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Colorado LLC Periodic Report 2026: $25 Fee + 5-Month Filing Window

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DR
CPA · Small Business Compliance Specialist

Quick Answer

Colorado LLCs must file a periodic report each year during their assigned periodic report month (the month the LLC was formed or registered). The fee is $25 — raised from $10 on July 1, 2024 — still one of the lower annual requirements in the country. You can file two months before through two months after your report month with no penalty. Filing is done online through the Colorado Secretary of State. Miss the window and a $50 late penalty applies, your LLC turns noncompliant, then delinquent.

Key Takeaways

  • Annual periodic report fee: $25 (raised from $10 on July 1, 2024)
  • Due during your periodic report month — file 2 months before to 2 months after, penalty-free
  • File online through the Colorado Secretary of State (coloradosos.gov)
  • Updates registered agent and principal office address
  • Miss the window: $50 late penalty, then noncompliant, then delinquent
  • Curing delinquency costs $100 (Statement Curing Delinquency)
ItemCost/DetailsNotes
Periodic Report$25Annual fee (raised from $10 on July 1, 2024)
Late Filing Penalty$50Added once you miss the report's due date
Statement Curing Delinquency$100To restore a delinquent LLC to good standing
Articles of Reinstatement$100For an LLC that has been dissolved

Periodic Report Overview

Colorado requires all LLCs (domestic and foreign) to file an annual periodic report with the Secretary of State. This is Colorado's version of an annual report, and its job is to keep your registered agent and address current in the public record. For a full picture of every cost your LLC carries, see our Colorado LLC taxes and fees guide, and to compare deadlines against other states, see our annual report deadlines hub.

Colorado's Low-Cost Advantage

At $25/year, Colorado still has one of the lower annual report fees in the country — even after the fee rose from $10 to $25 on July 1, 2024. Compare that flat $25 report fee to states that charge far more to stay registered: Massachusetts charges a $500 annual report fee, and California layers an $800 minimum franchise tax on top of its filing. Colorado has no income-based franchise tax of that kind.

Purpose of the Periodic Report

  • Confirm your LLC is still active and operating
  • Update any changes to your registered agent
  • Update your principal office address if changed
  • Maintain good standing with the state

Filing Deadline & Window

Your Periodic Report Month

Your periodic report is tied to your periodic report month — the month your LLC was formed or registered in Colorado. You can confirm the exact month on your entity's Summary page on the Secretary of State website, listed as "Periodic report month."

Crucially, Colorado gives you a wide window. Per the Secretary of State, you may file the report two months before through two months after your periodic report month with no penalty. In practice that's a five-month stretch in which you can file penalty-free.

Examples

Formation DateReport MonthPenalty-Free Window
March 15, 2024MarchJanuary 1 – May 31
July 1, 2023JulyMay 1 – September 30
December 28, 2025DecemberOctober 1 – February 28/29

Scenario: Say your LLC was formed on June 10, 2024, so June is your report month. The report becomes available to file on April 1, 2026 and stays penalty-free through August 31, 2026. If you don't file by August 31, the $50 late penalty kicks in and your status flips to noncompliant. Set a reminder for April 1 and you'll never be close to that edge.

How to File Online

The easiest way to file your periodic report is online through the Colorado Secretary of State's website:

  1. Go to the Colorado Secretary of State website
    Visit coloradosos.gov and choose "Business, Trademarks, Trade Names"
  2. Search for your LLC
    Use the business search to find your LLC by name or ID number
  3. Select "File a Report"
    Click on the option to file your periodic report
  4. Review and update information
    Verify your LLC's details are current; update if needed
  5. Pay the $25 fee
    The portal accepts credit card, debit card, or prepaid account; you pass through three payment pages
  6. Submit and save confirmation
    Keep a copy of your confirmation for records

Processing Time: Online periodic reports are typically processed immediately or within 1 business day.

Information Required

The periodic report is straightforward and doesn't require any financial information. You'll need to confirm or update:

Report Contents

  • LLC Name: Confirm it's still correct
  • Principal Office Address: Update if changed
  • Registered Agent: Name and address (update if changed)
  • Mailing Address: If different from the principal office
  • Email Address: For state notifications about future filings

The registered agent line is the one most owners need to double-check — if your agent has moved or resigned, the periodic report is your chance to correct it. Our Colorado registered agent requirements guide walks through who qualifies and how to update the listing.

Note: Colorado's periodic report does NOT ask for financial information, member names, or ownership percentages. It's simply an administrative update to maintain your LLC's registration.

Late Filing Consequences

Colorado's escalation is status-based, and it follows a fixed timeline. Importantly, Colorado does not charge a per-day or per-month running fine — the cost is a single $50 late penalty, after which the consequence is your LLC's status dropping, not a growing bill.

Timeline of Consequences

  1. Miss your due date: A $50 late filing penalty is added and your status becomes "Noncompliant." A late report is now due by the end of the second month after your report month.
  2. Still not filed by that date: Your status changes to "Delinquent."
  3. To recover from delinquent: File a Statement Curing Delinquency ($100) to return to good standing.
  4. Delinquent 3+ years: Only then can the Secretary of State file a Statement of Dissolution of Delinquent Entity to dissolve the LLC.

Worked example: If your periodic report month is January, the report is due by March 31. Miss that, and on April 1 your LLC turns Noncompliant with a $50 penalty and a late report due by May 31. Miss May 31, and the status changes to Delinquent. Note one more deadline that catches owners off guard: your original LLC name is reserved for only 400 days from the delinquency date — after that, "delinquent" is appended to your name and the original becomes available for someone else to take.

Impact of Delinquent Status

  • LLC is no longer in "good standing"
  • Cannot obtain a Certificate of Good Standing (often required for loans, contracts, and opening accounts)
  • May lose the right to bring a lawsuit in Colorado courts while delinquent
  • Risk of losing your business name to another filer after 400 days

Curing Delinquency & Reinstatement

Colorado treats "curing delinquency" and "reinstatement" as two different paths, and which one applies depends on your LLC's exact status. Most owners who simply missed a report only need the first.

If Your LLC Is Delinquent (Not Dissolved)

  1. File a Statement Curing Delinquency online
  2. Pay the $100 fee for that filing
  3. Confirm current registered agent and address information

Once accepted, the LLC returns to good standing immediately. You do not separately re-file every past year's periodic report — the Statement Curing Delinquency is the single filing that restores you.

If Your LLC Has Been Dissolved

If the LLC was already dissolved (for example, after three or more years delinquent, when the state files a Statement of Dissolution of Delinquent Entity), you instead file Articles of Reinstatement, which also carries a $100 fee.

Added Requirements for Long-Lapsed Entities

Under House Bill 24-1137, if your LLC has been delinquent for 5 years or longer (or dissolved for 2 years or longer), the Secretary of State now requires extra anti-fraud paperwork along with the filing: the statement submitted under penalty of perjury, a signed affidavit of authority, and a government-issued photo ID for the signer. The office reviews and can accept or reject the submission, so build in extra time.

Prevention is best: A $25 report filed on time is far cheaper and simpler than a $100 cure plus the $50 late penalty you'd have already incurred. Set a reminder for the first day your filing window opens — two months before your report month — and file then. For everything else your Colorado LLC has to stay on top of, see our Colorado LLC compliance hub.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much is the Colorado periodic report fee in 2026?

It's $25. The fee was $10 from 2006 until July 1, 2024, when the Colorado Secretary of State raised it to $25 to fund county reimbursements required by state law. If you see an older guide quoting $10, it's out of date.

What happens if I miss my periodic report deadline?

First a $50 late filing penalty is added and your LLC's status changes to 'Noncompliant.' If you still don't file by the end of the second month after your report month, the status changes to 'Delinquent.' To return to good standing you then file a Statement Curing Delinquency for $100. Colorado does not charge a per-day or per-month penalty beyond the flat $50 — the escalation is status-based, not a running fine.

When exactly is my periodic report due?

It's due during your 'periodic report month' — the month your LLC was formed or registered in Colorado. You can find it on your entity's Summary page on the Secretary of State website under 'Periodic report month.' You may file two months before through two months after that month with no penalty, giving you a five-month filing window in practice.

Can I file my periodic report early?

Yes. Colorado lets you file up to two months before your periodic report month with no penalty. For example, if your report month is June, the report becomes available to file in April. Many owners file as soon as it opens so they don't forget.

What's the difference between Colorado's periodic report and other states' annual reports?

It's the same idea under a different name — a yearly filing to keep your registered agent and address current. The differences are timing and cost: Colorado ties the deadline to your formation month rather than a fixed calendar date, charges a flat $25 (no income-based franchise tax like California's $800), and the late consequence is a $50 penalty plus delinquency rather than a steep per-day fine.

How long can my LLC stay delinquent before it's dissolved?

A delinquent LLC can be reactivated for years by filing a Statement Curing Delinquency. The Secretary of State only files a Statement of Dissolution of Delinquent Entity after the LLC has been delinquent for three years or more. Separately, the original entity name is held for 400 days from the delinquency date; after that the word 'delinquent' is appended and the name becomes available to others.

Official Source

For the most up-to-date information, always verify requirements with the official Colorado Secretary of State website:

https://www.coloradosos.gov

Important Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. LLC requirements, fees, and deadlines change frequently. Always verify current requirements with your state's Secretary of State office before making business decisions.

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