Reinstatement costs are not just the state filing fee — they include back annual report fees, late penalties, and in some states, mandatory tax clearance. Most business owners are surprised by the total.
Here's a breakdown of what you'll actually pay by state, based on current state schedules.
Important: These are state-side costs only. If you hire a service or attorney, add their fees on top. Tax clearance states (CA, NY, TX, NJ, PA, IL) typically require additional work with their revenue departments before the Secretary of State will process reinstatement.
What Makes Up Your Total Cost?
Every reinstatement involves at least two cost components:
- Reinstatement filing fee — paid to the Secretary of State (or equivalent)
- Back annual report fees — every year you missed, owed in full
- Late penalties — typically 10–50% added to overdue fees
- Tax clearance fees (required states only) — filing missing returns + any outstanding tax balance
Reinstatement Fees by State
| State | Filing Fee | Annual Report Fee | Tax Clearance Required? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Alabama | $100 | $50/year | No |
| Alaska | $25 | $100/year | No |
| Arizona | $25 | $0 (no annual) | No |
| Arkansas | $25 + $150/year | $150/year | No |
| California | $30 | $800 min/year | Yes |
| Colorado | $25 | $10/year | No |
| Connecticut | $50 | $20/year | No |
| Delaware | $50 + back taxes | $300 franchise tax/year | No |
| Florida | $100 | $138.75/year | No |
| Georgia | $250 | $50/year | No |
| Illinois | $200 | $75/year | Yes |
| Indiana | $30 | $50/year | No |
| Michigan | $50 | $25/year | No |
| Nevada | $300 | $350/year | No |
| New Jersey | $75 | $75/year | Yes |
| New York | $55 | $9/year | Yes |
| North Carolina | $100 | $200/year | No |
| Ohio | $25 | $0 (no annual) | No |
| Pennsylvania | $70 | $70/year | Yes |
| Texas | varies | $0 (franchise tax) | Yes |
| Virginia | $100 | $50/year | No |
| Washington | $70 | $60/year | No |
Why California Is the Most Expensive
California has both the highest ongoing fees and the most complex reinstatement process. Every year your LLC existed — even while inactive — the state charges an $800 minimum franchise tax. If you missed 3 years, that's $2,400 in back taxes alone, before the reinstatement filing fee and any penalties.
California also requires FTB (Franchise Tax Board) clearance before the Secretary of State will process your reinstatement. This adds 4–8 weeks to the timeline.
→ See full California reinstatement guide
Why Delaware Is Surprisingly Cheap in Fees — But Watch the Franchise Tax
Delaware charges only $50 to reinstate. But Delaware LLCs owe an annual franchise tax that compounds with interest if unpaid. If you've been out of good standing for 3+ years, the back taxes can add $600–$900+ to your total even for a small LLC.
→ See full Delaware reinstatement guide
The Hidden Cost: Getting It Wrong
Incorrect filings get rejected — and many states keep your filing fee. A rejected reinstatement means you start over, submit corrections, and potentially wait weeks longer. Common rejections:
- Back fee calculation errors
- Missing signatures
- Wrong form version
- Tax clearance not yet received in required states
Check what your reinstatement will cost
Enter your business name and state — we'll show you exactly what's outstanding and what it costs to fix.
Get My Cost Estimate →Ways to Reduce Reinstatement Costs
- File quickly after dissolution — penalties compound over time in most states
- Don't wait for "a good time" — every quarter adds more to CA, DE, NJ, NV balances
- Use online filing where available — faster and sometimes cheaper than mail
- Check for fee caps — some states cap total back fees regardless of years missed