Short answer: the State's fee to file a Statement of Information is $20 for an LLC or a nonprofit corporation and $25 for a stock corporation, filed yourself at bizfile Online. A letter from a company asking for a bigger "processing fee" is not from the State: the Secretary of State says those solicitations "are not being made or authorized by the California Secretary of State or any other governmental entity." You can use them, but you don't have to. PJ, a local in Cardiff, can sit with you through bizfile Online for a flat $25 (Letter Fix), and you pay the State's fee yourself.
Who's reading?
- A letter says you owe a fee to file
How to tell the State's reminder from a middleman. - You just need to file it
Where, how much, and how often. - You already paid a middleman
Where to send a complaint.
Pick the line that sounds like you. Not sure? Text PJ and say who you are.
Real reminder or a middleman?
- The real reminder: "The Secretary of State sends a reminder to the business entity approximately three months prior to the date its filing is due."
- The misleading letters: businesses have reported letters "urging the business to submit an order form and processing fee to a third party to file a Statement of Information on their behalf with the California Secretary of State or suffer penalties, fines, suspension."
- The rule of thumb: "The SOS is not affiliated with any other websites accepting forms or payments for business filings."
Quoted from the Secretary of State's misleading solicitations alert and business entities FAQ.
What the State actually asks for
- The fee: "$25 for California and out-of-state stock corporations, and $20 for California nonprofit corporations and all limited liability companies."
- How often: "every year for California stock, cooperative, credit union, and all qualified out-of-state corporations or every two years (only in odd years or only in even years based on year of initial registration) for California nonprofit corporations and all California and qualified out-of-state limited liability companies."
- Where: online at bizfile Online. A Statement of Information "also must be filed if the name and/or address of the agent for service of process changes or the agent resigns."
- If you miss it: "the entity is provided a notice of delinquency, and after 60 days from that notice, if no statement has been filed, the Secretary of State's office notifies the Franchise Tax Board, who assesses and collects the penalty."
If you got one of those letters
The Secretary of State says businesses can mail "a written complaint along with the entire solicitation (including the solicitation letter, the outer and return envelopes, and all related documents) to the California Attorney General's office, Public Inquiry Unit, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, California 94244-2550," with the complaint form at oag.ca.gov/consumers (Secretary of State FAQ).
More for a new business: the San Diego license and 4 filings · the DBA in San Diego County · the seller's permit (free) · the EDD employer account · money back for your customers: a refund policy they can count on.
Want a human to just do it?
- File it with you: PJ sits with you in bizfile Online, finds your entity, checks the agent and address, and files the $20 or $25 Statement of Information. Letter Fix, $25 flat; you pay the State directly.
"It's about being nice and showing up." PJ, a real person in Cardiff and Solana Beach. Paperwork only, no legal or tax advice. Prices are set in one place and shown before anything starts.
Sources: California Secretary of State, Business Entities FAQ and Misleading Statement of Information Solicitations. Checked October 30, 2026.
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This page is built every morning from public data by SideGuy, run by PJ, a local in Solana Beach. If something looks off, or you want a hand with your plans, text PJ at 858-461-8054. A real person answers.
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Questions people ask
Is the California Statement of Information letter a scam?
The State's own reminder is real, but letters from companies asking for a processing fee to file it for you are not from the State. The Secretary of State says those solicitations are not made or authorized by it or any other government agency. The State's fee is $20 for an LLC or nonprofit and $25 for a stock corporation at bizfile Online.
Got a 'Corporate Processing Service' letter about your Statement of Information?
A letter from any company that isn't the California Secretary of State is a private filing service, not the State: the Secretary of State says those solicitations are not made or authorized by it or any other government agency. You can file the Statement of Information yourself at bizfile Online for $20 (LLC or nonprofit) or $25 (stock corporation), and the Secretary of State's page shows a sample of a misleading solicitation to compare with your letter.
How much does it cost to file a Statement of Information in California?
$20 for California nonprofit corporations and all LLCs, $25 for California and out-of-state stock corporations (California Secretary of State).
How often does an LLC file a Statement of Information in California?
Every two years for California and qualified out-of-state LLCs, in odd or even years based on the year it first registered. Stock corporations file every year.
What happens if I don't file my Statement of Information?
You get a notice of delinquency, and 60 days after that notice, if nothing is filed, the Secretary of State notifies the Franchise Tax Board, which assesses and collects the penalty.
Where do I report a misleading Statement of Information letter?
Mail a written complaint with the whole solicitation (letter and envelopes) to the California Attorney General's Public Inquiry Unit, P.O. Box 944255, Sacramento, CA 94244-2550; the complaint form is at oag.ca.gov/consumers.
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