PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding business owners that they can beat the March 31 deadline for submitting annual reports to the state by using the on-line filing tool on his new website – sos.ri.gov.
Companies that fail to file face fines and the revocation of their articles of corporation. More than 35,000 companies that are registered to do business in Rhode Island are subject to the requirement.
“We upgraded our website to make it easier for companies to do business with us. Giving our customers 24/7 access frees them to do what they do best, innovate and grow their business,” said Mollis.
Filers now can simply visit sos.ri.gov and click on "Filing an Annual Report" option. Every company has been assigned its own unique Customer Identification Number and Personal Identification Number order to ensure security. Annual reports submitted by midnight March 31 will not be considered delinquent.
Business owners can still choose to file by mail or in person at the Secretary of State’s Division of Business Services, 148 West River St., Providence.
Failure to file an annual report can result in the revocation of a company’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Authority. Those certifications provide companies with the legal basis for conducting a variety of business-related activities in Rhode Island such as direct sales. In addition, state law assesses a $25 penalty for late filing.
At other times of the year, non-profit corporations and limited liability companies are also required to file annual reports with the Secretary of State's office.
“State law makes my office responsible for corporate record-keeping, and we are committed to giving the public easy access to current information. The business community deserves recognition for contributing to that goal,” said Mollis.
The Secretary of State’s office works with almost every company registered to do business in Rhode Island – more than 65,000 in all. The office oversees recording commercial liens, protecting corporate trademarks and providing advice to start-up businesses.
Secretary of State Mollis is committed to making it easier for Rhode Islanders to vote, helping businesses grow and making government more open and accessible. For more information about filing an annual report, visit sos.ri.gov or call (401) 222-3040.