California Entity Search

How to read the official business-entity file, and a way to have the search run for you.

California Entity Search

Statement of Information

Quick answer. California corporations and LLCs file a Statement of Information with the Secretary of State to keep the public record current. The due window is tied to the month the entity was formed or registered. From August 1, 2026, the online form is visible only to bizfile users who have been granted access to that entity.

Official office

California Secretary of State, Business Programs Division

Open the official search

Phone: (916) 653-6814

1500 11th Street, Sacramento, CA 95814

Business search is free and does not require an account. Phone support: (916) 653-6814.

Steps

  1. Read Date Filed on the business search

    The Statement of Information tips tell you to take the month from “Date Filed” on the business search. That month picks the row in the Secretary of State’s filing-period table. Do not guess from the date you received a welcome email.

  2. Know which cycle you are on

    Corporations file on the annual cycle described in that table. Limited liability companies file an initial statement and then on a biennial cycle. The statements page is the schedule to follow. A missed statement can move the SOS status even when taxes are paid.

  3. Get user access before you look for the button

    Effective August 1, 2026, the Secretary of State requires web user access for Statement of Information filings. The option appears only after access is established. The overview page points to a short video on requesting access. Questions: bizfile@sos.ca.gov or (916) 653-6814.

  4. File in the portal, signed in

    The public-portal help describes finding the entity, then choosing File Statement of Information. The form asks for the information the statute requires, such as addresses and agent. What you submit becomes a public image.

What the statement is for

It tells the Secretary of State who the agent is and where the office is, and it puts officer or manager information on the public record. It is not a tax return. The Franchise Tax Board has its own returns. Filing one does not file the other.

Common interest development statements and publicly traded disclosure statements are mentioned on the same tips page and are not the ordinary LLC form. Read the title of the form before you pay.

If you are late

The Secretary of State assesses a penalty for a late Statement of Information and can eventually suspend or forfeit the entity. The amount and the cure are on the Secretary of State’s current instructions, which should be read at filing time rather than copied from a blog. After you file, reopen the bizfile record and confirm the status line changed.

Common mistakes

  • Using the month the bank account was opened instead of Date Filed.
  • Waiting for a paper postcard. The Secretary of State’s current path is bizfile.
  • Sharing one login among several companies without requesting access on each entity after the August 2026 change.

Questions

How do I find my Statement of Information due month?

Look at Date Filed on the bizfile business search, then use the month-by-month table on the Secretary of State’s Statement of Information tips page.

Can I file a Statement of Information without an account?

No. The Secretary of State says the statement is filed online in bizfile and, as of August 1, 2026, only for users with access to that entity. The search of existing statements remains public.

Does a Statement of Information fix an FTB suspension?

No. FTB suspension is cleared with the Franchise Tax Board. The statement updates the Secretary of State’s record. You may need both.

Sources reviewed