Tennessee LLC Annual Report: Due Date, $300 Fee & Filing Guide (2026)
The Tennessee LLC annual report is a yearly filing that keeps your company in good standing with the Tennessee Secretary of State. For most LLCs it is due on April 1, and the fee starts at $300, which is higher than in many other states. This guide explains who must file, how much it costs, how to file online, and what happens if you miss the deadline. If you have not formed your LLC yet, start with our overview of how to register an LLC online.
What Is the Tennessee LLC Annual Report?
The annual report is a short filing that confirms your LLC's current details with the state, such as its registered agent, principal office address and member information. It is separate from your tax returns. Filing it on time keeps your LLC active, and missing it can lead to administrative dissolution.
Who Must File the Tennessee LLC Annual Report?
Every LLC on file with the Tennessee Secretary of State must file, including single-member LLCs and LLCs with no income or activity during the year. LLCs formed in another state and registered to do business in Tennessee file as well. Non-US owners are not exempt, so if you own a Tennessee LLC from outside the US, the filing applies to you in the same way.
Tennessee LLC Annual Report Due Date
Tennessee ties the due date to your LLC's fiscal year. The report is due on the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year ends. Most LLCs use a calendar-year fiscal year, which means the deadline is April 1 every year.
Your first report is due in the reporting cycle after formation. For example, a calendar-year LLC formed in 2026 files its first report by April 1, 2027, and every April 1 after that. If you chose a different fiscal year when you formed, your date will be different, so check your records.
How Much Does the Tennessee LLC Annual Report Cost?
Tennessee's fee depends on how many members your LLC has:
- Fee: $50 per member
- Minimum: $300, which covers LLCs with up to six members
- Maximum: $3,000
That means a single-member LLC and a six-member LLC both pay $300. Examples:
- 7 members: $350
- 10 members: $500
- 20 members: $1,000
Tennessee uses the same formula for formation, so the annual report costs about the same as setting up the LLC, every year. This is unusual compared with most states, which charge a flat annual fee or none at all. Confirm the current fee on the Secretary of State's website before you file.
How to File Your Tennessee LLC Annual Report Online
- Gather your details. You need your LLC's name or control number, your registered agent and office information, your principal office address, and your member and manager details.
- Open the Secretary of State's online business portal. Search for your LLC and choose the annual report filing.
- Check every field. Update anything that has changed, such as a new registered agent or address.
- Pay the fee. You can pay online with a debit or credit card. The system calculates the fee for you based on your member count.
- Save your confirmation. Keep a copy of the filing receipt with your company records.
You can also file by mail with a check or money order made out to the Tennessee Secretary of State, but online filing is quicker and gives you an instant confirmation.
What Happens If You Miss the Deadline?
If you do not file, the Secretary of State can start the process of administratively dissolving your LLC. A dissolved LLC is no longer in good standing, which can cause problems with banks, payment providers and business partners. To fix it, you generally have to file every missed annual report, pay the report fees for each missed year, and pay a reinstatement fee.
It is much cheaper and easier to file on time. Put April 1 in your calendar, or the date that matches your fiscal year, as soon as your LLC is approved.
Tennessee Franchise and Excise Tax Is Separate
Many founders mix up the annual report with Tennessee's business taxes. Most LLCs doing business in Tennessee must also register with the Tennessee Department of Revenue for franchise and excise tax and file a separate return there. This happens even if your LLC is treated as a pass-through entity for federal tax. The annual report and the tax return go to different agencies and have different deadlines, so you need to handle both. Speak with a qualified tax professional about what applies to your LLC.
Extra Points for Non-US Owners
- Keep your registered agent active. Tennessee requires a registered agent with a Tennessee address, and the state sends official notices there. Our guide to the LLC registered agent explains how to choose one.
- Remember federal filings. A foreign-owned single-member LLC may need to file Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120 each year. See our guide to Form 5472 and 1120 for foreign-owned LLCs.
- Check BOI rules. Federal beneficial ownership reporting has changed several times, so read our latest article on BOI filing for foreign-owned US companies.
- Compare costs across states. If you formed in Tennessee only to have a US company, the yearly cost may matter. See how other states handle yearly reports, such as the New Jersey LLC annual report and Kentucky's annual report rules.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Assuming no income means no filing. Every LLC on file must submit the report.
- Forgetting the fiscal year. The due date follows the fiscal year you chose, not always April 1.
- Not updating your registered agent. Old contact details can cause you to miss state notices.
- Mixing up the annual report and franchise and excise tax. They go to different agencies.
- Ignoring federal filings. Form 5472 is separate from state compliance.
- Waiting until the last day. Filing early leaves time to fix errors.
Get Help Staying Compliant
FormLLC helps founders keep their US companies in good standing, from annual reports and registered agent services to federal filings. If you would like us to track your deadlines and handle your Tennessee LLC annual report, book a free consultation with our team today.
*FormLLC is a business formation and compliance services provider, not a law firm, and this article is general information rather than legal or tax advice.*
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Frequently Asked Questions
On the first day of the fourth month after your fiscal year ends. For most LLCs with a calendar-year fiscal year, that is April 1 every year. A calendar-year LLC formed in 2026 files its first report by April 1, 2027.
The fee is $50 per member, with a $300 minimum and a $3,000 maximum. LLCs with up to six members pay $300, and each additional member adds $50. For example, a 10-member LLC pays $500.
Yes. Every LLC on file with the Tennessee Secretary of State must file the annual report, even if it had no income or activity during the year.
The Secretary of State can start administrative dissolution. To reinstate, you generally have to file all missed annual reports, pay their fees, and pay a reinstatement fee.
No. The annual report goes to the Secretary of State, while franchise and excise tax is filed with the Tennessee Department of Revenue. Most LLCs doing business in Tennessee need to handle both.
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