No. On November 5, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of State warned that text messages telling business owners to "Avoid the $250 state penalty" and linking to go.mypafilings.com are a scam. There is no $250 penalty. The real Pennsylvania annual report costs $7 and is filed at file.dos.pa.gov, and the consequence of not filing, beginning with reports due in 2027, is administrative dissolution. Department of State scam alert · Annual report guidance
At a glance
| Item | What the Department of State says |
|---|---|
| Date of warning | November 5, 2026 |
| Who issued it | Pennsylvania Department of State |
| What the text says | "[Company name]'s Pennsylvania Annual Report is due. Avoid the $250 state penalty, file now" with a link to go.mypafilings.com |
| What the linked site charges | $149 for "Annual Compliance" or a one-time $199 |
| Real annual report fee | $7 for an LLC, $0 for a not-for-profit entity |
| Where to file | file.dos.pa.gov, the Department's own portal |
| Real consequence of not filing | Administrative dissolution, beginning with reports due in 2027 |
What does the scam text say?
The text names the company and claims its Pennsylvania Annual Report is due, warns of a "$250 state penalty" and links to a page on go.mypafilings.com. That page shows the company's public information with a red banner saying the business filings are overdue, then walks the filer through the report and charges $149 for "Annual Compliance" or a one-time fee of $199.
The Department of State says the texts are being sent about numerous companies, including companies that already filed the 2026 annual report. Its warning states that the text messages and the PennsylvaniaFiling website are a scam. See the Department of State alert ↗
Is there a $250 penalty for a missed Pennsylvania annual report?
No. The Department of State states there is no "$250 state penalty." The consequence of not filing the annual report is administrative dissolution by the Department.
A transition period has applied since the requirement began in 2025. Beginning with annual reports due in 2027, an association that does not file becomes subject to administrative dissolution, termination or cancellation six months after the report's due date. After that, the company cannot obtain a subsistence certificate and its name becomes available for other associations to register.
A dissolved domestic company can apply for reinstatement with no time limit: $35 online or $40 on paper, plus $15 for each missing annual report. If another association took the name in the meantime, it keeps the name. A foreign association whose registration is terminated cannot reinstate retroactively; it must submit a new Foreign Registration Statement. See the annual report guidance ↗
What does the real Pennsylvania annual report cost, and when is it due?
The annual report costs $7 for an LLC and $0 for a not-for-profit entity. For LLCs, domestic and foreign alike, the filing window runs from January 1 to September 30 each year. A company's first report is due the year after it forms or registers in Pennsylvania.
The report is filed online at file.dos.pa.gov. No PIN is required, and online filings are approved automatically within minutes.
The Department mails a reminder postcard to the registered office address at least two months before the deadline, but not receiving a notice does not remove the obligation to file.
Is this the first warning about annual report scams in Pennsylvania?
No. The November 5 text-message warning is the Department's third annual-report scam alert in 2026:
- October 9, 2026: emails from pa@e.myfilingservices.com with the subject "Action Required: PA records show a missed 2025 Annual Report." The Department says this is not a government email; legitimate reminders come from no_reply@pa.gov. It also notes that once a report's calendar year passes, that year's report can no longer be filed.
- August 27, 2026: a website charging $136 for LLCs and $171 for corporations, listing a "$35.00 state late fee" that the Department says does not exist.
In each case the pattern is the same: a third party charges $100 to $200 for a filing that costs $7 directly with the Department.
Where can you check a Pennsylvania LLC's real status?
The Department's public search at file.dos.pa.gov/search/business shows each association's status and whether it is compliant with annual reporting. For state charges beyond the annual report, see the Pennsylvania LLC guide, the 50-state and DC cost table and the LLC cost calculator.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the text from go.mypafilings.com about my Pennsylvania annual report real?
No. On November 5, 2026, the Pennsylvania Department of State said the texts and the PennsylvaniaFiling website are a scam. The texts are also being sent to companies that already filed the 2026 report.
Is there a $250 state penalty for a late Pennsylvania annual report?
No. The Department of State states there is no "$250 state penalty." Beginning with reports due in 2027, the consequence of not filing is administrative dissolution six months after the due date.
How much does the real Pennsylvania annual report cost?
$7 for an LLC and $0 for a not-for-profit entity, filed at file.dos.pa.gov. Third-party services charging $149 or $199 are charging 21 to 28 times the official fee.
When is the Pennsylvania LLC annual report due?
Between January 1 and September 30 each year, for domestic and foreign LLCs alike. A new company's first report is due the year after formation or registration.
I already filed for 2026 and still got the text. What should I do?
Nothing is due twice. The Department says the texts also went to compliant companies. You can confirm your status on the public search at file.dos.pa.gov/search/business.
What happens if my Pennsylvania LLC is dissolved for not filing?
A domestic company can apply for reinstatement with no time limit: $35 online or $40 on paper, plus $15 per missing report. Its name may have been taken by another association. A foreign association must file a new Foreign Registration Statement instead.
This dated update is general information, not legal or tax advice. Check the Department of State's current pages before relying on it for a specific company.