In Short: Montana LLC Annual Report
Every Montana LLC files an annual report with the Montana Secretary of State between January 1 and April 15. On-time filers pay nothing in 2026 and 2027; a late report costs $35.
- Who files: every Montana LLC and every foreign LLC authorized in Montana.
- Due date: April 15, starting the year after formation.
- Fee: waived for reports filed January 1 to April 15 (2024 through 2027). The standard fee is $20.
- Late fee: a report filed after April 15 costs $35.
- If you never file: after 140 days in default the LLC goes on the September 1 dissolution list and has 90 days to cure. Reinstatement costs $35 plus $35 for each missed report, within five years.
Montana has waived the annual report fee for on-time filers every year since 2024, and the waiver covers the 2026 and 2027 filing seasons. The waiver ends at April 15: a report filed one day late costs $35.
This guide covers who files, the April 15 deadline, the fee waiver, what the report asks for, how to file online, and how dissolution and reinstatement work.
Montana LLC Annual Report at a Glance
| Official name | Annual Report |
|---|---|
| Filed with | Montana Secretary of State, Business Services Division |
| Who files | Every Montana LLC and every authorized foreign LLC |
| Filing cycle | Every year |
| Due date | Between January 1 and April 15 |
| Fee | Waived when filed by April 15 (2026 and 2027); standard fee $20 |
| Late fee or penalty | $35 for a report filed after April 15 |
| Reinstatement | $35 plus $35 for each missed report, within five years |
| Where to file | biz.sosmt.gov online |
Who Must File a Montana LLC Annual Report?
MCA 35-8-208 requires an annual report from every domestic LLC and every foreign LLC authorized to transact business in Montana. The Secretary of State notes that the report is not a tax or earnings report.
Professional LLCs also file an annual statement with their licensing authority before April 15.
When Is the Montana Annual Report Due?
Reports are due between January 1 and April 15 each year. The first report is due between January 1 and April 15 of the year after the LLC was organized or authorized: an LLC formed in October 2026 files its first report by April 15, 2027.
The 2027 filing period opens on January 1, 2027.
How Much Does the Montana LLC Annual Report Cost?
The Secretary of State’s fee page lists the annual report filed before April 15 as waived, for domestic and foreign LLCs alike, and $35 when filed after April 15. The standard fee schedule sets $20 for an on-time report. The waiver has applied every year since 2024, and in December 2025 the Secretary of State extended it to the 2026 and 2027 filing seasons.
Filing late
There is no separate penalty line. A report filed after April 15 costs $35, and the waiver no longer applies.
What Information Does the Montana Annual Report Ask For?
Under MCA 35-8-208, the report lists:
- The LLC’s name and the jurisdiction where it was formed.
- Its registered agent information.
- The principal office mailing address.
- The names and addresses of its managers (manager-managed) or members (member-managed).
- Series and professional LLC statements, where they apply.
A member or an authorized agent signs, and the information must be current as of signing.
How to File the Montana LLC Annual Report: Step by Step
- Open biz.sosmt.gov. Go to the Secretary of State’s online filing system between January 1 and April 15.
- Find the LLC. Search the business and select its annual report.
- Update if needed. With no changes, no login is needed. To change the mailing address, registered agent or principals, sign in first.
- Confirm the declarations. Check the declaration boxes before submitting.
- Submit and save the confirmation. On time, the filing costs nothing in 2026 and 2027.
What Happens If a Montana LLC Does Not File?
The Secretary of State can involuntarily dissolve a domestic LLC that has failed for 140 days to file its annual report (MCA 35-8-209). Under MCA 35-8-914, by September 1 each year the Secretary of State compiles a list of LLCs in default and gives notice by letter to the registered agent or by newspaper publication. The LLC then has 90 days to cure before a dissolution order issues. A dissolved LLC can only wind up its affairs.
A foreign LLC that has not filed within 140 days after the due date faces revocation of its certificate of authority after a 60-day notice (MCA 35-8-1011 and 35-8-1012).
Reinstating a dissolved Montana LLC
A Montana LLC can reinstate within five years of dissolution under MCA 35-8-912. It files every missing annual report and a reinstatement application at biz.sosmt.gov, and pays $35 plus $35 for each year of delinquent reports. It also needs a tax certificate from the Montana Department of Revenue, which a single-member LLC not taxed as a corporation does not need. Filing the missing reports alone does not reinstate the LLC. Reinstatement relates back to the dissolution date. Foreign LLCs cannot reinstate and must requalify.
Montana Tips for Non-Resident Owners
File between January 1 and April 15 and the report costs nothing. Ignore official-looking mailers that charge a fee: the Secretary of State has warned about a mailing for the 2027 annual report that charges $150. Keep the registered agent current, because the September dissolution notice goes to the agent.
Keep Your Montana LLC in Good Standing
Filing the Montana annual report by April 15 each year is what keeps your LLC in good standing with the Secretary of State. Banks, payment processors and new partners ask for proof of that status, and the document that shows it is a Montana certificate of good standing. For the full picture of what the state charges each year, see our breakdown of Montana LLC costs, and if you have not formed the company yet, start with our guide on how to start an LLC in Montana.
Most missed filings trace back to one problem: the state’s reminder went to an old address. A registered agent service that scans and forwards state mail closes that gap. If a deadline has already passed, our guide on what happens when you miss an annual report deadline walks through the fix, and our LLC annual report guide for every state covers the rules in other states where you are registered.
Form Your Montana LLC With BusinessAnywhere
BusinessAnywhere forms your Montana LLC for $0 plus the state filing fee, includes a free first year of registered agent service so state notices reach you, and gets the EIN for non-residents without a Social Security number for $97.
Frequently Asked Questions
When is the Montana LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and April 15 each year, starting the year after the LLC was formed.
Is there a fee for the Montana annual report?
Not for on-time filers in 2026 and 2027: the fee is waived for reports filed by April 15. The standard fee is $20.
What does a late Montana annual report cost?
$35 for a report filed after April 15.
What happens if a Montana LLC does not file?
After 140 days in default, the LLC is placed on the September 1 dissolution list and has 90 days to file before it is dissolved.
How much does it cost to reinstate a Montana LLC?
$35 plus $35 for each year of missed reports, within five years of dissolution.
Is the $150 annual report mailer from the State of Montana?
No. The Secretary of State has warned that a mailing charging $150 for the 2027 annual report is a solicitation, not the official filing.
This guide summarizes rules published by the Montana Secretary of State and Montana law as of October 2026. It is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and forms change, so confirm the current figures on the official site before you file.
