Minnesota doesn't call its yearly filing an "annual report." Instead, you submit an Annual Renewal, a brief snapshot that informs the Secretary of State that your company is still in operation.
The form updates public records with your current principal office, registered agent, and key managers, ensuring legal notices and lenders can reach you.
If you operate a business registered with the Minnesota Secretary of State, you need to file an annual renewal. The requirement covers nearly every domestic entity and any foreign company qualified to do business in the state. You must file if you're a:
A few entities don't file annually. Foreign nonprofits generally skip this requirement, though foreign cooperatives typically do not. Charitable organizations register separately with the Attorney General and follow their own schedule.
Minnesota is flexible about who can file. You, a fellow owner, an officer, a member, or a manager, can handle it. Registered agents, attorneys, accountants, and third-party compliance services are also acceptable filers.
Minnesota gives you three ways to submit your annual renewal: online, by mail, or in person. Online is the fastest option, but paper and walk-in options are available if you prefer traditional methods or need last-minute help.
The online filing takes minutes once you have your entity ID and contact information ready. Here's how it works:
Paper filing means downloading the form, filling it out, and mailing it with a check to the Secretary of State. Walk-in filing at the Saint Paul office during business hours costs the same as online, but you leave with a stamped receipt immediately.
Online filings are typically processed within 2–5 business days, in-person submissions clear the same day, and mailed reports take the longest.
Minnesota keeps things simple: almost every business renewal hits the same calendar-year finish line. Your corporation, LLC, partnership, cooperative, or religious corporation must file its annual renewal by December 31 each year.
Charitable organizations follow a different clock. If your charity registers with the Attorney General, the annual financial report is due July 15 when you operate on a calendar year, or the 15th day of the seventh month after whatever fiscal year you choose.
Minnesota keeps it simple. Most domestic businesses file their annual renewal for free, regardless of whether you submit online, mail it in, or walk it to the counter. The table below shows exactly what you'll pay.
Before you open the Minnesota Business Filings Online portal, gather everything the form is going to ask for. The state asks every entity for the same core data:
Once those basics are in, the form branches depending on who you are.
If any of that information has changed since last year, updating it here keeps you in good standing and avoids a separate amendment filing.
Minnesota makes signatures easy. Electronic signatures are accepted online, and the paper form can be mailed with a copy of a handwritten signature—no wet-ink original is required.
Miss the December 31 deadline, and Minnesota doesn't just slap you with a minor penalty—it yanks your company's legal status overnight. Because the state charges no late fee for most entities, the first sign of trouble is often the notice that your corporation or LLC has been administratively dissolved or revoked on January 1 of the new year.
Immediate consequences include:
Reinstatement requirements:
Can I file my Minnesota annual report early?
Yes, you can file as early as January 1 of the calendar year.
What if I need to amend my annual report after filing?
File an amendment if something changes—new office address, different registered agent, whatever.
How long does it take to process my annual report?
Online filings are expedited but generally processed within 2–5 business days, with the status updating after processing. In-person submissions get stamped on the spot. Mailed reports depend on postal delivery and manual entry, so expect processing times from a few days to a couple of weeks.
How do I obtain a Certificate of Good Standing?
Once your renewal is accepted, order a Certificate of Good Standing through the same Business Filings Online portal.
Is multi-year filing available?
No. Minnesota requires a fresh annual renewal every calendar year—no prepaying or combining multiple years allowed.
Minnesota crams every business into the same December 31 filing window, so year-end already feels tight. Mix in the state's tiered fee structure, and it's a recipe for missed deadlines, unwanted dissolution, and frantic holiday-season paperwork. Juggling these nuances across multiple entities becomes especially burdensome when your business operates in multiple states.
Discern lifts this burden off your plate by automating the entire process. Our compliance platform centralizes multi-state entity management in one dashboard. You'll get reminders in your inbox days before the Minnesota deadline, so you never scramble at the last minute. The system pre-fills annual renewal forms directly from your entity record, cutting out repetitive data entry that eats up time and introduces errors.
Book a demo today to get started.
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