How to Fill Out Pennsylvania Form DSCB:15-8872 (w/Examples) + FAQs

Pennsylvania Form DSCB:15-8872 is the Certificate of Annual Registration that every domestic and foreign restricted professional company — meaning an LLC or LLP that practices law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, chiropractic, public accounting, psychology, or veterinary medicine — must file each year with the Pennsylvania Department of State Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. Filing it on time keeps the firm in good standing under 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 89, and missing it triggers a statutory lien on every drop of firm property until the fee is paid.

The fee is $610 per licensed professional who was a member or employee on December 31 of the prior year, and the certificate is due by April 15 every year. The Department of State processes more than 6,500 restricted professional company annual registrations each spring, and a meaningful share are rejected for the same recurring errors — wrong member count, wrong fee, missing signature, or wrong year on the form.

Here is what this guide will give you:

  • 📄 A line-by-line walkthrough of every box on the current 2025 revision of DSCB:15-8872
  • 🧮 A clear method for counting licensed persons and calculating the $610-per-person fee
  • 🧑‍⚖️ Three full filer scenarios (solo attorney PLLC, 4-dentist PLLC, 12-member medical PLLP)
  • 🗓️ Deadline, lien, and penalty anchors under 15 Pa.C.S. § 8221 so you avoid late-filing consequences
  • ✅ A side-by-side compare of DSCB:15-8872 against the new Act 122 of 2022 annual report so you do not mix them up

What Form DSCB:15-8872 Is and Who Must File It

Form DSCB:15-8872, titled Certificate of Annual Registration, is the yearly filing that restricted professional companies organized as Pennsylvania LLCs or LLPs (and foreign ones registered to do business here) must submit to the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations. The form is authorized by 15 Pa.C.S. § 8221 and exists so the Commonwealth can collect an annual registration fee tied to the number of licensed people inside the firm. The official PDF lives on the Department of State website as the DSCB:15-8872 form, and the most recent revision date prints in the lower-left corner of page 1.

You must file if your firm is one of the restricted professions named in 15 Pa.C.S. § 8997: law, medicine, dentistry, optometry, osteopathic medicine, podiatric medicine, chiropractic, public accounting, psychology, or veterinary medicine. Standard professional corporations under 15 Pa.C.S. Chapter 29 do not file this form. Single-member LLCs, multi-member LLCs, restricted professional LLPs, and foreign restricted professional companies authorized to do business in Pennsylvania all file the same DSCB:15-8872.

The fee under § 8221(b) is $610 multiplied by the number of licensed persons who were members or employees of the company on December 31 of the immediately preceding year. The deadline is April 15 of the current year. Filing this form is separate from — and additional to — the new general annual report that Pennsylvania introduced under Act 122 of 2022 starting with the 2025 filing cycle for most entities.

Before You Start: Documents and Information You Need

Pull every piece of information into a single folder before opening the form, because DSCB:15-8872 looks short but every line ties to a record the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations cross-checks. Many rejections stem not from the form itself but from a number that does not match what is already in the Pennsylvania Business Search database.

Here is the pre-filing checklist of items you should gather:

  • Exact entity name as on file with the Department of State. A single missing comma or “P.C.” vs. “PLLC” mismatch will bounce the filing back.
  • Department of State entity number (sometimes called the “filing number” or “state file number”), which appears on your Certificate of Organization or annual report receipts.
  • Registered office address in Pennsylvania, or the name of the commercial registered office provider (CROP) if you use one.
  • A complete roster of every licensed professional who was a member or employee of the firm on December 31 of the prior year, because that headcount drives the fee.
  • Each licensee’s professional license number, in case the Bureau questions the count.
  • Year being reported, which is the year you are filing in (the form is prospective on its face but tied to last year’s December 31 headcount).
  • Payment method, which is a check or money order payable to “Department of State” for paper filings, or a credit card or ACH for online filings through the PA Business Filing Services portal.
  • Authorized signer, meaning a member, manager, or partner with authority to sign on behalf of the company.
  • Prior year’s filing, so you can confirm the entity number, address, and last-reported member count.
  • A self-addressed stamped envelope if filing by mail and you want a stamped acknowledgment returned.

If any item is missing, you risk rejection, late fees, or — worst of all — silent acceptance with the wrong fee, which becomes a quiet lien on firm property under § 8221(c) until corrected.

Where to Get the Form and How to Access It

The official form lives only on the Department of State website. Download the latest revision of DSCB:15-8872 directly from the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations forms library, because third-party PDFs floating around tax software vendors are sometimes a revision behind. Confirm the small “Rev.” date printed in the lower-left corner of page 1 before you fill anything in.

You have two clean ways to access and submit the form. The first is the paper PDF, which you print, complete by hand or in Adobe, sign in ink, and mail. The second is the online portal at file.dos.pa.gov, where you create or sign into a Keystone Login account, search your entity, and complete the same form fields inside a guided web flow. The portal calculates the fee for you once you enter the licensed-person count.

Foreign restricted professional companies use the same form but must already be registered to do business in Pennsylvania through a Foreign Registration Statement (DSCB:15-412). If your firm is not yet registered, file the Foreign Registration Statement first, because DSCB:15-8872 has nowhere to capture initial qualification data. The portal will not let you start an annual registration for an entity that is not already in the database.

Step-by-Step: How to Fill Out DSCB:15-8872 Line by Line

The form is one page on its face, with a continuation page if you need it. Every box matters. Walk through it in the order the Department of State prints it.

Box 1: Name of Restricted Professional Company

The first field asks for the exact legal name of the firm as it appears in the Department of State’s records.

Type the name exactly as it reads on your Certificate of Organization or Foreign Registration Statement, including the “Company,” “PLLC,” “LLC,” “LLP,” or “Limited” designator. Use ALL CAPS only if the original filing used ALL CAPS; otherwise mirror the original case.

For example, Maria Lopez Family Dentistry, PLLC writes its name in Box 1 as “Maria Lopez Family Dentistry, PLLC” — comma, capital letters, and “PLLC” included.

A nuance trips up firms that have changed names mid-year. If you filed a Certificate of Amendment changing the name, use the new name and attach a copy of the amendment receipt only if the Department of State database has not yet reflected the change.

The most common mistake here is dropping the comma before the entity designator, which causes the Bureau’s automated name-match system to flag the filing as a non-match and return it. The direct consequence is a rejection letter that costs you 7 to 10 business days, sometimes pushing you past April 15.

A misconception worth correcting is that “the name on our letterhead” is the legal name. It rarely is. Letterhead often uses a fictitious name (a “doing business as”) that is not the registered legal name on file with the Department of State Business Search.

Box 2: Department of State Entity Number

This box asks for the unique numeric identifier the Department of State assigned to your firm at formation or foreign registration.

Find the number on your Certificate of Organization, your last annual filing receipt, or by searching your name on the PA business entity search. Enter it as a plain number, no dashes, no leading zeros unless they print on the original.

For example, Keystone Legal Group, LLP enters its entity number as “3847291” — a 7-digit number assigned in 2014 when the firm formed.

A nuance arises for entities formed before 1995, which sometimes have shorter numbers. Use whatever the database displays, even if it is only 5 or 6 digits.

A common mistake is using the EIN (federal tax ID) instead of the state entity number. The consequence is automatic rejection because the Bureau’s system cannot match a 9-digit federal number to its state file index.

A misconception is that the entity number changes if the firm renews, amends, or moves. It does not. The number is permanent for the life of the entity.

Box 3: Address of Registered Office in Pennsylvania

This field captures the physical Pennsylvania address — or commercial registered office provider — where the firm receives legal service of process.

Enter the street address (not a P.O. Box) of the registered office, including suite or floor, city, county, and ZIP. If you use a commercial registered office provider, enter the CROP’s name and the county only, in the format the Department of State requires: “c/o [CROP name], [county] County.”

For example, Allegheny Veterinary Associates, PLLC enters Box 3 as “5500 Forbes Avenue, Suite 300, Pittsburgh, PA 15217, Allegheny County.”

A nuance is that home-office solo practitioners may use a residential address but must understand it becomes public record on the PA Business Search database. Use a CROP if privacy matters.

A common mistake is using a P.O. Box, which Pennsylvania does not accept for a registered office. The consequence is rejection plus the need to file a separate Statement of Change of Registered Office (DSCB:15-1507) to fix it.

A misconception is that the registered office must be the firm’s main place of business. It does not. It only needs to be a Pennsylvania address where service can be delivered during business hours.

Box 4: Number of Licensed Persons (Members and Employees) on December 31

This is the most important field, because it sets the fee.

Count every individual who was both (a) licensed in the restricted profession and (b) a member or employee of the company on December 31 of the prior year. Include licensed associates and employed licensees, not just owners. Exclude support staff, paralegals, hygienists, billing clerks, and any non-licensed administrative workers.

For example, Three Rivers Optometry, PLLC had 2 member-optometrists and 1 employed optometrist on December 31, so they enter “3” in Box 4. They do not count their 2 opticians, because opticians are not the licensed profession that defines the firm.

A nuance arises with part-time licensed employees. The statute counts heads, not full-time equivalents, so a part-time licensed dentist still counts as one head and triggers another $610 in fees.

A common mistake is forgetting employed licensees and counting only owners. The consequence is underpayment, which the Bureau treats as non-filing, and the entire amount becomes a lien on firm property under § 8221(c) until paid in full with interest.

A misconception is that licensees who left in early December still count. They do not. Only people on the payroll or member roster as of midnight December 31 count, and the Bureau will accept a member who joined December 30 just as readily as one who joined January 1 of the prior year.

Box 5: Annual Registration Fee Calculation

This box asks you to multiply Box 4 by $610 and enter the total fee.

Multiply the number from Box 4 by $610, the statutory fee per licensed person under § 8221(b). Write the result in the fee box with no dollar sign, no commas, just the dollar and cents (e.g., “1830.00”).

For example, Three Rivers Optometry, PLLC multiplies 3 × $610 = $1,830.00 and enters “1830.00” in Box 5.

A nuance is that the legislature has authority to adjust this fee, so always confirm the current rate on the Department of State fee schedule before you cut a check.

A common mistake is using last year’s count or an old fee amount. The consequence is rejection and a second round of postage, with no extension of the April 15 deadline.

A misconception is that the firm can pay a flat minimum if it has only one licensee. The minimum is $610, but it is not a “discount” — it is the per-person fee applied to one head.

Box 6: Effective Date of Annual Registration

This field captures when you want the registration to take effect.

Leave blank for an immediate effective date upon filing, or enter a future date in MM/DD/YYYY format if you want the registration to take effect later. For 99% of filers, blank is correct, because the registration is for the current calendar year.

For example, Maria Lopez Family Dentistry, PLLC leaves Box 6 blank because Maria wants the registration effective the moment the Department of State accepts her filing on April 2.

A nuance is that the effective date cannot be earlier than the filing date and cannot be more than 90 days in the future under 15 Pa.C.S. § 135.

A common mistake is entering a date in the past, which the system flat-out rejects. The consequence is wasted time and a re-filing.

A misconception is that this date controls the fee year. It does not. The fee year is fixed by the prior December 31 headcount no matter what effective date you list.

Box 7: Signature, Title, and Date

The signature block authorizes the filing.

A member of an LLC, a manager if the operating agreement designates one, or a partner of an LLP must sign in ink (paper) or e-sign (online portal). Print the signer’s name, list the title (Member, Manager, or Partner), and add the date in MM/DD/YYYY format.

For example, Marcus Bell, DDS signs as “Marcus Bell,” prints “Marcus Bell, DDS,” lists his title as “Managing Member,” and dates it “04/02/2026.”

A nuance is that an attorney-in-fact can sign if the firm has executed a power of attorney; attach the POA to the filing.

A common mistake is having an office manager sign without authority. The consequence is rejection, because the Bureau verifies the signer’s authority against the firm’s records and the operating agreement.

A misconception is that any owner can sign. In manager-managed LLCs, only the manager has signing authority on state filings unless the operating agreement says otherwise.

Three Filled-Out Examples Using Real Scenarios

These walkthroughs anchor the abstract instructions to real filers. Each named person is a typical Pennsylvania restricted professional company filer.

Scenario 1: Aisha Patel, Solo Attorney PLLC

Aisha runs Patel Law, PLLC, a single-member law firm in Philadelphia, with no employees. She formed the PLLC in 2022 and files DSCB:15-8872 for the third time.

Form Section What Aisha Enters
Box 1: Name Patel Law, PLLC
Box 2: Entity Number 7442891
Box 3: Registered Office 1500 Walnut Street, Suite 1200, Philadelphia, PA 19102, Philadelphia County
Box 4: Licensed Persons on Dec. 31 1
Box 5: Fee 610.00
Box 6: Effective Date (left blank)
Box 7: Signer Name Aisha Patel, Esq.
Box 7: Title Sole Member
Box 7: Date 03/28/2026
Filing Channel Online via file.dos.pa.gov, credit card

Aisha files online on March 28 and gets an instant filing receipt by email, which she saves as proof of filing.

Scenario 2: Marcus Bell, 4-Dentist PLLC

Marcus is the managing member of Bell Family Dentistry, PLLC, a 4-dentist practice in Lancaster County. The firm employs 2 hygienists and 1 receptionist, but those staff are not counted in Box 4.

Form Section What Marcus Enters
Box 1: Name Bell Family Dentistry, PLLC
Box 2: Entity Number 5128443
Box 3: Registered Office 220 N. Queen Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, Lancaster County
Box 4: Licensed Persons on Dec. 31 4
Box 5: Fee 2440.00
Box 6: Effective Date (left blank)
Box 7: Signer Name Marcus Bell, DDS
Box 7: Title Managing Member
Box 7: Date 04/02/2026
Filing Channel Mail with check #2034 to Department of State

Marcus mails the certificate with a $2,440 check to PO Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722, and includes a self-addressed stamped envelope to get a stamped copy back.

Scenario 3: Janet Cho, 12-Member Medical PLLP Catching Up

Janet manages Cho & Associates Internal Medicine, LLP, a restricted professional partnership of 12 licensed physicians. The firm missed last year’s filing and is paying both years now.

Form Section What Janet Enters
Box 1: Name Cho & Associates Internal Medicine, LLP
Box 2: Entity Number 3098221
Box 3: Registered Office 1010 Lincoln Highway, Suite 400, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010, Montgomery County
Box 4: Licensed Persons on Dec. 31 12
Box 5: Fee 7320.00 (current year)
Box 6: Effective Date (left blank)
Box 7: Signer Name Janet Cho
Box 7: Title Managing Partner
Box 7: Date 04/10/2026
Filing Channel Online portal, plus a separate prior-year DSCB:15-8872 for last year

Janet files two DSCB:15-8872 forms back-to-back: one for the prior year using last year’s December 31 headcount, and one for the current year. Each carries its own $610-per-person fee. The lien under § 8221(c) lifts when both are paid.

How to File the Completed Form

Pennsylvania accepts DSCB:15-8872 through two channels, and choosing the right one usually comes down to whether you want speed or paper proof.

Online filing through the PA Business Filing Services portal. Sign in with a Keystone Login account, search your entity, choose “Annual Registration — Restricted Professional Company,” fill the same fields, pay by credit card or ACH, and download the filing receipt. Processing is typically same-day to 48 hours. The portal charges no surcharge beyond the statutory fee. Save the PDF receipt and the email confirmation as your proof of filing.

Paper filing by mail. Print the form, complete it in black ink or fillable PDF, sign it, and mail it with a check or money order payable to “Department of State” to: Pennsylvania Department of State, Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations, P.O. Box 8722, Harrisburg, PA 17105-8722. Processing runs 4 to 6 weeks at peak (March–April). Include a self-addressed stamped envelope for a returned time-stamped copy as proof of filing.

In-person drop-off is also available at the Bureau’s Harrisburg office at 401 North Street, Room 206, Harrisburg, PA 17120 during business hours, where you can pay by check, money order, or credit card, and receive a stamped receipt on the spot. Fax filing is not accepted for this form. Whatever channel you choose, keep your stamped receipt for at least 7 years, because Pennsylvania can audit prior years and assess back fees plus interest under § 8221(c).

What Happens After You File

Once the Department of State accepts the filing, your firm’s status in the PA Business Search database updates to show the current year’s annual registration recorded, and any lien that had attached for unpaid prior years releases automatically as those years are caught up.

Online filers receive an emailed PDF receipt within minutes, often with the filing already searchable in the public database that night. Mail filers wait 4–6 weeks for the stamped copy to come back in the self-addressed envelope. If you do not receive confirmation within 8 weeks of mailing, call the Bureau at (717) 787-1057 to confirm receipt before the next year’s deadline arrives.

If the Bureau rejects the filing — for a name mismatch, fee error, signature defect, or other issue — it returns the original packet with a rejection letter explaining the defect. You have a short window to correct and resubmit, and if that window pushes you past April 15, the firm becomes delinquent and a § 8221(c) lien attaches until cured. The lien is on all firm property, real and personal, and it runs until the fee plus statutory interest is paid in full.

Mistakes to Avoid When Filling Out the Form

Even seasoned office managers stumble on the same predictable errors. Each mistake below has cost real firms time and money.

  • Counting only owners in Box 4. Consequence: underpayment treated as non-filing and a lien on firm property.
  • Forgetting a part-time licensed employee. Consequence: same as above, plus interest accrues from April 15.
  • Using the EIN instead of the state entity number in Box 2. Consequence: automatic rejection by the database matching system.
  • Listing a P.O. Box as the registered office in Box 3. Consequence: rejection, plus a forced separate change-of-office filing.
  • Using last year’s $560 fee or estimating the fee. Consequence: rejection or quiet underpayment that becomes a lien.
  • Signing without authority (e.g., office manager signing for a manager-managed LLC). Consequence: rejection of the entire filing.
  • Filing after April 15 without paying the late penalty. Consequence: lien attaches under § 8221(c) until cured.
  • Missing the comma or designator in Box 1. Consequence: name-match failure and a 7–10 day rejection cycle.
  • Entering an effective date in the past in Box 6. Consequence: portal blocks the filing, paper version returned.
  • Forgetting to include the check or paying the wrong payee. Consequence: filing returned unprocessed, with no time extension granted.
  • Counting licensed people not employed by the firm (e.g., outside consultants). Consequence: overpayment that is hard to recover.
  • Using a third-party PDF that is one revision behind. Consequence: outdated boxes cause the filing to be rejected on intake.

Do’s and Don’ts

These rules of thumb keep your filing clean and your firm in good standing.

Do’s:

  • Do download the form fresh from the DSCB:15-8872 page every year, because the revision date matters.
  • Do count licensed members and licensed employees on the December 31 prior, including part-timers, because heads — not FTEs — drive the fee.
  • Do file online when speed matters, because the receipt is instant and provable.
  • Do calendar April 15 every year, because Pennsylvania does not send a courtesy reminder for restricted professional companies.
  • Do keep a 7-year archive of stamped receipts, since the Bureau can audit prior years.
  • Do confirm the fee on the official fee schedule before writing the check, because the legislature can change it.

Don’ts:

  • Don’t confuse this filing with the Act 122 annual report, because they are separate obligations under different statutes.
  • Don’t use a P.O. Box as the registered office, ever.
  • Don’t have a non-authorized person sign the certificate to “save the partner’s time.”
  • Don’t pay by personal credit card without first checking firm reimbursement rules, because the receipt is in the firm’s name.
  • Don’t wait until April 14 to file by mail, since postmark date does not control acceptance — receipt date does.
  • Don’t ignore a rejection letter, because the deadline keeps running while the form sits on someone’s desk.

Pros and Cons of Filing on Your Own vs. With Help

Most restricted professional companies file DSCB:15-8872 in-house because the form is short. But there are tradeoffs.

Pros of filing pro se:

  • Saves attorney or CPA fees, which typically run $150–$400 for the filing.
  • The online portal calculates the fee for you, reducing math errors.
  • You learn your firm’s filing details, which helps with later changes.
  • Filing is fast — often under 20 minutes online once data is gathered.
  • You control the timing without depending on a professional’s calendar.

Cons of filing pro se:

  • A wrong member count can quietly become a lien.
  • Authority-to-sign errors are common in manager-managed LLCs.
  • You bear the risk of missing April 15.
  • You may miss interactions with the Act 122 annual report and other state filings.
  • No professional liability coverage if something goes wrong.

Pros of using a CPA or attorney:

  • They calendar the deadline annually and own the risk.
  • They confirm the licensee count against payroll records.
  • They catch interactions with related filings (Act 122 report, foreign qualifications).
  • They can sign with a power of attorney if owners are unavailable.
  • They keep a clean archive for audit defense.

Cons of using a CPA or attorney:

  • Fees of $150–$400 per year add up over the firm’s life.
  • Information still must come from the firm — they cannot count your licensees for you.
  • You depend on their calendar for last-minute filings.
  • A handoff error (wrong year’s data) can still cause rejection.
  • You lose direct familiarity with the form.

DSCB:15-8872 vs. Pennsylvania’s Act 122 Annual Report

Two annual filings now sit side-by-side in Pennsylvania, and many firms confuse them. The chart below clarifies.

Feature DSCB:15-8872
Statute 15 Pa.C.S. § 8221
Who files Restricted professional companies only (law, medicine, dentistry, etc.)
Fee $610 per licensed member or employee
Deadline April 15 every year
Penalty Statutory lien on firm property under § 8221(c)
Feature Act 122 Annual Report
Statute Act 122 of 2022
Who files Most domestic and foreign business entities (LLCs, LPs, corporations)
Fee $7 for-profit / $0 nonprofit
Deadline Varies by entity type (Sept. 30 for LLCs starting 2025)
Penalty Administrative dissolution after notice

Restricted professional LLCs and LLPs must file both — the DSCB:15-8872 every April 15 and the Act 122 annual report on the entity-type schedule. They are not substitutes.

FAQs

Q: Do I have to file DSCB:15-8872 if my firm had no income last year?

Yes. The fee is tied to licensed-person headcount on December 31, not to revenue, so an inactive but still-existing firm with one licensed member owes $610 by April 15.

Q: Do I count my paralegal in Box 4?

No. Box 4 counts only people licensed in the firm’s restricted profession. Paralegals, hygienists, opticians, billers, and other support staff do not count even if they are full-time employees.

Q: Do I write my maiden name or married name in the signature block?

Yes, use whichever name appears on your professional license and your driver’s license, because the Bureau matches signer identity against firm records, and consistency prevents authority challenges.

Q: Does a part-time employed dentist count in Box 4?

Yes. The statute counts heads, not full-time equivalents, so a part-time licensed dentist still adds $610 to the fee.

Q: Can I use a P.O. Box for the registered office in Box 3?

No. Pennsylvania requires a physical street address or a commercial registered office provider. P.O. Boxes trigger automatic rejection.

Q: What if our entity number has only 6 digits instead of 7?

Yes, older entities legitimately have shorter numbers; enter exactly what the PA business search shows, with no leading zeros unless the database displays them.

Q: Do foreign restricted professional companies file DSCB:15-8872?

Yes, if they are registered to do business in Pennsylvania through a Foreign Registration Statement, they file DSCB:15-8872 on the same April 15 deadline.

Q: Can our office manager sign Box 7?

No, unless the office manager is also a member, manager, or partner with signing authority, the Bureau will reject the filing.

Q: Is the $610 fee deductible as a business expense?

Yes, it is a deductible state filing fee under IRS rules; consult your CPA for placement on your federal return.

Q: What happens if I file on April 16?

No safe harbor applies. The lien under § 8221(c) attaches retroactively to the April 15 deadline until the fee is paid in full with interest.

Q: Can I amend a DSCB:15-8872 if I undercounted licensed persons?

Yes, file a corrected DSCB:15-8872 for the same year along with the additional fee, and reference the original filing date in the cover letter.

Q: Does filing DSCB:15-8872 satisfy my Act 122 annual report obligation?

No, they are separate filings under different statutes; restricted professional companies must file both each year.

Q: Is the effective date in Box 6 the same as the year being reported?

No, Box 6 controls only when the registration takes effect after acceptance, while the reporting year is fixed by the prior December 31 headcount.

Q: Can I pay the fee with a personal credit card on the portal?

Yes, the PA Business Filing Services portal accepts personal or business credit cards, but the receipt is issued in the firm’s name regardless of the card used.