Atlanta – Georgia Secretary of State Brian Kemp today reminded officers and registered agents of corporate entities registered in Georgia that the annual renewal period deadline is 11:59 p.m. on Friday May 31, 2013. Georgia law requires corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships to file annual renewals with the Secretary of State’s Office and pay a renewal fee. Business entities that fail to renew by the deadline will be charged a $25 late filing penalty fee and risk being administratively dissolved.

Customers are encouraged to renew their existing corporate entities and form new corporate entities online, and provide at least one email address with their filing. Customers can then receive renewal notices and important notifications related to their filing in email format.

The email notification system sends an email to every address associated with the corporate entity every time a change is made to any field in the corporate filing. The notification asks each entity contact with an email address on file to review the entity’s information, to make sure that the changed information is authorized and correct. Additionally, a backup security feature permanently stores every email address added to an entity’s record. This feature ensures that email addresses cannot be deleted in an attempt to block receipt of the notifications by the rightful entity contact.

Check and money order renewal payments can also be made by mail, or in person at the Secretary of State’s Corporations Division Office in Atlanta, the Professional Licensing Boards Division in Macon and the agency’s South Georgia Office in Tifton. Absolutely no cash is accepted for payment of renewal or registration fees.

The following mistakes or errors can delay the processing time of annual renewals and new corporate filings submitted by mail:

Payment received without application.
Wrong form submitted with application or registration.
Incorrect fee amount submitted with application or registration.
Registered agent lists an out of state or P.O. Box address.
Information provided on the application or registration is incomplete.
No signature or improper signature on the application or registration.

Some entities may not have received annual renewal notices because they have moved their location and their records have not been updated in the Corporations Division database. Customers who are unsure of an entity’s status should visit the Corporations Division website and search for their company by name or control number. If the status is “Active/Noncompliant” or “Active/Owes Current Year AR,” the entity likely owes annual renewal fees.

Many users will note the new look and feel of our new Corporations Division online filing system. We ask that all users please review the information on the initial log-in screen, which provides information on receiving your username & password, a list of available online services, training documents, and online tutorials. Please take advantage of our dedicated Corporations help e-mail at corporationshelp@sos.ga.gov for additional assistance.

The Corporations Division also features a Corporate ID Theft Resources website at http://www.sos.ga.gov/corporations/idtheft.htm . Georgia businesses can gain a greater understanding of the scope of this growing threat, and learn how to protect themselves from ID theft and fraud.

For more information please contact the Corporations Division at 404-656-2817 or visit www.sos.ga.gov/corporations.