The Official-Looking Email
The official looking email from the "State of Florida" arrives. It reminds you of the deadline this month's newsletter addressed for the filing of the Annual Report and selecting the Registered Agent. You click the link and get to a website where everything looks official. You fill it all out, submit payment and now you are all set for the year. Did you get something you did not bargain for?
Your Annual Report: What You Need to Know
Thousands and thousands of property managers, business owners, real estate agents and investors own a corporation. It most likely is an LLC, PLLC, or PA. Each year your Annual Report you must file with the Florida Secretary of State is due on May 1. The Annual Report shows your company name, address, email address, directors of the corporation, your Registered Agent and all other info showing how you are registered with the Florida Secretary of State. Renewing each year is simple and can be done online BY ANYONE.
Years ago, you were sent a notice by USPS mail reminding you of the deadline and warning that in the event you fail to file, your corporation will become ADMINISTRATIVELY DISSOLVED, and, in order to reinstate the corporation, you would be required to pay a hefty penalty.
How the Scam Works
Enterprising individuals and companies have been around for years sending out very "official looking" letters and emails offering to do this filing for you. Many people are fooled by these letters or emails, they go to the provided website link, and proceed to input the information required to renew. Along with this, there is a fee and many people blindly go ahead and pay the amount shown.
Are they complete scams? Will your corporation Annual Report be filed? The truth is, they WILL most likely file your Annual Report and you may also pick them to be your Registered Agent. No harm done right?
Well, the problem is, you paid more than you should have paid and in the case of the Registered Agent, you may have changed the Registered Agent to them which may have not been your original plan and they will want to continue to be your Registered Agent each year charging a fee for that. Often these companies tack on $100 to $500 for something you can do 100% yourself.
Many people are tricked by these letters and emails and end up paying far more for the Annual Report Renewal and in some cases, changed their Registered Agent in the process. So now, each year, they will want you to pay them to file your Annual Report and will charge a Registered Agent fee. You may end up paying year after year.
Now for the FACTS
You do not have to pay someone to file your Annual Report and you do not have to change your Registered Agent to a person or company who will charge you each year. The charge being a fee that is completely unnecessary. Basically, you got duped by the official looking letter or email.
Do It Yourself at Sunbiz.org
Drop everything right now and go to www.sunbiz.org the official website of the Florida Secretary of State's Division of Corporations and do this all yourself. It will take you no more than 5 minutes.
- Look up your corporation in the search function at search.sunbiz.org and find your corporation. You will find an identification number.
- Simply go through the easy steps and change any necessary information or confirm everything is correct. Be sure your email address is correct!
- Pay the fee directly to the Secretary of State by credit or debit card. (They use a third party vendor for the payments so you will get a confirmation email from NIC Services, LLC dba Tyler Payment Services.)
You have until May 1, 2026 to do this, but why wait? Get it over with or you may forget and have that sinking feeling when you realize you have to pay the hefty fee of $400 for reinstatement.
You may even find that your corporation has been administratively dissolved, and you did not even know it! No problem, just pay the fee for reinstatement.
Spread the Word
- Sadly, there is always someone out to make a buck off you
- Thousands of people pay more than they should each year for a simple process they can do themselves
- Have multiple agents in your office who often have a PA or an LLC? Forward them this article!
- Many of the properties you manage are held in a Florida LLC — remind your property owners too
- They are getting the same official looking letters and emails as you and falling for this each year
