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California . Filing fees 2026

California Secretary of State filing fees, all in one place.

A complete reference of California Secretary of State business filing fees for 2026. Use this to budget formation, compliance, and ongoing maintenance costs accurately.

Formation

LLC Formation (Articles of Organization)$70
Corporation Formation (Articles of Incorporation)$100

Compliance

LLC Annual Report$20 (SI) + $800 annual tax
Corporation Annual Report$25 (SI)

Document Services

Certificate of Good Standing / Existence$5
Statement of Change of Registered Agent$30

Foreign + Wind-up

Foreign Qualification$70
Articles of Dissolution (LLC)$0

State fees current as of 2026. {s["agency"]} fees may change. File.Business service fees are separate.

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Guide

Secretary of State filing fees by state

The national explainer above this page: what changes between jurisdictions, and why.

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Secretary of State directory

Every filing the state business office takes, state by state.

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California business filings

Every filing a business makes in California, gathered on one page.

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Secretary of State DBA in California

Secretary of State DBA, state by state

Read the guide → In California

Secretary of State Forms in California

Secretary of State forms, state by state

Read the guide → In California

Federal EIN in California

The federal EIN, state by state

Read the guide → In California

Secretary of State dissolution in California

Secretary of State dissolution, state by state

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State fee schedule

California Filing Fees: at a glance.

Current Secretary of State fee schedule for formation, amendments, annual reports, and certificates.

Filing details

How California handles Filing Fees.

California Business SearchLook up any California entity and read every status right.
Where to fileSecretary of State office, online portal, or by mail with the required fee.
TurnaroundStandard processing: 5-10 business days. Expedited service available for an additional state fee.
Required informationEntity name + ID, current officers and registered agent, principal office address.
Common pitfallsMismatched officer addresses, expired registered agent, missed prior reports causing administrative dissolution.
Frequently asked

California Filing Fees questions.

How much are California Secretary of State filing fees?

California sets a fee for each filing, formation, annual report, amendment, dissolution, foreign registration, and they vary widely by state and document, with expedited options costing extra. Because they change, we show the current California figure before filing and pass it through at cost. Our service pricing is on the pricing page.

Are California filing fees the same for LLCs and corporations?

Often not: California frequently charges different amounts for LLC versus corporation filings, and some fees scale with shares, capital, or revenue for corporations. Filing under the wrong assumption can leave you short and delayed. We confirm the exact California fee for your entity type and filing so there is no surprise at submission.

What is an expedited filing fee?

Many states, California often included, offer expedited or same-day processing for an extra fee, which can be worth it when a deal, loan, or deadline depends on fast turnaround. Standard processing is cheaper but slower. We tell you whether California offers expediting and what it costs so you can choose speed only when it actually matters.

Do I pay California fees every year?

Some you do: formation is one-time, but California usually charges recurring fees for annual or biennial reports and, in some states, a franchise tax, to keep the entity active. Missing them risks your standing. We track the recurring California fees on a compliance calendar so none is missed and no late penalty accrues.

Does File.Business mark up state fees?

No. We pass California state filing fees through at cost with no markup; our fee is for the service of preparing and filing correctly. The state fee you see is the state's fee. Current service pricing is on the pricing page so you can see exactly what is ours versus the state's.

What happens if I underpay a California filing fee?

The California Secretary of State will reject or hold the filing until the correct fee is paid, costing you days and sometimes a missed deadline, and fee schedules change without much notice. We verify the current California amount and pay it correctly so your filing is not stuck over a shortfall you did not realize existed.

How do I budget for California fees when starting out?

Plan for the one-time formation fee, any first-year report or franchise fee, a registered agent, and licenses, which together are the real cost of getting legal in California. We itemize the California state fees plus our service so you see the full year-one total up front rather than discovering fees one at a time.

Related

Related services

California Secretary of StateOverview, contact, full filing index. Annual reportDue dates, fees, and how to file. Registered agentRequirements and renewal. Compliance calendarEvery deadline that touches your entity.

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