Indiana doesn't ask for an "annual" report. Instead, the Secretary of State calls it a Business Entity Report, and you submit it just once every two years in your company's anniversary month. This biennial schedule can throw you off if your business also operates in states that require yearly updates, such as Florida’s Sunbiz annual report.
The form requires you to confirm or update your principal address, registered agent, and names of managers, directors, or officers. Filing maintains your good standing, protects your limited liability shield, and allows you to continue signing contracts or accessing bank accounts without interruption.
If you've registered a business in Indiana, you likely owe a biennial Business Entity Report to the Secretary of State. Most domestic or foreign corporations, LLCs, and LLPs must submit this report to stay in good standing, while nonprofits, cooperatives, and religious corporations (if classified as nonprofits) file separate annual reports.
Limited partnerships get a pass on this biennial filing in Indiana. Public utilities follow their own rules, filing specialized annual reports with the Indiana Utility Regulatory Commission by April 30, a requirement outlined on the IURC's electricity industry filing page.
The exemptions are simple. Unregistered sole proprietorships and general partnerships that never filed formation papers with the Secretary of State don't need a Business Entity Report. Entities formally dissolved or withdrawn from Indiana's rolls have no further reporting duties.
As for who submits the filing, Indiana gives you options. You can handle it yourself as an owner, officer, director, or LLC member. Many businesses delegate to their registered agent, attorney, or accountant. Third-party compliance services work, too, as long as the signer has authorization.
Indiana makes online filing easy, and paper filing a bit of a hassle. Filing through the Secretary of State's INBiz portal is the obvious choice.
For paper filing:
Your filing deadline boils down to one key concept: your anniversary month. Businesses in Indiana must submit their Business Entity Report by the end of their anniversary month, when the entity was initially registered or formed.
Since Indiana uses a biennial cycle, your first due date comes two years after your company's official formation or registration. If your business was registered on March 15, 2022, your initial report must be filed by March 31, 2024.
Here's a quick breakdown of filing schedules by entity type:
Indiana keeps Business Entity Report fees reasonable, with costs tied to your entity type and filing method. File online through INBiz, and you'll pay $32 for corporations, LLCs, LPs, and LLPs. Nonprofit corporations pay $22 for the Biennial Business Entity Report.
Paper filing fees run higher and vary by entity type, but you should verify current fees on the Indiana Secretary of State's official website.
Payment is simple regardless of the filing method. Online filings accept major credit or debit cards and electronic checks. When mailing, include a check or money order payable to "Secretary of State."
Every entity needs these basics:
These fields appear on every report version, whether online or by mail. The questions then vary by entity type:
Since Indiana makes these reports public record, accuracy counts. Rejections typically occur only for substantial issues, but it's still wise to avoid common mistakes, such as incomplete addresses, unsigned forms, incorrect fee amounts, or outdated information.
Skip Indiana's Business Entity Report, and the state starts a countdown to erasing your legal existence. Indiana gives you a limited grace window, but once that clock runs out, the damage can be swift and costly to fix.
For most entities, the grace period runs 60 days after your anniversary month deadline. You won't face monetary penalties during this time, but your record will already show as delinquent in the Secretary of State database. Miss the deadline beyond this window, and the state will dissolve domestic companies or revoke the authority of foreign companies to do business.
After administrative dissolution, your entity loses good standing. This blocks your ability to file lawsuits in Indiana courts and may restrict business operations. Additionally, your business name might become available for others to register.
Getting back in good graces requires filing every past-due report, paying standard filing fees for each one, and submitting a reinstatement application. Until the Secretary of State processes that package, you remain legally sidelined. Filing on time costs much less than fighting your way back from dissolution.
Is the Indiana Business Entity Report really biennial, not annual?
Yes. Most corporations, LLCs, LPs, LLPs, nonprofits, cooperatives, and religious corporations file every other year during their anniversary month of formation or registration. Indiana even calls it a "Business Entity Report" to highlight that difference.
Can I file my report early?
Absolutely. INBiz accepts submissions as soon as the current filing period opens, so you don't have to wait until the last day of your anniversary month.
What if my information changes after filing?
You'll need a separate update filing for material changes, such as appointing a new registered agent. Handle changes right away so mailed notices and legal service reach the right place.
Is there any extension if I need more time?
No. Indiana offers no formal extensions. Miss your anniversary month, and you get a 60-120 day grace window before the Secretary of State dissolves domestic entities or revokes foreign ones.
How do I confirm my company is still in good standing?
Search your business name in Indiana's public database. "Active" status means you're current. Anything else signals an overdue filing.
Failing to meet Indiana's Business Entity Report deadline results in late fees, potential dissolution, and the costly reinstatement process that follows. When you're operating entities across multiple states, Indiana's unique biennial anniversary-month system can easily slip through the cracks of traditional tracking methods.
Discern helps you stay on top of compliance by automatically tracking each entity's biennial deadline and mapping anniversary months across your entire portfolio. Our platform pre-fills Business Entity Reports with your current officer, director, and registered agent information, then handles direct filing through Indiana's INBiz portal.
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