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What is a future filing date and why would I need one?
What is a future filing date and why would I need one?

This article details the benefits of a future filing date. It also explains why you may want one.

Updated over a week ago

Zenbusiness offers Future Filing Dates when you form your business. We let you delay your filing date between 5-90 days in the future depending on your state. Read on to learn more about what this is.

A future filing date is the day you set for your company to officially begin. It can sometimes be called as a "delayed effective date," "future effective date," or a "delayed file date". Normally, your business would officially start to exist whenever the state approves your filing. Sometime, people prefer to tell the state not to officially create the business until a set date in the future. Some entrepreneurs select a future filing date to save time and money on annual reports and tax filings.

If it's toward the end of the year (e.g., November), sometimes business owners will use a future filing date of January 1 or later so that they won't have to file taxes for the current calendar year. Selecting a future filing date can make things less complicated during tax season. A future filing date can also save the cost of hiring a CPA just for those few remaining months of the current year.

Most states require your business to file an annual report with an attached fee. Filing later can help to avoid the hassle and costs of having an annual report for whatever remains of the current year.

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