California Form SI-200 is the Statement of Information that every domestic stock corporation and agricultural cooperative corporation files with the California Secretary of State to keep its officers, directors, agent for service of process, and addresses on the public record. The form is required under California Corporations Code §1502 and must be filed within 90 days of incorporation and every year after that.
Missing or late filings push your corporation into “delinquent” status, trigger a flat $250 penalty assessed by the Franchise Tax Board, and can lead to suspension or forfeiture of corporate powers. The Secretary of State processes more than 2 million Statements of Information each year through the bizfile Online portal, and rejection rates climb sharply for paper filings with missing officer slots or agent errors.
Here is what you will learn in this guide:
- 📝 How to complete every line and box on Form SI-200 the right way
- 💰 The exact filing fee, late penalty, and how to avoid suspension
- 🧾 Three real walkthroughs from named filers in common situations
- 📬 How to file online, by mail, in person, or by drop-off
- ⚠️ The most common mistakes and how to fix them before you submit
What Form SI-200 Is and Who Must File It
Form SI-200 is the official Statement of Information for domestic stock corporations and agricultural cooperative corporations formed in California. The form tells the state who runs the corporation, where it operates, and who can accept legal papers on its behalf. The Secretary of State posts the data in the public business search database so banks, courts, and the public can verify your corporation is active and in good standing. The current paper revision is dated REV 01/2024, and you should always confirm you are using the latest version before mailing.
Every California stock corporation must file an initial SI-200 within 90 days of filing its Articles of Incorporation. After that first filing, the corporation must file an annual update during the 6-month window that ends on the last day of the corporation’s anniversary month. The rule comes straight from Corporations Code §1502, which also lists the exact data fields the form must capture. Agricultural cooperative corporations file the same form under the same schedule.
You file SI-200 even if nothing has changed since your last filing. The state still wants confirmation that the existing record is correct. Foreign (out-of-state) corporations do not use SI-200; they file Form SI-350 instead. Limited liability companies use Form LLC-12, and nonprofit corporations use Form SI-100. Mixing up these forms is one of the top reasons filings get rejected at the counter.
The penalty for skipping or filing late is steep. The Franchise Tax Board assesses a $250 penalty under Revenue and Taxation Code §19141, and the Secretary of State can suspend your corporate powers. A suspended corporation cannot sue, defend a lawsuit, or enforce contracts in California courts. Reviving a suspended entity takes weeks and extra paperwork through the Revivor process.
Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need
Filing SI-200 goes faster when you collect every required detail before you open the form. The state will not save a partially completed paper form, and the bizfile Online portal times out after a period of inactivity. Gather the following items first.
- Your 7-digit Secretary of State entity number so the state can match your filing to the right corporation. Without it, paper filings get rejected, and the online portal cannot pull up your record.
- Your exact corporate name as printed on the Articles of Incorporation. A single missing comma or “Inc.” vs. “Incorporated” mismatch will trigger a rejection.
- The state of incorporation, which for SI-200 filers is always California. Foreign filers belong on SI-350.
- The street address of the principal executive office, including suite number, city, state, and ZIP. P.O. boxes are not allowed for this address.
- The street address of the principal California office if it is different from the principal executive office.
- The mailing address if it differs from the principal executive office.
- The full names and complete business or residence addresses for the CEO, Secretary, and CFO. Each of the three officer slots must be filled, even in a one-person corporation.
- The full names and addresses of all directors, plus the total number of vacancies on the board.
- The agent for service of process information. If the agent is an individual, you need a California street address. If the agent is a corporate 1505 agent, you need only the registered corporate agent’s name.
- A short description of the corporation’s type of business, such as retail clothing sales or commercial real estate brokerage.
- A valid email address for online filings, since bizfile Online sends the filing receipt by email.
- A payment method, either a credit card for online filing or a check for paper filing.
Having these eleven items in hand before you start lets you complete SI-200 in under fifteen minutes. Forgetting even one piece, like the agent’s California street address, will force you to stop, dig through records, and restart the form.
Where to Get the Form and How to Access It
The official PDF version of Form SI-200 lives on the Secretary of State’s website. Always download a fresh copy each filing season because the state updates the form periodically and old revisions can be rejected. The current revision is REV 01/2024, printed in the bottom-left corner of the PDF. Save the PDF to your computer, then open it with Adobe Acrobat Reader so the fillable fields work properly. Filling the form in a web browser sometimes wipes the data when you save.
Most filers skip the PDF entirely and use the bizfile Online portal instead. The portal walks you through the same fields as SI-200 but in a guided, step-by-step format. Online filings are processed in about one business day, while paper filings can take several weeks during peak season. The portal also flags missing fields before you pay, which cuts the rejection rate to nearly zero.
To access bizfile Online, create a free account using your email address. After you log in, search for your corporation by name or 7-digit entity number, then click “File Statement of Information.” The portal pulls your last filing forward so you only need to update what changed. If nothing has changed, you can confirm the existing record with a single click.
If you prefer paper, you can also pick up a blank SI-200 in person at the Sacramento Secretary of State office at 1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814, or at the Los Angeles regional office at 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013. Both locations accept walk-in filings during normal business hours and stamp your copy as proof of filing.
Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out Form SI-200 Line by Line
The SI-200 form has eleven numbered items plus a signature block. Work through them in order. Use black or blue ink if filing on paper, type in ALL CAPS for the cleanest scan results, and never use correction fluid. The Secretary of State rejects forms with strikethroughs, white-out, or illegible handwriting.
Item 1: Corporate Name
What the field asks in plain English. Box 1 wants the exact legal name of your corporation as it appears on file with the Secretary of State.
How to answer it. Type or print the name in ALL CAPS, including punctuation, spacing, and the corporate ending such as INC., INCORPORATED, CORPORATION, or CORP. exactly as shown on your Articles of Incorporation.
Specific example answer. Maria Lopez owns a one-person catering corporation, so she writes LOPEZ CATERING SERVICES, INC. in Box 1.
Nuance or edge case. If your corporation recently changed its name through an amendment, use the new name only after the Certificate of Amendment has been filed and stamped by the state. Filing SI-200 with the new name before the amendment is approved will trigger a name-mismatch rejection.
Common mistake and consequence. Adding extra punctuation like a period after INC when the Articles say INC. (or vice versa) causes the state’s automated system to flag the filing as a mismatch and reject it.
Misconception. Many filers think DBAs or trade names belong here. They do not. Box 1 is only for the legal corporate name on file with the state.
Item 2: California Secretary of State Entity Number
What the field asks in plain English. Box 2 wants the 7-digit number the state assigned when your Articles of Incorporation were filed.
How to answer it. Enter the 7-digit number with no letters, no dashes, and no leading “C.” If your number begins with a “C” on your Articles, drop the C and enter only the digits.
Specific example answer. Carlos Rivera’s corporation has entity number C4521987, so he writes 4521987 in Box 2.
Nuance or edge case. Brand-new corporations sometimes file SI-200 before the entity number appears in the Business Search database. Use the number printed on the file-stamped Articles of Incorporation you received in the mail.
Common mistake and consequence. Including the leading “C” causes paper filings to be rejected and online filings to fail at the search step.
Misconception. Filers sometimes confuse this number with their Federal EIN or their California FTB account number. SI-200 only wants the Secretary of State entity number.
Item 3: Complete Street Address of Principal Executive Office
What the field asks in plain English. Box 3 wants the street address where the corporation’s main business decisions are made.
How to answer it. Enter the street number, street name, suite or unit number, city, state, and ZIP code. Use a real street address, not a P.O. box.
Specific example answer. Janet Kim runs her tech corporation from her home, so she writes 2840 Maple Avenue, Apt 7, San Jose, CA 95128.
Nuance or edge case. If the principal executive office is outside California, enter the out-of-state street address. The state allows this for domestic California corporations that operate primarily from another state.
Common mistake and consequence. Entering a P.O. box causes the form to be rejected because Corporations Code §1502 requires a physical street address.
Misconception. Many filers think this must be a commercial address. A home address is fine if that is where the business is actually run.
Item 4: Complete Street Address of Principal California Office (If Different)
What the field asks in plain English. Box 4 wants the California street address only if Box 3 is outside California.
How to answer it. Leave it blank if Box 3 is already a California address. Otherwise, list the California street address where you operate.
Specific example answer. Marcus Chen lists his Nevada headquarters in Box 3, then writes 512 Sunset Blvd, Suite 200, Los Angeles, CA 90028 in Box 4 for his California office.
Nuance or edge case. If your corporation has multiple California offices, list the main one. You do not need to disclose every branch location.
Common mistake and consequence. Repeating the Box 3 address in Box 4 when both are the same California address adds clutter and sometimes triggers a manual review that delays processing.
Misconception. Filers think Box 4 is mandatory for every corporation. It is only required when the principal executive office is outside California.
Item 5: Mailing Address (If Different from Item 3)
What the field asks in plain English. Box 5 wants the address where you want the state to mail any official notices.
How to answer it. Enter a P.O. box, private mailbox, or different street address only if the corporation prefers to receive mail somewhere other than Box 3. P.O. boxes are allowed here.
Specific example answer. Aisha Brown uses a UPS Store mailbox for security, so she writes PMB 412, 1530 J Street, Sacramento, CA 95814.
Nuance or edge case. If you use a third-party mail-handling service, include the PMB number so the post office can route mail correctly.
Common mistake and consequence. Leaving Box 5 blank when you actually want mail sent elsewhere causes the state to mail penalty notices to your principal office, which may be missed.
Misconception. Some filers think the state will email all notices. It will not. Many notices, including penalty assessments, still arrive by U.S. mail.
Item 6: Names and Complete Business or Residence Addresses of CEO, Secretary, and CFO
What the field asks in plain English. Box 6 wants the full name and address of each of the three required corporate officers.
How to answer it. List the Chief Executive Officer (or President), Secretary, and Chief Financial Officer (or Treasurer) on three separate lines, each with a full street address. The same person can hold all three positions in a small corporation.
Specific example answer. Maria Lopez writes MARIA LOPEZ, CEO, 2840 Maple Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128, then repeats her name and address on the Secretary and CFO lines.
Nuance or edge case. If a position is vacant, you cannot leave the slot blank. California law requires all three officer roles to be filled. List the person serving in that capacity, even temporarily.
Common mistake and consequence. Leaving the CFO line blank because the corporation has no CFO causes an automatic rejection. The state treats blank officer slots as non-compliance with Corporations Code §312.
Misconception. Filers often assume each officer must be a different person. One person can legally hold all three offices in a single-shareholder corporation.
Item 7: Names and Complete Business or Residence Addresses of Directors
What the field asks in plain English. Box 7 wants every director’s full name and street address.
How to answer it. List each director on a separate line with the complete business or residence address. Use the continuation page if you have more than three directors.
Specific example answer. Carlos Rivera lists CARLOS RIVERA, 11 Oak Court, Fresno, CA 93720 and ELENA RIVERA, 11 Oak Court, Fresno, CA 93720 as the two directors of his family corporation.
Nuance or edge case. A California stock corporation must have at least one director, and the number of directors must match what the bylaws or Articles say. Listing fewer directors than the bylaws require is a violation.
Common mistake and consequence. Listing only officers and forgetting the directors causes the state to flag the form as incomplete, even when the officers and directors are the same people.
Misconception. Filers think directors and shareholders are the same. They are not. Shareholders own the corporation; directors govern it.
Item 7a: Number of Vacancies on the Board of Directors
What the field asks in plain English. Box 7a wants the count of empty director seats.
How to answer it. Write a number, including 0 if every seat is filled.
Specific example answer. Janet Kim’s bylaws authorize five directors but only three are seated, so she writes 2.
Nuance or edge case. Vacancies must be filled within a reasonable time under Corporations Code §305. Long-standing vacancies can expose the corporation to governance challenges.
Common mistake and consequence. Leaving the box blank instead of writing 0 causes the form to be flagged as incomplete.
Misconception. Filers think reporting vacancies is optional. It is mandatory under §1502.
Item 8: Agent for Service of Process
What the field asks in plain English. Box 8 wants the name and California address of the person or company authorized to receive lawsuits and legal papers.
How to answer it. Choose either an individual agent with a California street address, or a registered 1505 corporate agent. If you pick a corporate agent, list only the corporate name; do not list a street address for them.
Specific example answer. Marcus Chen hires CT Corporation as his registered agent, so he writes CT CORPORATION SYSTEM in the agent name field and leaves the street address blank.
Nuance or edge case. Individual agents must be California residents with a real street address (no P.O. boxes). The agent must agree to serve before being listed under Corporations Code §1505.
Common mistake and consequence. Listing yourself as agent at an out-of-state address is invalid and triggers rejection. The agent must have a California address.
Misconception. Filers think the agent must be a lawyer. Any willing California resident over 18 can serve.
Item 9: Type of Business
What the field asks in plain English. Box 9 wants a short, plain-English description of what the corporation does.
How to answer it. Write a six-to-ten-word description such as commercial real estate brokerage or online retail clothing sales.
Specific example answer. Aisha Brown writes retail bakery and coffee shop for her storefront business.
Nuance or edge case. Avoid jargon and acronyms. The description should be understandable to a member of the public reading the filing.
Common mistake and consequence. Writing only services or consulting is too vague and may be flagged for clarification.
Misconception. Filers think this field locks them into one business activity. It does not. The description is informational only.
Item 10: Email Notification Opt-In (Optional)
What the field asks in plain English. Box 10 asks if you want the state to email you future filing reminders instead of mailing them.
How to answer it. Check the box and enter a valid email address to opt in. Leave it blank to keep paper notices.
Specific example answer. Maria Lopez checks the box and writes maria@lopezcatering.com.
Nuance or edge case. The state’s email reminders are not legally required notice, so a missed email does not excuse a late filing.
Common mistake and consequence. Entering a typo in the email address means you never receive reminders, which can lead to a missed filing and a $250 penalty.
Misconception. Filers think opting into email replaces all paper notices. Penalty notices and other formal correspondence still arrive by mail.
Item 11: Signature Block
What the field asks in plain English. Box 11 is where an authorized officer signs and dates the form under penalty of perjury.
How to answer it. Print the signer’s name, write their title, sign in ink (or e-sign through bizfile Online), and enter the date in MM/DD/YYYY format.
Specific example answer. Carlos Rivera signs as CARLOS RIVERA, CEO, 03/14/2026.
Nuance or edge case. Any officer or director can sign. Non-officers (like an outside accountant) cannot sign unless they hold a corporate position.
Common mistake and consequence. Forgetting the date causes rejection. The state treats undated filings as invalid under penalty-of-perjury rules.
Misconception. Filers think the signature must be notarized. It does not. The penalty-of-perjury declaration replaces notarization.
Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios
Scenario 1: Maria Lopez Files Her Initial SI-200
Maria just incorporated LOPEZ CATERING SERVICES, INC. and has 90 days to file her first Statement of Information.
| Form Section | What Maria Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1: Corporate Name | LOPEZ CATERING SERVICES, INC. |
| Item 2: Entity Number | 4521987 |
| Item 3: Principal Executive Office | 2840 Maple Avenue, Apt 7, San Jose, CA 95128 |
| Item 5: Mailing Address | Same as Item 3 (left blank) |
| Item 6: CEO/Secretary/CFO | MARIA LOPEZ in all three roles, home address |
| Item 7: Directors | MARIA LOPEZ, 2840 Maple Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 |
| Item 7a: Vacancies | 0 |
| Item 8: Agent | MARIA LOPEZ, 2840 Maple Avenue, San Jose, CA 95128 |
| Item 9: Type of Business | catering and event food services |
| Item 11: Signature | MARIA LOPEZ, CEO, 04/02/2026 |
Scenario 2: Carlos Rivera Files an Annual Update With No Changes
Carlos owns RIVERA FAMILY CONSTRUCTION, INC. and has filed for six years. Nothing changed this year.
| Form Section | What Carlos Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1: Corporate Name | RIVERA FAMILY CONSTRUCTION, INC. |
| Item 2: Entity Number | 3104882 |
| Item 3: Principal Executive Office | 11 Oak Court, Fresno, CA 93720 |
| Item 6: Officers | CARLOS RIVERA, CEO; ELENA RIVERA, Secretary; CARLOS RIVERA, CFO |
| Item 7: Directors | CARLOS RIVERA and ELENA RIVERA, both at 11 Oak Court |
| Item 7a: Vacancies | 0 |
| Item 8: Agent | CARLOS RIVERA, 11 Oak Court, Fresno, CA 93720 |
| Item 9: Type of Business | residential general contracting |
| Item 11: Signature | CARLOS RIVERA, CEO, 03/14/2026 |
Scenario 3: Marcus Chen Files After Major Changes
Marcus’s corporation, CHEN HOLDINGS, INC., moved its main office, hired a new CFO, and switched to a corporate agent.
| Form Section | What Marcus Enters |
|---|---|
| Item 1: Corporate Name | CHEN HOLDINGS, INC. |
| Item 2: Entity Number | 2876543 |
| Item 3: Principal Executive Office | 900 Howard Street, Suite 400, San Francisco, CA 94103 |
| Item 5: Mailing Address | PMB 217, 1 Market Street, San Francisco, CA 94105 |
| Item 6: Officers | MARCUS CHEN, CEO; LIN CHEN, Secretary; PRIYA PATEL, CFO |
| Item 7: Directors | MARCUS CHEN, LIN CHEN, DAVID OKONKWO |
| Item 7a: Vacancies | 1 |
| Item 8: Agent | CT CORPORATION SYSTEM (no street address required) |
| Item 9: Type of Business | real estate investment holding company |
| Item 11: Signature | MARCUS CHEN, CEO, 05/20/2026 |
How to File the Completed Form
You can file SI-200 through four channels. Each has its own fee, processing time, and proof-of-filing approach. Pick the channel that matches your timeline and comfort with technology.
Online through bizfile Online. Visit the bizfile Online portal, log in, search your corporation, and file electronically. The fee is $25, payable by Visa, Mastercard, American Express, or Discover. Processing takes about one business day, and you will receive a stamped PDF receipt by email. Save that PDF as your proof of filing.
By mail. Send the completed paper SI-200 with a check for $25 payable to Secretary of State to Statement of Information Unit, P.O. Box 944230, Sacramento, CA 94244-2300. Mail processing currently takes several weeks. Always mail by certified mail with return receipt so you have proof of delivery. The state will mail back a file-stamped copy.
In person in Sacramento. Walk in to 1500 11th Street, 3rd Floor, Sacramento, CA 95814 during business hours. The fee is the same $25, plus an optional $15 special handling fee for over-the-counter processing. The clerk hands back a file-stamped copy on the spot.
In person in Los Angeles. The Los Angeles regional office at 300 South Spring Street, Room 12513, Los Angeles, CA 90013 also accepts SI-200 walk-ins for the same $25 fee. Bring the completed form and a check or money order. Cash is not accepted at either counter.
Whatever channel you choose, keep a copy of the filed form and the proof of filing for at least seven years. The Franchise Tax Board may ask for it during an audit, and lenders often request a recent stamped Statement of Information before approving business loans.
What Happens After You File
After the Secretary of State accepts your SI-200, the corporation’s record on the Business Search database updates with the new officers, directors, agent, and addresses. The status flips to Active if it was previously Delinquent due to a missed filing. Online filings appear in the public record within 24 hours, while paper filings can take two to four weeks to post.
You will receive a stamped copy of the filing as your official receipt. Online filers get a PDF by email, mail filers get a stamped paper copy returned by U.S. mail, and walk-in filers get a stamped copy at the counter. Save this proof in your corporate records book alongside your Articles of Incorporation, bylaws, and stock certificates.
If your filing was rejected, the state mails or emails a rejection letter explaining the defect. Common rejections include missing officer slots, invalid agent addresses, or unsigned forms. You usually get 30 days to fix and resubmit without paying the fee again, but you must include the original rejection letter with your resubmission.
After the first filing, calendar your next annual deadline. The deadline is the last day of the corporation’s anniversary month each year. Set a reminder 60 days ahead so you have time to gather updates and avoid the late-filing penalty.
Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form
Form SI-200 looks simple, but small errors trigger expensive consequences. Watch out for the mistakes below.
- Using the wrong form. Filing SI-550 or SI-100 by mistake causes outright rejection and wastes the $25 fee.
- Entering a P.O. box in Item 3. The principal executive office must be a street address, and a P.O. box triggers automatic rejection.
- Leaving the CFO line blank. All three officer slots are mandatory, and a blank slot voids the filing.
- Listing an out-of-state agent. The agent for service of process must have a California street address or be a registered 1505 corporate agent.
- Dropping the entity number. A missing 7-digit number means the state cannot match the filing to your corporation, and it gets returned.
- Adding a leading “C” to the entity number. The state’s database treats the C as an invalid character, and the filing fails the search step.
- Forgetting to sign or date. An unsigned or undated form is treated as invalid under penalty-of-perjury rules.
- Skipping the year because nothing changed. The state still requires an annual filing every year, and missing one triggers the $250 FTB penalty.
- Using correction fluid or strikethroughs. Paper filings with white-out are rejected; reprint a clean form instead.
- Mismatching the corporate name. Even one missing comma or different capitalization between Item 1 and the Articles of Incorporation causes rejection.
- Listing shareholders instead of directors. Item 7 wants directors only; shareholders do not appear on SI-200.
- Paying the wrong fee. The fee is $25 flat; sending $20 or $30 causes the filing to be returned for the correct payment.
Do’s and Don’ts
Do’s:
- Do file within 90 days of incorporation because the state assesses the late penalty quickly.
- Do double-check the 7-digit entity number against your file-stamped Articles of Incorporation to avoid mismatches.
- Do use the bizfile Online portal whenever possible because it catches errors before payment.
- Do keep a stamped copy in your corporate records book for at least seven years.
- Do calendar your next annual deadline 60 days in advance to avoid the $250 penalty.
- Do confirm your agent has agreed to serve before listing them under Corporations Code §1505.
Don’ts:
- Don’t use a P.O. box in Item 3, because the law requires a street address.
- Don’t leave officer slots blank, because all three roles must be filled.
- Don’t list yourself as agent at an out-of-state address, because the agent must be in California.
- Don’t skip a year just because nothing has changed; the state still wants annual confirmation.
- Don’t use correction fluid; reprint the form on a fresh sheet of paper instead.
- Don’t assume email reminders replace your responsibility to track the deadline yourself.
Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help
Pros of filing on your own:
- Cost savings. You only pay the $25 filing fee instead of $100–$300 for a service.
- Speed. A solo filer using bizfile Online can finish in under fifteen minutes.
- Direct control. You see every field and confirm every entry yourself.
- No middleman delays. Service providers sometimes batch filings, while you can file the same day.
- Builds knowledge. Filing yourself once teaches you the process for every future year.
Cons of filing on your own:
- Higher error risk. First-time filers commonly miss agent or officer requirements.
- No deadline reminders. You bear full responsibility for tracking the annual due date.
- Privacy exposure. Listing yourself as agent puts your home address in the public database.
- Limited legal advice. A registered agent service often flags governance issues that a solo filer misses.
- Time cost. Tracking, filing, and recordkeeping for a busy founder can be a distraction from running the business.
SI-200 vs. Other California Statement of Information Forms
| Form Feature | SI-200 / SI-550 / SI-100 |
|---|---|
| SI-200: Used by domestic stock and agricultural cooperative corporations, fee $25, annual filing | |
| SI-550: Used by foreign (out-of-state) corporations, fee $25, annual filing, has California address requirement | |
| SI-100: Used by domestic and foreign nonprofit corporations, fee $20, biennial filing | |
| LLC-12: Used by California LLCs, fee $20, biennial filing, separate manager/member fields | |
| Online filing: All four available through bizfile Online |
FAQs
Do I need to file SI-200 if my corporation made no money this year?
Yes. Revenue has nothing to do with filing duty. Every active California stock corporation must file SI-200 annually under Corporations Code §1502 regardless of income or activity.
Can I list a P.O. box as my principal executive office in Item 3?
No. Item 3 requires a real street address. The Secretary of State will reject any filing that puts a P.O. box in the principal executive office field.
Do I have to fill in all three officer roles in Item 6 if I am a one-person corporation?
Yes. California law requires a CEO, Secretary, and CFO. One person can hold all three positions, but the slots must be filled with a name and address.
Is the agent for service of process the same as the registered agent?
Yes. California uses the term “agent for service of process,” which means the same thing as “registered agent” in other states. The agent must accept legal papers on behalf of the corporation.
Can my agent live outside California?
No. An individual agent must be a California resident with a California street address. Out-of-state agents are invalid unless you use a registered 1505 corporate agent.
What is the filing fee for SI-200?
Yes, there is a fee. It is $25 for the standard filing, with an optional $15 special handling fee for in-person counter filings.
Will I get a penalty if I file one week late?
Yes. The Franchise Tax Board assesses a flat $250 penalty under Revenue and Taxation Code §19141 for any late filing, regardless of how short the delay.
Do I write the entity number with or without the leading “C”?
No leading C. Enter only the 7 digits in Item 2. Including the C causes the state’s automated system to reject the filing.
Can I leave Item 7a blank if there are no vacancies on the board?
No. Write 0 in Item 7a. A blank field is treated as incomplete and may be flagged for correction.
Do I need to attach my bylaws or board resolutions to SI-200?
No. SI-200 takes no attachments. The form is a standalone disclosure, and including extra documents can slow processing or trigger a rejection.
Can a non-officer like my accountant sign the form?
No. Only an officer or director can sign. The signature is made under penalty of perjury, so non-officers are not authorized.
Is an email reminder from the state legally sufficient notice of the filing deadline?
No. Email reminders are a courtesy. The legal duty to file by the deadline rests on the corporation under Corporations Code §1502, regardless of whether you receive a reminder.
Can I file SI-200 early before my anniversary month?
Yes. You can file during the 6-month window ending on the last day of your anniversary month. Filings before that window are returned as premature.
Does filing SI-200 satisfy my Franchise Tax Board obligations?
No. SI-200 is a Secretary of State filing. You still owe the $800 minimum franchise tax and any income-based tax to the Franchise Tax Board separately.
Related reading
- How to Fill Out California Form 100 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form COR-1 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form COR-7 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form LLC-1 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form SI-100 (w/Examples) + FAQs
- How to Fill Out California Form LLC-12 (w/Examples) + FAQs