Just missed a state filing deadline by 2 hours and got hit with a $200 late fee

I was at a coffee shop in Austin finishing up my annual report for my LLC and the state portal closed at 5 PM sharp, I hit submit at 5:02 and got a late fee notice instead. Now I'm out $200 because I assumed the deadline was end of day, not a hard cutoff. Has anyone else got burned by these exact-hour deadlines on state filing systems?

3 comments

3 Comments

bell.jessica17h ago

Call your secretary of state's office first thing tomorrow. I got hit with the same crap last year and they waived the fee after I explained the portal kicked me out at the exact cutoff. It helps if you've got a clean record with them no late filings before. Also check if they have a grace period buried in the fine print mine was 24 hours but they don't advertise it. Next time set an alarm for 3 PM that day so you've got buffer room because those state sites are brutal about the clock.

cora81317h ago

Honestly same thing happened to me, total lifesaver calling them.

wesley63915h ago

Same here... called and they knocked off the late fee no questions asked.