An Act relative to reducing limited liability company filing and annual report fees

194th Legislature (2025-2026) Introduced by Carmine Gentile

The bill lowers Massachusetts LLC costs by setting initial filing at 150 and annual reports at 50, effective Jan 1, 2027.

Referred to the committee on House Rules

Summary of Bill HD 5475 (Session 194th, Massachusetts)

Purpose and intent

This bill, An Act relative to reducing limited liability company filing and annual report fees, proposes to lower the fees charged by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts for LLC-related filings.

The key goal is to reduce the cost burden on LLCs by adjusting the filing and annual reporting fees imposed by state authorities.

Key provisions and changes

Section 12 of Chapter 156C of the General Laws is amended to replace the existing fee structure for LLC filings:

Filing the certificate of organization (the initial formation document) would have a fee of $150.
Filing the annual report would have a fee of $50.

These fees are to be paid to the Secretary of the Commonwealth at the time the certificate of organization or the annual report is filed.

The act directs the Secretary of the Commonwealth to implement the fee changes, including updating regulations, forms, and filing systems to reflect the new amounts.

Affected parties and entities

Limited liability companies (LLCs) forming in Massachusetts would be directly affected, as the upfront filing fee and the annual report fee are both reduced.

The filing and regulatory processes managed by the Secretary of the Commonwealth (specifically the Office that handles LLC filings) would implement and administer the new fee structure.

Procedural and timeline details

Effective date: January 1, 2027.

Implementation: The Secretary of the Commonwealth is tasked with taking all necessary steps to implement the fee changes, which includes updates to regulations, forms, and filing systems.

The bill was filed by Representative Carmine Gentile (with him listed as the sponsor and co-sponsor) and referred to the House Rules committee as of the action history.

Practical impact

For new LLCs forming in Massachusetts, the initial cost to file would be reduced from the prior level to $150.

For ongoing compliance, annual LLC filings would cost $50 per year.

Overall, the bill aims to lower the ongoing cost of doing business for LLCs in Massachusetts, potentially encouraging entrepreneurship and filings in the state starting in 2027.

Additional notes

The text indicates a straightforward adjustment to fee amounts without creating new exemptions or exceptions.

The act requires administrative updates by the Secretary of the Commonwealth to ensure the new fees are reflected across all relevant forms and systems.