PROVIDENCE, R.I. (Jan. 9, 2009) – The beginning of the new year means tens of thousands of companies doing business in Rhode Island must file 2009 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 along with 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.
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 last year, business owners now can file online.
Simply visit www.sec.state.ri.us/corps and click on the “File Corporations Online” link. Every company has been assigned its own unique Customer Identification Number and Personal Identification Number order to ensure security.
“The business world doesn’t operate from 9-to-5 anymore. Technology has changed all that. With the upgrades we have made, you can work with my office 24 hours a day, seven days a week whether you are in Rhode Island or on the road,” said Mollis.
Business owners can still choose to file by mail or in person at the Secretary of State’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.
“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 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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