2021 is a Decennial Filing Year
Every ten years, all business entities registered to do business in Pennsylvania are legally required to make a decennial filing with the Pennsylvania Department of State. A decennial filing confirms the continued existence of a business to maintain exclusive use of its registered name.
The deadline for 2021 decennial filings is fast approaching.
Businesses required to make a decennial filing report for 2021 must complete and file the necessary documentation with a filing fee no later than December 31, 2021.
A decennial filing report is required unless a business meets one of the enumerated exceptions. One exception is if the business made a filing, such as a change of address with the Department of State, within the last ten years (January 1, 2012, through December 31, 2021). Another common exception (for business corporation entities only) is if the corporation had officer information forwarded to the Department of State by the Department of Revenue, within the same proceeding ten year period.
If a required business fails to file by December 31, 2021, then beginning January 1, 2022, that entity will no longer have exclusive use of its registered business name, but the business will still legally exist.
Annual Company Record Keeping
Based on entity type, a business may also have annual record-keeping needs to address before the end of 2021. As a reminder, all Pennsylvania business corporations must keep formal records of all meeting minutes for the year, books or records of account, records of corporate actions, and shareholder records. Businesses should use the final months of the year to ensure they comply with the various record-keeping requirements.
While other entity types such as limited liability companies do not have the same formal record keeping requirements, the end of the year or beginning of a new year is still a great time to review business records. Such a review could include making sure the registered address is current or ensuring that an operating
agreement is in place that reflects the current operation and management needs of the business or its members.
CGA Law Firm is here to help your business with decennial filings and annual record-keeping requirements. Contact your Attorney at CGA, or Attorney Beth Kern if you have questions or need assistance properly filing a decennial report or completing your record-keeping needs.
Beth Kern
Attorney
Beth J. Kern provides legal services to Municipal, Business, Litigation, and Labor and Employment Law clients and has over twelve years of professional experience. In 2014, Beth earned her Professional Human Resources Certification (PHR) from HRCI and in 2015 became a Society for Human Resources Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). She maintains both professional certifications. In 2020, Beth completed her Juris Doctorate from Widener University Commonwealth Law School. During law school, she was a member of the Trial Advocacy Honor Society, ATLAC Trial Advocacy Team, the Trial Advocacy Honor Society Executive Board (Vice President and Community Outreach Coordinator), and Agricultural Law Society (President).
