PROVIDENCE, R.I. – Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis is reminding thousands of nonprofit corporations that they can beat the state’s deadline for filing annual reports by using the on-line filing tool on his website at sos.ri.gov.
More than 6,700 nonprofits ranging from hospitals and charities to Little Leagues and condo associations are subject to the requirement. Mollis hopes the reminder will help them avoid incurring unnecessary expenses in these difficult economic times.
"We have made filing as easy as possible and are doing everything we can to make nonprofits aware of the deadline," said Mollis.
He created an on-line filing tool on his website at sos.ri.gov to help nonprofits comply with the state filing deadline. Every nonprofit has been assigned its own unique Customer Identification Number and Personal Identification Number in order to ensure security.
“The era when the business day began at nine and ended at five is over. Improving our technology makes it easier to do business in Rhode Island. Filing online lowers costs and enables you to work from anywhere at any time,” said Mollis.
Failure to file an annual report can result in the revocation of a nonprofit’s Certificate of Incorporation or Certificate of Authority. In addition, state law assesses a $25 penalty for late filing.
“Nonprofits can use their annual report as an opportunity to promote their fiscal responsibility and openness. That can mean peace of mind for the people and organizations considering supporting them,” said Mollis.
At other times of the year, for-profit corporations and limited liability companies are also required to file annual reports with the Secretary of State.
Since taking office in 2007, Mollis has added e-commerce tools to his website. In addition to being able to file annual reports electronically, the public can now find tens of thousands of records ranging from Notaries Public to Articles of Incorporation to Fictitious Business Name filings posted online.
The Secretary of State’s office works with every company registered to do business in Rhode Island -- some 65,000 in all. The office oversees recording commercial liens, protecting corporate trademarks and providing advice to growing and 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, sos.ri.gov or call (401) 222-3040.
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