How To File Biennial Report In Iowa (2026 Guide For LLCs)

After filing your Certificate of Organization and getting it approved by the Iowa Secretary of State (SOS), you must file your Iowa Biennial Report every two years. This keeps your Limited Liability Company (LLC) active and in good standing with the state.

You need to pay a $30 filing fee online or a $45 filing fee by mail. Your report is due every odd-numbered year between January 1 and April 1.

In this article, I will show you how to file the Biennial Report in Iowa using the online and paper filing methods. Alongside this, I will cover the fees, deadlines, and risks of not filing on time.

Biennial Report In Iowa Overview

Under the Iowa Uniform LLC Act §489.212, every LLC operating in the state must file an Iowa Biennial Report with the Iowa SOS every two years to remain active and in good standing.

Your LLC may face administrative dissolution if you don’t file your Iowa SOS Biennial Report on time. I will discuss this in later sections.

1. Filing Methods And Fees

You can complete your LLC Biennial Report filing using 2 main methods:

• Online: Use the Fast Track Filing (FTF) system and pay a $30 filing fee. Your report should be processed within 1 business day.
• Offline: Print your form on the Fast Track system and mail it or file in-person at the SOS’s office. You need to pay a $45 filing fee. Your report should be processed within 7-14 business days plus mailing time. 

If you need, you can pay an additional fee for an expedited filing service. This must be paid on top of your standard filing fee and only applies to in-person filings:

• Two business days: $50.
• Five business days: $15.

2. When Is The Iowa Biennial Report Due Date?

Your Biennial Report filing period goes from January 1 to April 1 of the first odd-numbered year following your formation date. Following this, your report needs to be filed in every odd-numbered year.

Example:

• Your LLC was formed on September 10, 2026. Your first Biennial Report is due by April 1, 2027, and then every 2 years after.
• Your LLC was formed on September 10, 2027. Your first Biennial Report is due by April 1, 2029, and then every 2 years after.

The state may send email reminders for your upcoming Biennial Report deadlines. However, you’re still responsible for filing it every two years, even if you don’t get a reminder. I recommend setting your own reminder on your phone or calendar to avoid missing the deadline.

How To File The Biennial Report In Iowa Online

I recommend creating a FTF account for a smoother experience. This allows you to track filings, save payment details, and share documents.

However, you don’t need to do this to file your report. Click “Click here to file biennial report (no account required)” in the login page.

In the sections below, I will still guide you to first create an FTF account. Then, follow my instructions to complete the Iowa Biennial Report.

1. Create A Fast Track Account

To begin, visit the Fast Track Account Creation page. Then, enter the required information: 

• Your name: First & last name.
• Your organization: Optional, meaning you can leave this part blank.
• Your address: Street address, city, state, country, and ZIP code.
• Your email: Your user name for this account.

Following this, create a password that meets the following requirements:

• It must contain at least 12 characters.
• It needs to contain at least one uppercase letter.
• It should have at least one lowercase letter.
• It must contain at least one number.
• It needs at least one special (non-alphanumeric) character.

Click “Sign up” once your password meets these requirements.

Finally, open your email inbox and click the provided link from the state to confirm your account. You should now be able to log into the Fast Track system.

2. Login And Access The Form

Log in to the FTF system to begin your filing.

Next, click “File A Business Document.”

Scroll down to the “Existing Entities” section. Then, click “Biennial Report.”

3. Search For Your Business

Input your business name or business number and click “Search.”

Choose “No” to the question “File by Paper?” to file online. Then, click your business name from the results table below.

4. Check Your Business Basic Information

The system should redirect you to your Biennial Report form.

Some details will already be pre-filled and can NOT be changed. These include:

• Your business name.
• Registered Agent and registered office details.

You need to complete any remaining required information, which I will cover below.

If you’re a series LLC, the system should show your associated protected series. If it doesn’t, that section should remain blank.

5. State Your Business Principal Office

Next, go to the Principal Office section and enter the following details:

• If your business address is the same as the one listed on your Certificate of Organization, enter the same address.
• Enter your current business address if you’ve moved to a new location.

Then, indicate if your business owns agricultural land in Iowa and whether it qualifies as a “family farm” LLC. This is based on its activities and operating location.

6. Provide Your Signature

In the section at the bottom, you need to sign your document electronically.

Check the box to confirm that you agree to the terms. Then enter your full legal name, which acts as your electronic signature.

7. Review & Make Your Payment

Review your application carefully, then click “Review & Pay.” Make sure all information is accurate before submitting. If not, click “Back to form” to make changes.

Once you’ve confirmed the accuracy of your filing information, follow the steps below to complete your submission and payment process:

1. Click “Add to Cart.” Then, confirm that your submission was added successfully.
2. Choose “Finish and Check Out.”
3. Review your cart. This ensures that your Biennial Report filing and fees are correct.
4. Select an appropriate payment method and enter the required details. Alternatively, use a saved method if you filed your Certificate of Organization online.
5. Click “Submit to File” to complete your filing.

Your Biennial Report should be filed and processed immediately once completed. You can navigate to the next page and click “View submitted filing” if you want to download a copy of your completed Biennial Report.

How To File Your LLC’s Paper Biennial Report

As stated above, you can print your Biennial Report form from the online system and fill in the required fields by hand. Once completed, file by mail or in-person.

I still recommend making an FTF account to track your reports and documents. However, you can also file your report without creating an account. To do this, click “Click here to file biennial report (no account required)” on the login page.

In the following sections, I’ve guided you on how to log in with your account. This is the first step.

1. Login And Access The Form   

Log in with your account.

Click “File A Business Document.”

Click “Biennial Report” after scrolling down to the “Existing Entities” section.

2. Search For Your Business

Enter your business name or business number and click “Search.”

If you want to file by mail, choose “Yes” for the question “File by Paper?” and click on your business name in the results table.

3. Check And Update Your LLC Information

Following this, the FTF System should generate a PDF of your Biennial Report. Download the report and complete the required sections by hand.

You can cross out the old information on the printed Biennial Report and write the updated information in the designated fields. I advise reading the instructions carefully before making any required edits.

However, similar to the online process, you CANNOT change your LLC name or Registered Agent details.

You must update those using separate forms, which you can download here: Iowa SOS Forms and Fees.

4. File Your Completed Form

To file your completed form, prepare a check or money order for $45 made payable to the SOS.

Then, mail or file in-person your Biennial Report along with your $45 filing fee to:

• Secretary of State
  Lucas Building, 1st Floor
  321 E. 12th Street
  Des Moines, IA 50319

Your Biennial Report should be processed within 7-14 business days + mailing time once filed.

Why You Have To File Your Iowa Biennial Report

If you don’t file your Biennial Report within 60 days after its due date, your LLC may face administrative dissolution under the Iowa Uniform LLC Act §489.708(2).

However, the SOS extended the late-filing deadline.

Your LLC will be placed in “Delinquent Status” if you don’t complete your filing by the April 1 deadline. Following this, if you continue to ignore the notice and don’t file by August, your LLC will be administratively dissolved by the Iowa SOS.

If this happens, you’ll need to apply for reinstatement. Check the official SOS guidelines regarding LLC reinstatement here: LLC reinstatement guidelines.

Iowa SOS – Business Services Division Contact Information

You can contact the Iowa SOS – Business Services Division if you have any issues or questions regarding your LLC’s Biennial Report filing:

• Phone: 515 281 5204.
• Operating hours: 8:00 A.M. to 4:30 P.M., Monday to Friday.
• Email: [email protected].
• Contact page: Iowa SOS.

Frequently Asked Questions