State Guide
BOI Filing Florida
BOI filing for Florida LLCs and corporations is a federal FinCEN requirement filed at fincen.gov/boi, not with the Florida Secretary of State. The filing is free. Your EIN is part of the report. ein.so gets your EIN for $49.
BOI filing for a Florida LLC or corporation is a federal FinCEN requirement, not a Florida state filing. You submit the Beneficial Ownership Information report at fincen.gov/boi, not with the Florida Secretary of State. The filing costs $0. Your EIN is part of the report. Willful non-filing carries a $500-per-day penalty, a fine up to $10,000, and up to 2 years imprisonment.
Florida registers more new businesses than almost any US state, drawing entrepreneurs from across Latin America, Europe, and the rest of the world. Many Florida company owners confuse the federal Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) report with the Florida Secretary of State annual report on Sunbiz. They are two separate obligations. The BOI report goes to FinCEN, a bureau of the US Treasury, under the Corporate Transparency Act. This guide explains who must file a BOI report for a Florida company, how the EIN fits in, how non-US residents file, and how the federal BOI rules differ from Florida state filings.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Filed with | FinCEN (federal), not Florida SOS |
| Filing URL | fincen.gov/boi |
| Government cost | $0 (free) |
| ID number on report | EIN (IRS charges $0) |
| Who files | Most Florida LLCs and corporations |
| Penalty | $500/day, up to $10,000, up to 2 years prison |
| Beneficial owner | 25%+ ownership or substantial control |
| Update window | Within 30 days of any change |
State vs Federal
Is BOI Filing a Florida State Requirement or a Federal One?
BOI filing is a federal requirement, not a Florida requirement. Florida companies file the Beneficial Ownership Information report with FinCEN at fincen.gov/boi under the Corporate Transparency Act. The Florida Secretary of State (Sunbiz) does not collect BOI reports. The federal filing and the Florida annual report are separate.
Many Florida business owners assume BOI is handled when they file their Florida annual report on Sunbiz. It is not. A Florida LLC has two distinct obligations, and missing either one creates a problem. The federal BOI report and the state annual report serve different agencies and different laws.
| Filing | Agency | Where | Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| BOI report | FinCEN (federal) | fincen.gov/boi | $0 |
| Annual report | Florida SOS (Sunbiz) | sunbiz.org | State fee applies |
| EIN application | IRS (federal) | Form SS-4 / IRS | $0 |
The BOI report identifies the humans behind the company. The Florida annual report keeps the company active and in good standing in the state. Neither replaces the other. Confirm your Florida annual report fee directly on Sunbiz, and confirm any BOI exemption with a CPA. ein.so handles the EIN step and does not provide tax or legal advice.
Who Must File
Who Must File a BOI Report for a Florida Company?
Most Florida LLCs and corporations must file a BOI report. The report lists every beneficial owner, meaning any individual with 25% or more ownership or substantial control. The Corporate Transparency Act defines 23 exemption categories, mostly for large or already-regulated entities. Confirm your exemption status with a CPA.
A beneficial owner is not only the largest shareholder. The Corporate Transparency Act covers two paths to beneficial ownership, and a single Florida company can have several beneficial owners through either path.
25% Ownership Test
Substantial Control Test
Foreign Owners Count
Exempt Entities
For the full rules on who must file and what information each owner must provide, see BOI filing requirements.
EIN Requirement
Why Does a Florida BOI Report Need an EIN?
A Florida BOI report needs a taxpayer identification number for the reporting company, which is the EIN for most Florida LLCs and corporations. The IRS charges $0 for an EIN. Non-US residents who own a Florida LLC apply with Form SS-4 using a passport number on Line 7b.
The BOI report asks for the reporting company's tax identification number. A Florida LLC that has not yet obtained an EIN cannot complete the federal BOI form correctly. Getting the EIN first is the logical order: form the company, get the EIN, then file the BOI report.
US residents with a Social Security Number can use the IRS online EIN tool. Non-US residents cannot, because the IRS online tool requires an SSN. Non-residents instead file Form SS-4 by fax to the IRS at 855-215-1627, entering a passport number on Line 7b. No SSN or ITIN is needed for the EIN.
| EIN Path | Who Uses It | Method |
|---|---|---|
| IRS online tool | US residents with an SSN | Online, instant |
| Form SS-4 by fax | Non-US residents | Fax to 855-215-1627 |
| ein.so Standard ($49) | Non-residents who want it done | 4-7 business days |
| ein.so Express ($97) | Non-residents in a hurry | 2-3 business days |
The IRS never charges for an EIN; see EIN cost. For the full filing walkthrough, see how to get an EIN, the SS-4 form guide, and EIN without an SSN. ein.so prepares and faxes Form SS-4 for non-residents and delivers the EIN by email.
How to File
How Do You File a BOI Report for a Florida LLC?
You file a BOI report for a Florida LLC at fincen.gov/boi, the only authorized platform. Enter the company details and EIN, list every beneficial owner with name, date of birth, and address, upload each owner's ID document, and submit. The filing is free and takes minutes.
Get Your EIN First
Go to fincen.gov/boi
Enter Company Information
Report All Beneficial Owners
Upload ID and Submit
After the initial report, update FinCEN within 30 days of any change to beneficial ownership information, such as a new owner, a moved address, or a renewed passport. Updates are also free. For deadlines and timing, see BOI filing deadline and the general BOI filing overview.
Non-Residents
How Do Non-US Residents File BOI for a Florida Company?
Non-US residents file the BOI report for a Florida company the same way US residents do, at fincen.gov/boi, using a foreign passport as the ID document. The only added step is getting an EIN first, since the IRS online tool requires an SSN that non-residents do not have.
Florida is a top choice for foreign entrepreneurs forming a US LLC, especially founders from Latin America and Europe who serve the US market. These owners are beneficial owners under the Corporate Transparency Act and must appear on the BOI report. A foreign address and a foreign passport are accepted.
Step 1: Form the Florida LLC
Step 2: Get the EIN
Step 3: File the BOI Report
Step 4: Open US Banking
Common Non-Resident Mistakes
- Trying the IRS online EIN tool, which rejects applicants without an SSN.
- Paying a third party to file the free federal BOI report.
- Confusing the Florida annual report with the federal BOI report.
- Missing the 30-day window to update BOI after an ownership change.
Penalties & Compliance
What Are the Penalties for Not Filing BOI in Florida?
Willful failure to file an accurate BOI report carries a $500-per-day civil penalty, a fine up to $10,000, and up to 2 years imprisonment. These are federal penalties under the Corporate Transparency Act. They apply to Florida companies because BOI is a federal filing administered by FinCEN, not a Florida filing.
A Florida LLC owner who ignores the BOI report faces federal enforcement, not state enforcement. The Florida Secretary of State does not police BOI. FinCEN does. The penalty structure is steep precisely because the report targets the prevention of financial crime.
| Violation | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Willful non-filing (daily) | $500 per day |
| Maximum civil fine | Up to $10,000 |
| Criminal exposure | Up to 2 years imprisonment |
| Late update to BOI | Same penalties apply |
Beyond the BOI report, a foreign-owned single-member Florida LLC has a separate annual US tax filing. A foreign-owned single-member US LLC files Form 5472 plus a pro-forma Form 1120 each year, and the penalty for not filing is $25,000. This is distinct from the BOI penalties. See the Form 5472 guide and BOI penalties for full detail.
ein.so files Form SS-4 to get your EIN and does not provide tax or legal advice. Confirm BOI exemptions, Form 5472 obligations, and any Florida-specific requirements with a CPA familiar with non-resident matters.
Next Steps
After Getting Your EIN for Your Florida Company
- Apply for your EIN — the IRS charges $0; ein.so files Form SS-4 for non-residents from $49
- File your BOI report — free at fincen.gov/boi, separate from your Florida annual report
- Open a US bank account — Mercury and Relay accept many non-resident LLC owners
- File Form 5472 — annually for foreign-owned single-member LLCs ($25,000 penalty for non-filing)
- Check timing — see EIN processing time and BOI filing deadline
Related guides: BOI filing requirements | BOI for LLC | BOI penalties | EIN without SSN | EIN for non-residents | EIN cost | How to get an EIN
Frequently Asked Questions
Is BOI filing a Florida state requirement?
No. BOI filing is a federal requirement under the Corporate Transparency Act, enforced by FinCEN, a US Treasury bureau. You file the report at fincen.gov/boi, not with the Florida Secretary of State (Sunbiz). The Florida annual report and the federal BOI report are separate filings, and one does not replace the other.
How much does BOI filing cost in Florida?
BOI filing costs $0. FinCEN charges no government fee to submit a Beneficial Ownership Information report at fincen.gov/boi. Florida charges its own separate annual report fee to keep an LLC or corporation active on Sunbiz, but that fee is unrelated to the federal BOI report. Avoid third-party sites that charge to file the free federal form.
Who must file a BOI report for a Florida LLC?
Most Florida LLCs and corporations must file a BOI report. The report lists every beneficial owner, meaning any individual with 25% or more ownership or substantial control, such as a CEO, CFO, or managing member. The Corporate Transparency Act lists 23 exemption categories, mostly for large or already-regulated entities. Confirm your exemption status with a CPA.
Do I need an EIN to file a BOI report in Florida?
Your BOI report requires a taxpayer identification number for the reporting company, which is the EIN for most Florida LLCs and corporations. The IRS charges $0 for an EIN. Non-US residents who own a Florida LLC use Form SS-4 with a passport number on Line 7b. ein.so files Form SS-4 for $49 Standard or $97 Express.
What is the penalty for not filing BOI in Florida?
Willful failure to file an accurate BOI report carries a civil penalty of $500 per day, a fine up to $10,000, and up to 2 years imprisonment. These are federal penalties under the Corporate Transparency Act, not Florida penalties. They apply to Florida companies because BOI is a federal filing administered by FinCEN.
Can a non-US resident file a BOI report for a Florida LLC?
Yes. A non-US resident who owns a Florida LLC can file the BOI report at fincen.gov/boi from anywhere. The report requires each beneficial owner's name, date of birth, address, and an ID document such as a foreign passport. You first need an EIN for the LLC, which ein.so files for non-residents starting at $49.
Who counts as a beneficial owner of a Florida company?
A beneficial owner is any individual who owns 25% or more of the company or who exercises substantial control over it. Substantial control includes senior officers such as the CEO, CFO, or general counsel, and any managing member of a Florida LLC. A single Florida LLC can have several beneficial owners, and each must be listed on the BOI report.
Is the BOI report a one-time filing for Florida businesses?
The initial BOI report is filed once, but you must update it whenever beneficial ownership information changes. Update the report within 30 days of any change, such as a new owner, an address change, or a new ID document. Filing the update is free at fincen.gov/boi. Florida's annual report is a separate yearly Sunbiz filing.
Does ein.so file BOI reports for Florida companies?
ein.so files IRS Form SS-4 to get your EIN, which your Florida company needs before submitting a BOI report. ein.so does not file the BOI report itself, because FinCEN lets you submit it free at fincen.gov/boi in minutes. ein.so does not provide tax or legal advice. Confirm BOI specifics with a CPA.
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