The South Carolina Department of Revenue provides qualified applicants free certificate of authority renewal/registration renewal services. To qualify, you must meet one of the following requirements:
• You are a corporation incorporated under the laws of South Carolina;
• You are a partnership organized under the laws of South Caroline;
• You are an individual residing in South Carolina;
• Your principal place of business is located within the state of South Carolina;
You must submit the completed application form along with a check or money order payable to the “Department of Revenue.”
Your renewal fees range from $100 to $175, depending on the number of registered entities. For more information, please contact our office at 803-743-5200.
Table of Contents
South Carolina Annual Report Information
The South Carolina Secretary of State’s office provides information about filing requirements for businesses, nonprofit organizations, and individuals. The filing fee varies depending on the type of entity. For example, a corporation must pay a filing fee of $30 per year; a partnership pays $20 per year; a limited liability company (LLC) pays $25 per year, and a domestic nonprofit organization pays $15 per year.
A foreign LLC must pay a filing fee equal to 10% of the value of the LLC’s total assets. Foreign corporations must pay a filing fee based on the income earned within South Carolina. A foreign nonprofit organization must pay a filing fee equivalent to 5% of the organization’s gross receipts during the preceding calendar year.
An individual must pay a filing fee ranging from $5 to $50. An individual who files a Form SC-1 Statement of Economic Interest must pay a filing fee equaling 0.05% of his or her net worth. Individuals who file Forms SC-2 and SC-3 Statements of Financial Condition must pay a filing fee set by statute.
For additional information, contact the South Carolina Secretary of State at 803-741-8100 or visit www.scsos.com/businessfees.
What Is an Annual Report?
An annual report is a legal filing required by most states. A company must file an annual report if it has assets of $25 million or more. This document includes financial information about the company, such as revenue, expenses, profits, net income, capital expenditures, and cash flow.
Companies spend countless resources managing annual reports on their own. They hire accountants, lawyers, and consultants to help them prepare the documents. But what if you could save money while still getting accurate information? You can now use our managed service to quickly and easily generate your annual report. We make sure everything is up to date and ready to go.
What Is the Purpose of a South Carolina Annual Report?
In many states, companies must submit annual reports to regulators. In some cases, failure to do so can lead to hefty fines or other penalties. But what exactly does it mean to file an annual report? And why is it important?
According to the Federal Trade Commission, annual reports provide information about a company’s financial health. They include key figures such as revenue, expenses, assets, liabilities, capitalization, profit and loss statements, and balance sheets. These documents help regulators determine whether a company complies with federal laws, state regulations, and local ordinances.
Companies must file annual reports in certain states, including California, Florida, Illinois, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Texas, Virginia, Washington, and Wisconsin. Some states require companies to file quarterly reports as well.
Failure to file annual reports on time can lead to fines or penalties. For example, in 2016, the FTC fined a company $1 million for failing to file its annual report on time. Similarly, in 2017, the FTC fined another company $2.5 million for filing late.
The deadline for submitting annual reports varies depending on the state. In general, companies must file annual reports no later than 30 days following the end of each fiscal year. However, some states allow up to 90 days to file.
For instance, in California, companies must file annual and quarterly reports within 45 days of the close of the fiscal year. Companies that fail to meet this deadline risk being subject to civil money penalties, which could total millions of dollars.
How Do I File an Annual Report in South Carolina?
There are two ways to file a South Carolina annual report. You can either file it online through the Secretary of States’ office or you can file it directly with the state via snail mail. If you choose to file online, there is no charge. However, if you want to use our managed filing service, we charge $10 per form. We recommend you use one method over another because each option has different benefits. For example, filing online allows you to easily update your information while filing directly with the state requires you to send a physical copy of the document.
Create your LLC Corporation with just 3 easy steps
How Do I File a South Carolina Annual Report?
To renew or register your South Carolinian Corporation, LLC, or LLP you must file an annual tax return with the South Carolina Department Of Revenue. You can do it online.
When is the deadline for the South Carolina Annual Report?
An annual report is due on May 15th. If you are required to file one, it must be filed no later than April 30th. This includes foreign and domestic corporations. A corporation is a legal entity organized under state law that owns real property and engages in business activities. Corporations include partnerships, limited liability companies, and unincorporated associations. An annual report contains information about the financial statements of the corporation. These statements show how much the corporation earned and spent over the year. They also contain information about shareholders’ equity, capital stock, directors, officers, and employees. Shareholders’ equity refers to the amount of money owned by individual shareholders. Capital stock refers to the total number of shares outstanding and the value of each share. Directors refer to the people who run the company. Officers are those individuals who hold positions such as president, vice president, secretary, treasurer, and chief executive officer. Employees are workers who work for the company.
The annual report also provides information about corporate governance. Corporate governance refers to the policies and procedures used by a board of directors to oversee the company’s management. In addition, the annual report gives detailed information about the corporation’s assets and liabilities. Assets include cash, buildings, vehicles, equipment, inventory, and accounts receivable. Liabilities are debts owed by the corporation. For example, a corporation might owe bank money for loans taken out to buy merchandise or pay salaries.
If you fail to file an annual report, you could face fines and penalties. Fines range from $25 to $100 per day. Penalties can increase depending on the severity of the violation. You can avoid filing an annual report by filing Form SC-1 online.
What Is the Annual Report Filing Fee in South Carolina?
The annual report filing fee is $50 for domestic companies and $100 for foreign companies. Companies must file both a Form SC-1 and a Form SC-2. Companies with less than $5 million in gross receipts do not pay any fees. However, there are some exceptions. For example, if the corporation is a partnership or LLC, it does not have to submit an annual report. Also, if the corporation is incorporated outside of South Carolina, it does not have any tax liability. If the corporation is incorporated within South Carolina, it pays a franchise tax based on the amount of net income earned during the previous calendar year.
Who Is Eligible to File a South Carolina Annual Report?
Anyone with authority to prepare and/or file a business filing can renew a certificate of incorporation or a limited liability company operating agreement. This includes anyone with authority to sign documents for a corporation or LLC. For example, someone who owns 50% or less of a corporation can renew the certificate. Likewise, anyone who owns 50% or more of a corporation can renew it. In addition, anyone with the authority to sign checks for a corporation or LLC can renew the certificate.
In addition, anyone with authority over a partnership can renew the certificate of the organization. Partnerships are formed under the Uniform Partnership Act (UPA), which allows partners to enter into contracts without requiring each partner to consent to such agreements personally.
Finally, anyone with authority to administer trusts can renew certificates of trust. A person who administers a trust must be a trustee, beneficiary, guardian, executor, administrator, conservator, receiver, personal representative, attorney-in-fact, agent, or any combination thereof.
The above list does not include everyone who can renew a certificate. Please contact us if you do not believe you meet one of the criteria listed above. We will help you determine whether you qualify.
Annual Report Requirements in South Carolina by Entity Type
The South Carolina Professional Limited Liability Company Act requires foreign corporations doing business in the state to register with the Secretary of State. This includes filing an annual report. Domestic South Carolina professional LLCs are required to file an annual report. If you operate a corporation, partnership, limited liability company or trust, you must file an annual report. You cannot simply choose to ignore the requirement; failure to comply could lead to fines, penalties and even jail time.
Foreign South Carolina professional LLCs don’t have to file any reports unless they qualify under one of four exemptions. These include having no employees, being owned by a U.S. citizen, operating solely within the borders of the United States and meeting certain requirements regarding income.
An Scorp tax election will raise taxes paid by the company and will require additional filings. For example, if you elect to pay corporate franchise tax, you will be subject to a $1,500 fee and will have to file an annual return.
If you operate a corporation, LLP or trust, you must register with the Secretary of the Treasury. Failure to do so could result in fines and/or criminal prosecution.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is an LLC necessary?
LLCs are often confused with sole proprietorships. They provide limited liability protection. In contrast, sole proprietorships do not offer such protection. Sole proprietorships protect you personally against lawsuits, while LLCs protect your business against lawsuits.
Forming an LLC is worth considering if you carry even the slightest amount of risk or liability. You don’t want to run your business under your own name because it could cause problems down the road. For example, if you open a restaurant, opening up a bank account under your real name could lead to identity theft.
You can use your credit card to pay bills like rent, utilities, and taxes without worrying about being sued later. But if you lose money on a business venture, creditors can come knocking on your door. If you file for bankruptcy, your liabilities become public record.
An LLC shields your assets from claims against the business. So if someone sues you for $1 million, they cannot seize your home or car unless they win the case.
What is the cheapest way to get an LLC?
If you want to form your own limited liability company (LLC), it might seem like there are many ways to go about doing it. However, not everyone needs to hire a lawyer to do the job. In fact, some states offer online resources where you can complete the entire formation process for free. Here are three options for forming an LLC that cost less than $100 each.
1. Online Resources
Several companies offer forms and guides to help entrepreneurs set up their businesses without having to pay a lawyer. Some of those include LegalZoom, Rocket Lawyer, and Simple Business Solutions. These sites allow you to choose what state you live in, fill out the necessary information, and receive a completed package within minutes. For example, LegalZoom offers a variety of packages starting at just $29 per month. No contract is involved, and you don’t need to provide payment info upfront. If you sign up for a one-time fee of $49, you’ll receive everything you need to start your business.
2. Self-Filing Services
Some states require that you file certain paperwork with the Secretary of State’s office, such as articles of organization, annual reports, and corporate filings. Others charge fees for filing documents, while others still give you access to a self-service system where you can submit documents. One example is California’s eBusiness Portal, which allows small businesses to register for free. All you need to do is enter your name, address, type of business, and whether you’re incorporated or unincorporated. Once you’ve done that, you can select which documents you’d like to upload and submit them directly to the appropriate government agency.
Can I pay myself a salary from my LLC?
You can set up a salary plan for your employees within your LLC. This allows you to give each employee a certain amount of money every month. However, there are some things to keep in mind when setting up a payroll system for your LLC. For example, you must make sure that the payments are tax deductible. If your LLC is taxed as a corporation, then the payments are considered dividends and are subject to corporate taxes. But if your LLC is taxed as an S Corporation, then the payments are treated like distributions and are therefore tax-free.
James Rourke is a business and legal writer. He has written extensively on subjects such as contract law, company law, and intellectual property. His work has been featured in publications such as The Times, The Guardian, and Forbes. When he’s not writing, James enjoys spending time with his family and playing golf.