How to file a Vermont annual report

‍Vermont's Secretary of State requires that most companies in the state file an Annual Report, while nonprofits and cooperatives submit a Biennial Report. Each report updates the state's public record with your current principal address, your managers or directors, and your registered agent's physical address, all pulled directly from what you submit.

If you miss your deadline, Vermont immediately adds a late fee, and your business loses its good standing status. Let it slide too long, and the Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your company, putting your name protection, financing, and even basic contract enforcement at risk.

Who needs to file the Vermont annual report?

If you're registered with Vermont, you need to file an annual or biennial report, whether you formed your company here or registered as an out-of-state entity.

Required entities include:

• Domestic corporations, including professional corporations
• Domestic LLCs and Professional LLCs
• Foreign corporations authorized in Vermont
• Foreign LLCs registered in Vermont
• Domestic and foreign Limited Liability Partnerships (LLPs)
• Nonprofit corporations and cooperatives, which report every other year

Exemptions include:

• Limited Partnerships (LPs) registered in Vermont
• Entities that have formally dissolved, withdrawn, or been terminated

Several people can handle this for you: owners, officers, members, managers, your Vermont registered agent, attorneys, accountants, or third-party compliance services.

How to file

The easiest way is to file online. Vermont's Secretary of State portal processes most reports within 24 hours, keeping you in good standing almost immediately. 

Gather your business details first, then follow these steps:

1. Visit the Vermont Secretary of State's Online Business Filing System
2. Click "Register" and create a new account
3. From your dashboard, choose "File Your Annual/Biennial Report"
4. Find your company by scrolling or searching
5. Check pre-populated information and update anything that's changed, like principal address, mailing address, or email
6. Confirm your registered agent's name and Vermont street address
7. Review management data, including members or managers for LLCs, officers, and directors for corporations
8. Scan everything for accuracy
9. Pay with credit card or eCheck
10. Save and print your confirmation email; it proves the state accepted your filing

Due dates and deadlines

Vermont doesn't give you a single date for all businesses. Each entity follows its own schedule based on fixed calendar dates: corporations and LLCs file annual reports by specific deadlines, while Vermont nonprofits file every other year. 

Filing fees

Vermont's fee schedule is straightforward and charges the same whether you file online or on paper.

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If you use a registered agent or filing service to handle the paperwork, budget for their processing fee in addition to the state fee.

Required information

Before hitting the Vermont filing portal, gather everything the Secretary of State needs. 

The state's system requires your business name exactly as it appears on record, your Vermont Business ID Number (searchable in the Business Database), and your principal office street address (no P.O. Boxes). You'll also need your mailing address if different, and your registered agent's name and Vermont street address.

Additional requirements vary by entity type:

• Corporations must list current officers and directors
• LLCs list members or managers
• Nonprofits and cooperatives list directors and officers

Vermont is strict about addresses. Every principal office and registered agent line must be a full street address with city, state, and ZIP.

Consequences of not filing

Missing your Vermont deadline creates immediate problems that grow worse over time. Vermont doesn't offer grace periods, and penalties start the day after your deadline.

Once your report becomes delinquent, you will incur a $25 late fee and lose your good standing with the Secretary of State. This means you can't get a Certificate of Good Standing for loans, licenses, or expansion projects. Your business becomes second-class in the state's eyes.

Let it drag on, and Vermont escalates quickly. The Secretary of State can administratively dissolve your company or revoke your authority to do business under Vermont's dissolution statute. You'll lose exclusive rights to your business name, making it available for others to claim.

Getting back to good standing is possible, but it costs time and money. You'll need to file every missing report and pay all past-due fees, plus those $25 penalties that accumulated. If Vermont has already dissolved your entity, you'll also need to submit a reinstatement application.

FAQs about Vermont’s annual report

Can I file my Vermont report early?

Yes, Vermont's online portal opens the filing window well before your deadline.

What if something changes after I file?

Minor updates like phone numbers can wait until next year's report. Material changes, such as new registered agent, principal office address, or name changes, require separate filings, like Articles of Amendment. Don't wait a full year to update critical information.

Can I get an extension?

No. Vermont doesn't grant extensions for these reports.

How do I confirm my business is in good standing?

Check Vermont's business database search. Your entity will show "Active" or "In Good Standing" once your report processes. This status appears within hours of online filing.

Can I clear multiple missed years at once?

You can catch up, but Vermont makes you file each delinquent year separately. Each year requires its own filing fee plus the $25 late penalty. 

Streamline your Vermont and multi-state compliance with Discern

Discern automatically tracks your entity's specific deadline and sends reminders before due dates. Our platform pre-fills Vermont reports with your existing entity data and submits filings directly to the Secretary of State.

Ready to ease your compliance burden? Try Discern today.