Florida Annual Report filing for LLCs and corporations, step-by-step for Fort Myers owners (fees, deadlines, and late fixes)

Meghan Sophia • February 1, 2026

If you run an LLC or corporation in Fort Myers, your Florida Annual Report isn’t a “nice to have.” It’s the state’s yearly check-in that keeps your business marked Active on Sunbiz. Miss it, and the penalties get expensive fast.

The good news is that Florida annual report filing is usually a 10-minute task when you know what to gather, where to click, and what to double-check before you pay. Below is a practical, step-by-step guide for 2026, plus what to do if you’re late, made a mistake, or got dissolved.

What Florida’s Annual Report really is (and what to gather before you start)

Florida’s Annual Report is not your federal tax return, and it’s not a financial report. It’s a public record update filed with the Florida Division of Corporations to confirm your business’s key details.

In 2026, the filing window runs January 1 through May 1 . File during that window to avoid penalties, and don’t wait until the last day if you can help it.

Before you log in, pull these items together so you aren’t hunting mid-filing:

  • Your document number (or exact legal name on record)
  • Principal address and mailing address
  • Names, titles, and addresses for owners or leadership (members/managers for LLCs; officers/directors for corporations)
  • Registered agent name and Florida street address (and confirmation they still consent)
  • A good email address for confirmations and receipts
  • Payment method (credit card is common)

If you don’t know your document number, use the state’s official lookup first. Start at the Sunbiz record search, find your entity, and confirm you’re working off the correct legal name and status: Search Sunbiz business records.

Fort Myers note: “snowbird” ownership and remote management

A lot of Lee County businesses have owners who travel seasonally or manage operations from out of state. That’s fine, but it makes stale addresses and missed emails more likely. Treat the Annual Report like renewing your car registration. If the address on file is old, the reminders won’t help you, and the late fee doesn’t care where you were when it hit May 1.

2026 fees, deadlines, and the late fee that surprises people

Florida’s annual report deadlines are simple, but the penalties aren’t gentle.

Key 2026 dates (Florida LLCs and corporations):

  • File by May 1, 2026 to avoid late fees (the deadline is strict).
  • Filing after May 1 at 11:59 p.m. ET triggers an immediate $400 late fee for most for-profit entities, including LLCs and profit corporations.
  • If you still don’t fix it by the state’s September cutoff, Florida can administratively dissolve your business (in 2026, the third Friday in September is September 18, 2026 for check payments; credit card deadlines can extend later that same month per Sunbiz processing rules).

Here are the typical base filing fees you’ll see for a standard 2026 Annual Report:

Entity type Typical Annual Report fee (base) Late fee after May 1
Florida LLC $138.75 $400
Florida profit corporation $150.00 $400

Fees and rules can change, and some entity types follow different schedules. For the most current state fee list and related filing options, use the Division of Corporations page here: Florida Division of Corporations forms and fees.

What “administrative dissolution” can mess up

When your business shows as dissolved on Sunbiz, it can cause real-world problems quickly, even if you’re still operating day to day. Banks, vendors, insurance carriers, and licensing agencies often check status. You may also run into contract issues, trouble opening accounts, or problems renewing permits.

Also, don’t ignore one practical risk: if your entity is dissolved long enough, someone else may be able to take a confusingly similar name later, depending on state naming rules at the time you re-file.

Watch for Annual Report scams

Every year, Florida business owners get mailers and emails that look official and urgent. Many are third-party solicitations that charge extra fees for something you can file directly with the state. The safest habit is simple: start from the official portal at Sunbiz (Florida Division of Corporations) and work from there.

Step-by-step: how Fort Myers owners can file online on Sunbiz (and how to fix mistakes or late status)

Florida annual report filing is done online through the state’s system. Plan to file when you can focus for 10 to 15 minutes and verify each screen before submitting.

Filing online: the exact flow to follow

  1. Go to Sunbiz and open Annual Report filing. Start from the official portal at Sunbiz (Florida Division of Corporations) and choose the Annual Report filing option.
  2. Find your entity by document number or name. If you don’t have the number, look it up first in the records search, then return to the Annual Report screen.
  3. Confirm you’re on the correct record. Check the entity name, status, and filing year on-screen before you type changes.
  4. Enter and review addresses. Update the principal address and mailing address. Small typos matter because this becomes public record.
  5. Update your people list.
    • LLCs: confirm member or manager names and addresses match how you want them on record.
    • Corporations: confirm officers and directors are current.
  6. Registered agent section. Verify the agent’s name and Florida street address, and confirm consent as required by the form.
  7. Add or confirm your email address. This is where confirmation and receipt information is sent.
  8. Review the summary carefully. Treat this like proofreading a contract. Once filed, the information posts to public records.
  9. Pay and submit. Pay by credit card if you want immediate confirmation. If you pay by check, follow the state’s specific instructions and deadlines shown during filing.
  10. Save proof. Download or print the confirmation page and keep the email receipt with your bookkeeping records for the year.

If you already filed, but something is wrong

Mistakes happen. Maybe you entered an old mailing address, listed the wrong manager, or used an outdated registered agent address. Florida generally allows corrections through an Amended Annual Report process (when available for your entity and year). Start with the official guidance on the state’s forms and fees page, which references Annual Report and Amended Annual Report options: Florida Division of Corporations forms and fees.

If the change is about your registered agent or registered office, the state may require a specific update filing rather than waiting for the next Annual Report. Don’t guess, confirm the correct filing type and fee in the Sunbiz system before paying.

If you missed the deadline: late filing and reinstatement (high-level)

If you’re late but still active, filing as soon as possible usually limits the damage to the base fee plus the $400 late fee . Waiting increases the risk of administrative dissolution.

If your business is already dissolved, you’ll typically need to request reinstatement through Sunbiz and pay:

  • All missing Annual Reports (each year missed)
  • The $400 late fee per late report (when applicable)
  • A reinstatement fee set by the state (amount varies by entity type and can change)

Reinstatement is meant to restore your entity to active status, but timing and costs depend on how long the entity has been inactive. Always confirm current totals inside the state’s reinstatement workflow and fee schedule before submitting payment.

Disclaimer: This article is for general information only and isn’t legal, tax, or financial advice. For advice based on your situation, talk with a qualified professional.

Conclusion

Florida annual report filing is easy when you treat it like a yearly business tune-up: confirm your addresses, people, and registered agent, then file between January 1 and May 1. The real pain comes from the $400 late fee and the ripple effects of dissolution.

If you’re not sure whether your record is clean, look it up today, save your confirmation after filing, and fix errors quickly. A few minutes now can save weeks of cleanup later.

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