The Montana LLC annual report is due by April 15 each year. It keeps the LLC in good standing and is a short state filing, not a tax return. Miss it and the state can add a late fee and eventually dissolve the LLC.
If your vehicle is registered through a Montana LLC, the LLC has one recurring obligation: the annual report. It is due April 15 every year. Missing it puts the LLC, and therefore the vehicle's registration, at risk.
What the annual report is
The annual report is a short filing with the Montana Secretary of State confirming the LLC's basic details: name, registered agent, and address. It is not a tax return and does not report income. It exists to keep the state's record of your entity current.
The deadline and the cost
- Due date: April 15 each year.
- It is filed with the Secretary of State, separate from any tax.
- The Secretary of State has waived the filing fee for reports filed on time through 2027 (sosmt.gov).
- A late filing carries a $35 state penalty.
- Prolonged non-filing leads to involuntary dissolution of the LLC.
If the LLC is dissolved for a missed report, the vehicle's Montana registration is tied to an entity that no longer exists. Reinstatement is possible but slower and more expensive than filing on time.
| Milestone | Date | Cost |
|---|---|---|
| Report filed on time | By April 15 | $0 through 2027 under the state's fee waiver |
| Report filed late | After April 15 | $35 penalty |
| Prolonged non-filing | Later in the year | Involuntary dissolution; reinstatement fees to restore |
| Filed by Montana Plate Co. | Before April 15 each year | Included in the $125 Registered Agent Renewal |
How we handle it
Our $125 Registered Agent Renewal prepares and files the annual report for you and sends a reminder before April 15. If you manage the LLC yourself, calendar the date now; the filing takes minutes but the consequences of forgetting it compound. The renewal is the only recurring cost in the Montana LLC cost breakdown. If the vehicle is not registered yet, build a quote; the first report date is set when the LLC is formed. Montana Plate Co. is a formation and registered-agent service, not a law firm or tax advisor.
Related questions
How much is the Montana LLC annual report fee?
The Montana Secretary of State has waived the annual report fee for reports filed on time, by April 15, through 2027. A report filed after April 15 carries a $35 penalty. If we are your registered agent, the filing is included in the $125 Registered Agent Renewal and we send a reminder before the deadline.
What happens if I miss the April 15 deadline?
The state adds a $35 late penalty, and if the report still is not filed the Secretary of State can involuntarily dissolve the LLC later in the year. A dissolved LLC can be reinstated, but the vehicle's registration is tied to the entity in the meantime, so file late rather than not at all.
Is the annual report the same as a tax return?
No. The annual report confirms the LLC's name, registered agent, and address with the Secretary of State. It reports no income and owes no tax. A single-member Montana LLC with no Montana income generally has no Montana tax return to file; ask a tax professional about your own filing.
Montana Plate Co. is a formation and registered-agent service, not a law firm or tax advisor. This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Consult a professional about your situation.
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