How To File Kentucky Annual Report – 2026 Guide For LLCs

Forming a Limited Liability Company (LLC) in Kentucky can provide several tax incentives and exemptions. This is especially true for those involved in agriculture, manufacturing, and certain non-profit organizations. Furthermore, the state has a business-friendly tax structure for targeted sectors and maintains efforts to reduce the state income tax rate.

Once you’ve filed your Articles of Organization documents to officially form your LLC, you need to comply with state requirements to maintain active and in good standing. One of the main ones is filing your LLC Annual Report with the Kentucky Secretary of State (SOS) once a year.

In this article, I will explain the Kentucky Annual Report filing procedure for the online and mail filing options. You’ll also learn about the required fees, deadlines, and dangers of operating without filing your report.

Kentucky Annual Report For LLC Overview

Every LLC conducting business activities in the state must file a yearly Kentucky LLC Annual Report with the SOS under KRS 14A.6-010. This mandatory filing provides the state with up-to-date business information, ensuring your LLC remains active and in good standing on the official business registry.

You can submit your LLC Annual Report using three main filing methods:

1. Online: File online via the Annual Report Filing Entity Selection page.
2. Form mailing: Print your completed Annual Report and mail it or file it in person at the SOS office using the Business Entity Search tool.
3. Reminder postcard mailing: File by mail using the reminder postcard sent by the SOS.

Your expected processing time depends on your chosen filing method:

• Online filings: Your filing is processed immediately.
• Mail filings: Your filing should be processed in 1 day to over 1 week. This depends on whether the Kentucky SOS has a large filing volume to deal with at the time of filing. Unfortunately, the SOS does NOT provide official mail processing times.

1. The Kentucky LLC Annual Report Fee

You need to pay a $15 Annual Report filing fee, regardless of your chosen filing method.

Additional fees (changing your Registered Office, Registered Agent, or Principal Office address) are counted separately:

• Change of Registered Agent or Registered Office or both: $10.00.
• Change of Principal Office: $10.00.

Fees are automatically added when processing your filing if you file online. If you file by mail, you need to complete separate forms.

2. Kentucky Annual Report Due Date

You must file your Kentucky LLC Annual Report each year between January 1 and June 30. Your first report is due in the year after your LLC is officially approved.

Example: Your Kentucky LLC was formed on May 10, 2026.

• Your first Annual Report is due between January 1 and June 30, 2027.
• If your LLC was formed on December 20, 2026, your first report is still due during the January – June, 2027 filing period.

The Kentucky SOS will send a reminder postcard in January. This will be sent to your LLC’s principal office address. You can use this postcard to file your Annual Report. I will also discuss the filing process later on in my article.

How To File Your Annual Report In Kentucky Online

1. Search For Your LLC

To begin your filing, go to the Kentucky SOS’s Annual Report Filing Entity Selection. Then, enter your LLC’s ID/LLC name and click “Search.”

You can find your LLC’s ID on your Articles of Organization formation documents. Alternatively, search for your LLC name using the Business Entity Search tool to check your ID number. 

The system should generate a table of results. The table will include your main LLC information, such as your official business name, ID number, and entity type.

Click “Select” to continue to the next section.

2. Check Your General Business Information

Your first Annual Report page should show your LLC’s general information. Therefore, you don’t need to do anything for this section. Click “Forward to Addresses” to continue.

3. Update Your LLC’s Principal Office Address And Registered Agent Details

In this section, you need to confirm your principal office address and Registered Agent details. There are two subsections to complete: “Principal Office Address” and “Registered Agent Name and Office.” 

• If nothing has changed, leave them the same.
• Change the address in either section or both.

To change any information, click the green fields, delete the old information, and enter any new information.

You can also use the “Restore original” button to undo the change if you change your mind when entering new information.

Once everything is complete, click “Forward to Representatives” to continue.

4. Update Your LLC Member/Manager Information

Next, list LLC members and managers. You can do the following:

• If nothing needs to be changed: Leave everything the same.
• Updating member/manager information: Click the relevant fields, delete the old information, and enter any new details. This includes their first names, middle names, last names, and addresses.
• Deleting old members/managers: Click “Delete” next to the relevant information.
• Adding new members/managers: Click “Add member/manager. Then, enter the information of the new individuals.

Click “Forward to Signatures” once you’ve adjusted everything to continue.

5. Add Your Signatures

Provide your name, title, and enter your email address. Then, click “Forward to Demographics” to continue. 

6. Select Your Industry Type

For the “Industry Type” section, add details about your business location, size, and activities.

To begin, choose the Kentucky county where your business conducts the majority of its business or has the largest number of employees.

Next, choose your total number of Kentucky employees:

• Small (0–19).
• Medium (20–99).
• Large (100 or more).

After this, choose your industry category from the first dropdown menu. Alongside this, pick the most accurate specific industry from the second dropdown menu.

Check the box below if your LLC sells authorized nicotine vapor products under KRS 438.305(2).

Leave everything the same if you don’t need to change any information.

Once everything is finished, click “Forward to Confirmation” to continue to the review section.

7. Review Your Information And File

This section requires you to review your filed information before confirming your filing. Carefully review the information that will be submitted as part of your Annual Report. Confirm the following details:

• Your principal office.
• Registered agent details.
• Signature.
• Listed members or officers.

Click the relevant tab at the top of the page if you notice any filing errors to make corrections. You can choose between the different filing sections (Start, Principal Office, Representatives, Signatures, or Industry Type).

Click “Next: Proof Certificates/Page” once everything is accurate to continue to the confirmation page.

8. The Confirmation Page

In the “Proof Certificates” section, review your draft Annual Report before making your final submission. Click “Draft of the annual report” to open and review the PDF in a new tab. Then, carefully check all details for accuracy.

• Click “Oh no, I made a mistake, go back” to return and make corrections if you notice any filing errors.
• Check the “Confirm” box next to the document and continue your filing process if everything is correct.

9. Make Your Filing Payment

After reviewing your confirmation page, you can proceed and make your filing payment.

You have 2 main payment options:

1. A credit card.
2. A prepaid account registered with the SOS office.

a. Payment Using A Credit Card

Click “Pay using Credit Card” to pay online using a credit card.

Then, provide your card and billing information and click “Submit Payment.”

b. Payment Using A Prepaid Account

If you don’t already have a registered prepaid SOS account, you can follow the state’s detailed guidelines: Kentucky SOS Prepaid Account.

To make a payment using a prepaid account, enter your account information and click “Pay using Prepaid Account.”

10. The Approval Process

Once processed, the state should send you an email with a filing receipt. Following this, go online and download a copy of your filed annual report.

You can use the steps below to download your Annual Report copy:

1. Use the Kentucky Business Entity Search to search for your LLC name.
2. Click on your LLC’s legal name.
3. Scroll down to “Show images.”
4. Click “Annual Report.”
5. Download/save a copy to your computer.

How To File Kentucky LLC Annual Report By Mail

If you prefer NOT to file online, you can file your Kentucky LLC Annual Report by mail using 2 main methods:

1. Go online, print your completed Annual Report form, and send it to the state via mail.
2. Fill out your reminder postcard, update your LLC manager/member information, and mail it back to the state. This will be sent to you by the Kentucky SOS.

1. Printing Your Annual Report Form And Filing By Mail

The Business Entity Search can be used to print your LLC Annual Report and file it by mail. I’ve outlined the main filing steps below.

a. Find Your Form

a1. Go To Business Entity Search

To begin, navigate to the Business Entity Search page, provide your LLC’s legal full name in the “I want to Search For:” field, and click “Search.”

The system should then generate a results table. Scroll down and click on your LLC’s name.

a2. Request Annual Report Paper

Hover over the “Print & Mail – Request Certificates” box. Then, click “Annual Report.“

a3. Print The Form

The system should redirect you to a PDF of your LLC Annual Report form. Note that each LLC should get a unique form for each filing year.

Once found, print the form.

b. Members And Managers’ Information

List the full name and address of every LLC member or manager in the “Members and Signature” section (if required). The system will default to your principal office address if no address is provided.

c. Signature

Once the required information is completed, print your form and sign it by hand on the “Signature of member or manager” line. Then, write your title and the current date in the applicable spaces.

d. Additional Documents

You must file separate forms if you need to change your LLC principal office address, Registered Agent details, or Registered Office address. These have additional fees:

• Statement of Change of Principal Office Address: $10.
• Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office address: $10.

e. File Your Document

After providing your signature and any additional documents, you’re ready to submit your filing.

Prepare your $15 check/money order, make payable to the Kentucky State Treasurer. Add any additional required fees if you’ve changed your Registered Office, Principal Office, or Registered Agent details.

Then, send your filing fee and completed form(s) to the following address:

• Secretary of State
  PO Box 1150
  Frankfort, KY 40602

You can also submit your filing in person at the SOS’s office: 700 Capital Ave, Suite 158, Frankfort, KY 40601.

The state offices are open Monday to Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

f. Approval

The state will NOT send a receipt or any type of Annual Report confirmation when filing by mail. Therefore, I recommend going online and saving a copy of your filed LLC Annual Report to avoid potential issues.

Follow the steps below to do this:

1. Search your LLC name via the Kentucky Business Entity Search page.
2. Click on your LLC name and scroll down to “Show images.”
3. Click “Annual Report.”
4. Download/save a copy to your computer.

2. Filing Your Reminder Postcard By Mail

If you wish to file using your reminder postcard, you can follow the steps below. Complete all required sections, then mail to the given address.

a. Enter Your Business Information

First, write the names and addresses of all LLC members/managers on the lines provided. You should also make edits as necessary. For example, adding or deleting LLC members or managers.

Then, provide your signature, title (e.g., LLC member), and the current date using the appropriate lines.

b. Add Additional Documents (If Applicable)

If you need to change the details of your LLC principal office, Registered Agent, or Registered Office, you must file separate forms, each with additional required fees:

• Statement of Change of Principal Office address: $10.
• Statement of Change of Registered Agent and/or Registered Office address: $10.

c. File Your Document

Next, prepare a $15 check/money order made payable to the “Kentucky State Treasurer”. Make sure you add the additional fee if you’ve changed any of the details stated above.

Once completed, send your postcard and filing fee (alongside any additional forms) to the following address:

• Secretary of State
  PO Box 1150
  Frankfort, KY 40602

You’re also able to file in person at the SOS’s office: 700 Capital Ave, Suite 158, Frankfort, KY 40601. Their offices are open Monday-Friday, 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M.

d. The Approval Process

The state will NOT send a receipt or official confirmation that your LLC Annual Report has been processed if you file by mail. Therefore, I recommend going online and saving a copy of your Annual Report to avoid potential issues.

1. Search your LLC name using the Kentucky Business Entity Search.
2. Click on your LLC name.
3. Scroll down to “Show images.”
4. Click “Annual Report.”
5. Download/save a copy to your computer.

Annual Report Is Free For Veterans

As stated above, your $15 Annual Report fee will be waived for the first four years if your LLC is at least 51% owned by honorably discharged veterans or active-duty service members. This is thanks to the Boots to Business program, which was launched on August 1, 2018.

Here’s how to receive your waiver:

• Online: If your LLC was designated as “veteran-owned” when filing your formation documents, the online system will automatically apply the discount.
• By mail: Check the “veteran-owned” box on the Annual Report form.

Why Is It So Important To File Your Kentucky LLC Annual Report?

As stated above, every Kentucky LLC operating in the state must file an Annual Report with the SOS once a year under KRS 14A.6-010. This ensures that the state maintains accurate and up-to-date information on all businesses operating in the state.

If your LLC does not comply, it faces several serious consequences. These can reduce your operational efficiency and totally halt your business operations in some cases. I’ve discussed the main ones in the sections below.

1. Bad Standing Status

Your LLC will be placed in bad standing if you fail to file your Annual Report by June 30. This is stated in Kentucky Business One Stop’s informational page. The state will mail a 60-day notice on July 1, giving you extra time to complete your report filing without facing penalties or fines.

Your LLC faces administrative dissolution (business closure) if it doesn’t file by August 31. I’ve discussed this more in the section below.

2. Administrative Dissolution

According to KRS 14A.7-010(1)(a), your LLC may be administratively dissolved (shut down) by the state if it fails to file its mandatory Annual Report by the due date. According to Kentucky Business One Stop’s informational page, administrative dissolution generally occurs after August 31.

Contact Information For The Kentucky SOS

If you have any queries or questions when filing your Annual Report, you can contact the Kentucky SOS’s Office using the details below:

• Phone: (502) 564-3490
• Fax: (502) 564-5687
• Email: [email protected]
• Office of the SOS
  Filings Branch
  700 Capital Ave.
  P.O. Box 718
  Frankfort, KY 40602

Frequently Asked Questions