California Statement of Information (SI-550)

What is the Statement of Information?

The Statement of Information (Form SI-550) is a required filing for California corporations that provides the California Secretary of State with current information about your corporation. It ensures the state has accurate contact information for your corporation and its management.

Filing Requirements

Initial Statement of Information

Due: Within 90 days of incorporation

Fee: $25

Annual Statement of Information

Due: Annually during your filing period

Filing Period: The calendar month of incorporation and the immediately preceding 5 months

Fee: $25

Example Filing Periods:

| Incorporation Month | Filing Period |

|---------------------|---------------|

| January | August - January |

| February | September - February |

| March | October - March |

| April | November - April |

| May | December - May |

| June | January - June |

| July | February - July |

| August | March - August |

| September | April - September |

| October | May - October |

| November | June - November |

| December | July - December |

Information Required

Corporate Identification

Corporate name exactly as registered

California Secretary of State file number (7 digits)

Addresses

Principal Executive Office: Where your highest-level executives work. Can be outside California.

Mailing Address: Where you want to receive correspondence

California Office: Physical California address, if you have one (can write "NONE" if you don't)

Officers and Directors

You must list:

Chief Executive Officer (CEO): Name and complete address

Secretary: Name and complete address

Chief Financial Officer (CFO): Name and complete address

All Directors: Names and complete addresses

Notes:

One person can hold multiple officer positions

Corporations must have at least one director

California corporations with 3 or more shareholders must have at least 3 directors

Agent for Service of Process

Agent name (individual or corporation)

California street address (no P.O. boxes)

City, state, zip code

Business Information

General type of business activity

How to File

Online Filing (Recommended)

1. Go to bizfileOnline.sos.ca.gov

2. Create an account or log in

3. Select "Statement of Information"

4. Enter your corporate name or file number

5. Complete all required fields

6. Review and submit

7. Pay the $25 filing fee

8. Save your confirmation

Advantages of Online Filing:

Processed within 24-48 hours

Immediate confirmation

Easy to track status

Paper Filing

1. Download Form SI-550 from the Secretary of State website

2. Complete all fields (must be typed or printed clearly)

3. Sign and date the form

4. Include $25 check payable to "Secretary of State"

5. Mail to:

Secretary of State

Statement of Information Unit

P.O. Box 944230

Sacramento, CA 94244-2300

Processing Time: 5-8 weeks for paper filings

Common Mistakes to Avoid

1. Wrong Filing Period

Filing early is fine (up to 6 months before the end of your period)

Filing late results in a $250 penalty from the Franchise Tax Board

2. Incomplete Officer Information

All three officer positions must be filled

If one person holds multiple positions, list them for each position

Include complete addresses (street, city, state, zip)

3. Invalid Registered Agent Address

Must be a California street address

P.O. boxes are not allowed

The agent must be available during normal business hours

4. Forgetting to Sign

Paper filings must be signed

Digital signatures are accepted for online filings

5. Using Old Information

Update information to reflect current status

If nothing has changed, you still must file annually

Penalties for Non-Filing

If you fail to file your Statement of Information:

Franchise Tax Board (FTB):

$250 penalty assessed to your tax account

This is in addition to any past-due franchise tax

Secretary of State:

May suspend your right to transact business

Your corporation name may be marked as "delinquent"

Suspension:

A suspended corporation cannot:

Conduct business in California

File or defend lawsuits

Execute contracts

Maintain bank accounts (banks may close them)

Changing Information Mid-Year

If your corporate information changes during the year, you should update it:

Option 1: File a new Statement of Information (SI-550)

$25 filing fee

Updates all information

Can be filed at any time

Option 2: For Agent changes only, file Form SI-550A

No filing fee

Only updates agent information

Checking Your Filing Status

You can verify your corporation's status at:

businesssearch.sos.ca.gov

Look for:

Entity Status: "ACTIVE" (good standing)

Statement of Information: Most recent filing date

Conclusion

The California Statement of Information is a straightforward but essential filing. By understanding your filing period and keeping your corporate information current, you can avoid penalties and maintain your corporation's good standing.

StartCorp automatically calculates your filing period based on your incorporation date and sends you reminders 60, 30, and 7 days before your period ends. Sign up for free to never miss this important deadline.