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SACRAMENTO – Secretary of State Alex Padilla recently announced that for the first time, Californians can file Limited Liability Company, or LLC, Statements of Information online. Secretary Padilla also unveiled bizfile California, a new online portal to help businesses file, search, and order business records quickly and conveniently from one webpage.

“Our new online LLC Statement of Information submission makes doing business in California quicker, easier and more convenient,” said Secretary Padilla. “We are streamlining the process so that entrepreneurs can focus less on red tape and more on growing their business.”

Limited liability companies now have the option to file their Statements of Information online, including required statements which are due 90 days after registration and every 2 years thereafter during the month of registration. This includes submission of interim statements to update the LLC’s information of record. The online form can be directly accessed at llcbizfile.sos.ca.gov.

In 2016, 375,000 LLC Statements of Information were filed with the Secretary of State's office by mail or in person. This new e-file option will streamline the process and save the state and customers time and money.

To form an LLC for the first time, Articles of Organization must still be filed in-person or by mail using the LLC-1 form for domestic California LLCs, or Application to Register by using the LLC-5 for foreign LLCs. Padilla is working to have online filing of Articles of Organization by the end of this year.

“Whether filing a statement of information or searching for a limited liability company bizfile California is a one-stop shop for all online business filing and search needs,” added Padilla. “Bizfile California will help business owners succeed by making the information they need accessible anytime, anywhere and from any device.”

The new bizfile California portal consolidates links into one hub for information regarding online business filing and search services. Previously, those interested in filing or searching business records would have to navigate the Business Programs Division website to find the webpage corresponding with their service needs.

The new bizfile California portal is part of Secretary of State Padilla’s Digital Initiative to modernize and digitize the agency’s divisions, including the Business Programs Division. In December, the Secretary launched California Business Search which now provides access to more than 10 million records related to corporations, limited liability companies and limited partnerships along with the ability to download PDF images of documents at no charge. In March, he announced upgrades to the Secretary of State’s online search engine of successor-in-interest claims. The Secretary recently launched a new online resource page connecting aspiring business owners with information they need to start a business in California. The resource page includes a Starting a Business Checklist as well as a Starting a New Business in California brochure.