PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 29, 2008) – The beginning of the new year means tens of thousands of companies doing business in Rhode Island must file annual reports with Secretary of State A. Ralph Mollis.
State law requires for-profit corporations to report the names and contact information of their officers and board of directors among other information between Jan. 1 and March 1. More than 35,000 companies that are registered to do business in Rhode Island are subject to the requirement.
“An annual report is a vehicle for promoting your company. Filing demonstrates your commitment to openness and showcases your officers and directors. And that can provide peace of mind to people considering doing business with you,” said Mollis.
For the first time, entrepreneurs no longer have to visit the Secretary of State’s Providence office in order to file. Thanks to improvements to the agency’s website over the summer, business owners now can file electronically.
Simply visit www.sec.state.ri.us/corps and click on the new “File Corporations Online” link. Every company is assigned its own unique Customer Identification Number and Personal Identification Number order to ensure security.
“We no longer operate in a 9-to-5 world. When I ran for office, I called for using technology to make it easier to do business in Rhode Island. Now we are open seven days a week, 24 hours a day from anywhere in the world,” said Mollis.
Business owners can still choose to file by mail or in person at the agency’s 148 West River St. location in 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.
“As the department of state charged with corporate record-keeping, my office is committed to giving Rhode Islanders access to up-to-date and accurate information. I want to thank the business community for being my partner in that endeavor,” said Mollis.
The Secretary of State’s office works with every company registered to do business in Rhode Island. The office oversees recording commercial liens, protecting corporate trademarks and providing advice to small 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, visit www.sec.state.ri.us/corps or call (401) 222-3040.
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