Secretary of State Warns Business Owners of Misleading Annual Report Solicitations

CHARLESTON, W.Va. — December 11, 2025 — West Virginia Secretary of State Kris Warner is warning business owners to be cautious of third‑party solicitations offering to file 2026 Annual Reports.
Warner said the mailings and online notices often resemble official government forms but are not issued, reviewed, or approved by the state. Instead, they are advertisements from private vendors who have been reported to charge more than eight times the statutory $25 fee and sometimes list incorrect deadlines.
“The 2026 Annual Report filing period does not begin until January 1, 2026 and runs through June 30, 2026,” Warner emphasized. “I can assure everyone that these solicitations are not from my office and not from the state of West Virginia. Nearly 98 percent of businesses already file online directly with us — you do not need to hire an outside vendor.”
Business owners are encouraged to file directly at Business4.WV.gov, where free tools are available to simplify the process. Assistance is also available through the Business Division at (304) 558‑8000.
Warner urged businesses to be wary of solicitations requesting sensitive financial or personal information and to confirm that any vendor is properly registered to operate in West Virginia before contracting for services.
The Secretary of State’s Office also offers fee‑waiver programs: the Young Entrepreneur Waiver for individuals under 30 registering an LLC or corporation, and the Veteran Owned Business Waiver, which covers registration costs and waives the first four years of filing fees for veterans, active‑duty military, and military spouses.