Montana's annual report keeps your business in good standing with the Secretary of State. You'll update basic information, such as your business address, registered agent, and current principals (directors and officers for corporations; members or managers for LLCs)—nothing complex, just confirming the details are still accurate.
This isn't a financial filing or tax document like a franchise tax return—you’re simply telling the state how to reach you and who’s running your business. You must file online through the Montana Secretary of State portal, as Montana no longer accepts paper filings.
Montana requires annual reports for registered LLCs and corporations (profit and nonprofit), including foreign entities authorized to transact business in Montana. The Secretary of State expects an update from these active entities each year, and skipping it puts your good standing at risk.
Every active corporation in Montana must file, regardless of whether it is a profit or nonprofit entity. The same goes for all limited liability companies, including professional LLCs. If you're a foreign-registered LLC or corporation in Montana, you're also on the hook for these reports. Size doesn't matter, revenue doesn't matter; if you're registered, you're required to file.
The exemptions are straightforward:
When it comes to who can actually submit the report, Montana gives you options. Corporate officers and directors can file directly, as can LLC members or managers. Your registered agent can handle it for you, if authorized, or you can authorize any third-party service to submit the report on your behalf.
Montana only accepts reports through their online business portal. Mail them a paper form and they'll send it right back. Before you start, grab your Folder ID and any updated addresses or officer information.
Here's what to do:
Download your confirmation page afterward, as banks and licensing boards love proof of good standing.
Montana keeps things simple with these reports. The online portal opens January 1, and corporations or LLCs must file annual reports by April 15.
This deadline doesn't bend, even in fee-waiver years like 2025. Your first annual report is due between January 1 and April 15 of the year after the calendar year in which you formed (or were authorized in Montana). For example, if you formed your LLC in March 2024, your first annual report is due by April 15, 2025.
The typical filing fee for Montana annual reports is $20. However, Montana has waived annual report filing fees for businesses filing by April 15 in 2024 and 2025. If filed after April 15, the total fee is $35 (which includes a $15 late penalty). The state only accepts online filings, which keeps things simple.
The fee structure applies to all entity types, so nonprofits pay the same as for-profit companies.
Before you click "File My Annual Report," gather every detail the Montana Secretary of State's online form will demand. The portal first asks for baseline facts that apply to every entity:
Next, the form branches depending on your structure. Corporations must list each officer and director, together with titles and addresses. LLCs substitute members or managers for officers, and nonprofits repeat the corporate model: officers and directors only.
Professional LLCs must include a statement in the annual report about qualified persons and must also file a "statement of qualification" with the licensing authority before April 15.
When all fields look right, you'll certify the report with an electronic signature. Type your name, choose your capacity, be it officer, director, member, manager, or registered agent, and the system stamps the filing as legally binding.
Miss the due date, and you're immediately on the state's radar. Montana's penalties escalate quickly, so a simple oversight can snowball into the complete loss of your company's legal existence.
First, the total fee increases to $35 (regular $20 fee plus $15 late penalty) for every report filed after the due date. If you continue to miss the deadline, your entity will eventually be dropped from good standing after further administrative action by the Secretary of State.
Failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution/revocation and loss of good standing. Reinstatement requires filing all overdue reports and paying applicable fees, including any reinstatement charges listed in the Secretary of State's fee schedule.
Reversing the damage is possible but costly. You must submit every overdue report online, pay the accumulated late fees, and cover any reinstatement charges listed in the Secretary of State's fee schedule. Only after the office processes the filings will your good-standing certificate become available again.
If you're winding down operations, don't simply stop filing. File a formal dissolution or withdrawal through the Secretary of State's portal to close the company's records cleanly and avoid accumulating fees for a company that no longer exists on paper.
Can I file my Montana annual report early?
Yes. The online portal opens on January 1, so you can complete the filing as soon as the new year begins. Submitting early still keeps you covered through the deadline, and you avoid the last-minute rush.
Are there extensions available for the deadline?
No. Montana does not offer formal extensions for annual report filings. If you miss the April 15 deadline, you simply file late and pay the additional $15 penalty. Continued failure to file can lead to administrative dissolution for domestic entities or revocation of authority for foreign entities.
What if my business information changes after I file?
The filing captures a snapshot in time. If you later change your registered agent, principal address, or officers, you must file the appropriate amendment through the same online portal. Fees vary by filing type, but amendments prevent mismatched records that can derail future transactions.
Montana's April 15 deadline arrives the same time every year, but tracking it across multiple entities while managing other state obligations can quickly become overwhelming. Missing the deadline means an immediate $15 penalty, and continued non-compliance leads to administrative dissolution.
Discern automatically monitors your Montana filing deadlines, pre-fills forms with your entity data, and processes submissions before penalties accrue. Ready to eliminate the administrative burden of Montana compliance? Book a demo today.
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