Massachusetts Annual Report: The Most Expensive in the Nation

Massachusetts charges $500 by mail ($520 online) for the annual report — the highest fee of any state. Understanding the filing requirements, deadlines, and consequences of non-compliance is essential for every business operating in the Commonwealth.

Filing Details

Detail	Information
Frequency	Annual
Due date	Entity anniversary date
Fee (mail)	$500
Fee (online)	$520 (includes $20 processing fee)
Filed with	Massachusetts Secretary of State

Unlike many states that set a universal due date, Massachusetts bases your deadline on the anniversary of your entity's formation or registration. This date is unique to your entity.

What the Report Contains

The annual report confirms or updates:

• Entity name and type
• Resident agent name and address
• Principal office address
• Names and addresses of officers, managers, or members
• Federal employer identification number
• Business description

If nothing changed, you confirm existing information. If your resident agent, officers, or address have changed, this filing updates the state.

The Financial Weight

Consider the annual cost of maintaining a Massachusetts LLC:

• Annual report: $500 (mail) or $520 (online)
• Resident agent (our service): $99/year
• Total minimum annual compliance: approximately $600

This is before state taxes, local licenses, or any operational costs. Massachusetts is objectively the most expensive state for basic LLC maintenance. Planning for these costs from day one prevents unwelcome surprises.

What Happens If You Do Not File

Late penalties. The Secretary of State assesses additional fees for overdue filings.

Administrative dissolution. Your entity can be revoked for continued non-compliance. A revoked entity cannot conduct business, execute contracts, or appear in court.

Reinstatement expense. Bringing a dissolved entity back requires filing all back-due reports (at $500+ each), paying accumulated penalties, and submitting reinstatement paperwork.

Liability risk. Operating without active status may compromise the personal liability protection your entity structure provides.

Online vs. Mail Filing

Online filing costs $20 more ($520 vs. $500) but processes immediately with instant confirmation. Mail filing is cheaper but slower and subject to postal delays.

Given the consequences of late filing, online submission through the Secretary of State website is the recommended approach.

How Massachusetts Registered Agent.co Helps

We track your specific anniversary date and send reminders before the filing deadline. You receive alerts with enough lead time to gather the necessary information and submit on schedule.

Additionally, any notices the Secretary of State sends regarding your filing status arrive at our office. We scan them same-day and push them to your portal.

Our $99/year service includes:

• Anniversary-date specific compliance reminders
• Same-day scanning of Secretary of State correspondence
• Secure portal for filing-related documents
• Physical Massachusetts address on your entity record
• Complete address privacy on public filings

Plan Ahead

A $500 annual filing is not something to forget about. Enroll with Massachusetts Registered Agent.co for $99/year and get the reminders, document handling, and compliance support you need to manage the Commonwealth's demanding filing requirements.