Hawaii, the state requires an annual check-in. Every company (corporation, LLC, partnership, or nonprofit) must file an annual report with the Business Registration Division (BREG). This ensures that your contact details, ownership structure, and registered agent information are up to date. Skip this check-in, and the state assumes your information is stale, putting your business at risk.
Most Hawaii businesses have filing deadlines tied to their registration date, though some follow specific calendar dates. File anytime during your designated period, but missing it will result in penalties.
If your business is registered in Hawaii, the state requires this regular check-in, regardless of your size. Filing keeps your records current and maintains that crucial good standing status you need for contracts, loans, or license renewals.
These entities must file:
Each business files yearly according to BREG's schedule. There's one nice exception: new LLCs formed and registered in the same calendar year can skip their first report, as noted in the state's LLC information sheet.
Anyone with authority can submit the filing: you, an officer, director, member, manager, or your registered agent. Many businesses use attorneys, accountants, or compliance services for peace of mind, especially when juggling multiple entities.
Filing your report is easy, with two options: online through Hawaii Business Express (HBE) or by paper. Online filing costs less, posts faster to public records, and offers optional email reminders for a small fee.
Here’s what you need to do:
Prefer paper? Download the form from BREG's resources page. Complete it, sign it in ink, and mail it with a check or money order to the Business Registration Division in Honolulu. Paper reports get processed in order received, so expect a longer wait.
Hawaii uses a quarter-based system for filing deadlines. Your due date connects to when you first registered your business. Once you know your anniversary month, the rule is simple: file by the end of that quarter.
Here's how it works:
You can file at any time during your three-month window, giving you plenty of time to gather signatures or update information. This calendar applies to every entity type.
Hawaii keeps filing fees low, but charges vary depending on the entity type and filing method. Online filings through Hawaii Business Express are less expensive for most businesses, while paper forms incur additional costs and processing times of several days.
Every entity needs the same core information:
If any details don't match state records, your submission will hit a validation wall.
The state also requires entity-specific information. Corporations list each officer and every director, including business addresses. LLCs provide managers or members instead of officers, while LPs and LLLPs identify general partners.
Nonprofits, cooperatives, and religious corporations share their current board or trustee lineup. A quick check of last year's filing ensures consistency and prevents the back-and-forth that can derail last-minute submissions.
Hawaii's system takes addresses literally. "Ste." and "Suite" aren't interchangeable. Use the exact format already on file or risk a mismatch triggering manual review. If you moved during the year, update both the principal office and registered agent address at once.
Every submission needs an authorized signature:
Online, typing your name and clicking "submit" counts as an electronic signature. On the other hand, paper filers need a handwritten signature, as BREG rejects unsigned forms.
Consequences of not filing
Missing Hawaii's deadline creates a cascade of problems that worsen over time. This includes the following:
You can fix the damage, but it's neither quick nor cheap. You must file every missed report, pay all outstanding filing fees plus accumulated late fees, and if you were administratively dissolved, submit a reinstatement application with an extra fee. Once BREG verifies everything, they'll update your status to active.
How do I determine my due date?
Hawaii ties your deadline to your registration date. Check when you first registered in the BREG database, then match it to the quarter system.
What if I need to change my registered agent or business address?
Update this while filing. The Hawaii Business Express portal lets you confirm or change your registered agent, principal office, and mailing addresses during submission. No separate paperwork needed unless changes happen after you've already filed.
Can I file early?
Yes! File anytime during your anniversary quarter, and BREG accepts it immediately.
What if my business information changes after I file?
Minor updates, such as a new office, can be addressed in next year's filing. Significant changes, such as name changes or ownership restructuring, require a separate amendment filing with BREG.
How can I verify my business is in good standing?
Request a certificate of good standing through the same portal once BREG processes your submission.
What's the difference between online and paper filing?
The online portal is generally faster and cheaper than paper submission, but exact fees vary by entity type.
Hawaii's quarter-based filing deadlines don't follow standard calendar patterns, making manual tracking a constant challenge. When you're managing multiple entities with different registration anniversaries, spreadsheets quickly become unreliable, and costly mistakes are inevitable.
Discern scales through this complexity by automatically mapping each entity's quarter-based deadline and displaying everything on a single dashboard. The platform pre-fills reports with your current officers, directors, and registered agent details, then handles direct e-filing through Hawaii Business Express. Whether you're managing one Hawaii entity or hundreds, Discern ensures you never miss another deadline.
.png)
.png){kind=small}