North Dakota's annual report updates essential company details with the state, like your principal address, registered agent, and current management roster. The Secretary of State uses this information to keep your entity "active" and in good standing, a status that lenders, investors, and large vendors check before doing business with you.
This filing isn't optional. Most registered business entities in North Dakota—corporations, LLCs, nonprofits, limited partnerships, and their foreign counterparts—must submit an annual report through the Secretary of State's FirstStop system. Sole proprietorships and general partnerships are not required to file annual reports.
If you registered any kind of business entity with the North Dakota Secretary of State, you almost certainly need to file an annual report to stay in good standing. The state's registration page makes it clear that the obligation covers both domestic entities formed in North Dakota and foreign entities merely qualified to do business here.
Required filers include:
You're exempt if you operate as a general partnership that has never registered another entity type, or as a sole proprietorship (unless you later formed an LLC or corporation). Entities that have been formally dissolved, withdrawn, or merged out of North Dakota are also exempt.
North Dakota doesn't care who presses the "file" button, just that someone authorized does it. This could be an owner, officer, member, manager, your registered agent, attorney, accountant, or a third-party compliance service.
North Dakota expects annual reports to be filed online through the Secretary of State's FirstStop portal. For nonprofits, online filing is explicitly required. The process is simple:
If you have unusual circumstances or need assistance with filing, contact the Secretary of State's office directly.
North Dakota uses fixed calendar dates rather than anniversary dates for annual reports, so all entities of the same type file simultaneously. This makes planning easier but creates traffic jams at deadline time.
You can generally file your annual report through FirstStop about 60 days before your deadline. North Dakota law does not provide a formal extension process for business annual reports.
Instead, late fees and "Not Good Standing" status apply after the statutory due date, and continued non-compliance can lead to termination or revocation.
North Dakota keeps annual report fees straightforward, though they vary by entity type. The state charges the same amount whether you file online or by mail:
When you open FirstStop to file, you'll see most fields already filled with last year's data. Your job is to check everything and update as needed before submitting. You'll generally need:
The remaining fields depend on your entity structure.
Format rules are strict: North Dakota requires your Registered Agent Office Address to be a physical street address in North Dakota (no P.O. box).
Your Principal Executive Office address must also be a street address, while your mailing address may be a P.O. box. All names must exactly match state records. Electronic signatures are acceptable, but only authorized individuals can sign.
Miss your North Dakota annual report deadline, and your status changes to Not Good Standing, though cash penalties typically kick in after a grace period. The financial and operational consequences escalate quickly from there.
Immediate financial penalties:
Good standing complications:
Long-term dissolution risks:
Fixing this mess requires three steps: file every missed annual report (one per year), pay all accumulated late fees plus a $135 reinstatement charge if already dissolved, and submit a reinstatement request through FirstStop, then wait for approval.
Can I file my North Dakota annual report early?
Yes. FirstStop opens about 60 days before your deadline, so you can submit in mid-September for LLCs, mid-June for corporations, and so on.
What if I notice a mistake after I submit?
Substantive changes (like changing directors, governors, or addresses) are generally made by filing amendments or updated annual reports through FirstStop.
How do I get a certificate of good standing?
Once your report shows as "Filed," you can download the certificate directly from FirstStop for a small fee. This document is crucial for bank loans, insurance renewals, and government contract bids.
Who is allowed to file on my behalf?
North Dakota is flexible here. You can delegate to any authorized person: an officer, member, or manager; your registered agent; an attorney, CPA, or other professional; or a compliance service. The state only requires the signer's name and role on the report.
Can I request an extension?
North Dakota law does not provide a formal extension for business annual reports. The statutes instead impose late fees and, with continued non-compliance, Not Good Standing status and eventual dissolution or revocation.
Nonprofits have limited statutory provisions that allow the Secretary of State to waive penalties in certain circumstances.
Discern automatically tracks each entity's specific deadline and sends alerts, whether your next deadline is March or November.
Our platform pre-fills forms with data directly pulled from the North Dakota Secretary of State database, processes electronic submissions with accurate fees, and manages compliance across your entire multi-state portfolio.
Book a demo today to get started.
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