Frequently Asked Questions
Everything owners ask us about state filings, deadlines, and what things actually cost — including the times we tell you not to hire us.
About Standard Filings
Are you the IRS, my state, or a government agency?+
No. Standard Filings is a private document-preparation and filing company, not affiliated with, endorsed by, or approved by any government agency. If you received an official-looking notice about your annual report, read it carefully — the state's own fee is public information and should never be hidden inside a marked-up total.
Why pay you instead of filing it myself?+
The same reason people hire a bookkeeper: time, correctness, and never missing the deadline. Every state lets you file directly for just its own fee, and we'll always say so. We're the option for owners who'd rather hand off the paperwork and the date than learn another state form each year.
What does 'flat fee, state fee at cost' mean?+
Our service fee is flat: $159 to file once, or $139/year on the subscription. The state's own report fee — $138.75 in Florida, $80 in Connecticut, $60 in Wyoming — is passed through at cost as its own line. No markups, no blended price hiding the government's fee.
Is there a guarantee?+
Yes. If we can't complete your filing, you get your money back. Every order also includes human support by email, answered during business hours by a person on the filing team.
Annual reports
What is an annual report, and do I have to file one?+
Most states require a registered business to file a short report every year (some call it a periodic, biennial, or statement-of-information filing) to stay active. Miss it and you risk late fees, loss of good standing, and eventually administrative dissolution. The form, fee, and frequency vary by state — we confirm yours before you pay.
Which states do you file in, and when is mine due?+
All 50 states and DC. Deadlines vary: Florida is a hard May 1 with a $400 late penalty, Wyoming is your formation-anniversary month, Delaware's LLC tax is due June 1, Connecticut is March 31. A few states — New Mexico LLCs, for example — require no annual report at all.
What information do you need from me?+
Your exact legal business name, the state it's registered in, your state file or entity number if you have it (we can look it up), your principal and mailing address, the members or managers on record, and an email for the state's confirmation.
What if I've already missed my deadline?+
Send us your details anyway. We'll confirm the current status, any late penalty the state charges, and what it takes to get back into good standing — before you pay anything. If the state has already dissolved the entity, that's our reinstatement service.
How long does it take?+
We prepare and submit your report promptly, and we file well ahead of your deadline on purpose. After that it moves at your state's pace — some states confirm same-day, others take a few weeks. We don't promise a clock, because government timing genuinely varies.
The subscription
How is the subscription different from filing once?+
The one-time service ($159 + state fee) files this year's report and flags next year's date. The Annual Compliance Subscription ($139/year + state fee) files it for you automatically every year and monitors the deadline — for less per year, because you're committing. If you only want this year handled, buy the one-time filing; we'll never push the plan.
Will you charge my card without warning?+
Never. Before every yearly renewal we email you the full total — our fee plus the exact state fee — and file only after you've seen it. No silent auto-charges.
How do I cancel?+
One email. It takes effect at the end of your paid year, and there's no retention maze or phone call required.
Does the subscription include a registered agent?+
No. Standard Filings does annual report filing, dissolution, and reinstatement. We don't sell registered agent service, so it isn't bundled into the price you pay.
Dissolution & reinstatement
What happens if I just stop filing?+
The state doesn't treat silence as closing. Reports keep coming due, penalties accrue, and eventually the state administratively dissolves the entity — which is messier than a voluntary dissolution and leaves a balance owed if you ever want to reinstate.
How do I know if my business was dissolved?+
Your state's business search will show a status like 'administratively dissolved,' 'revoked,' or 'inactive' instead of active. Banks and lenders often spot it before owners do. Send us your name and state and we'll check for free.
Is there a deadline to reinstate?+
Often yes — many states allow reinstatement only within a set window after dissolution, after which you'd have to form a new entity. We check your state's window as part of the standing check, before you pay anything.
Filing Compliance Made Simple and Honest
One short form. One flat fee. The state's fee at cost.
Money-back guarantee · Not a government agency