Request a Delaware Corporate Compliance Review
Have complex multi-class stock, venture financing, delinquent back taxes, or need a CPA to review your Form 1120 Schedule L balance sheet before submitting to Delaware?
Need Help Filing Your Delaware Annual Report?
Avoid costly miscalculations, late penalties ($200 + 1.5% interest), or loss of Good Standing with verified partners.
Northwest Registered Agent
Delaware Registered Agent & Annual Report FilingTop privacy-first registered agent in Delaware. They can handle your annual report filing directly with the Division of Corporations, ensuring you use the Assumed Par Value method.
- Never miss March 1 / June 1 deadlines
- Instant mail forwarding & local address
- $125/yr Delaware Registered Agent service
Firstbase Agent & Tax
Automated Startup Compliance HubComplete automated state compliance and Delaware annual report management for venture-backed founders and global remote companies.
- Automated Franchise Tax calculation
- Maintains Certificate of Good Standing
- 50-State multi-jurisdiction tracking
Doola Total Compliance
Bookkeeping, IRS & Delaware FilingsIdeal for international and US founders. Doola pairs you with dedicated CPAs to handle your IRS Form 1120 and Delaware franchise tax filing simultaneously.
- Dedicated CPA & bookkeeping team
- Extracts Form 1120 Sched. L Gross Assets
- Zero penalty guarantee
Do you need a CPA or attorney, or can you file yourself?
Most standard Delaware filings do not require a professional. If your company has a single class of common stock, you can usually elect the Assumed Par Value method on the Annual Report yourself using the figures from your IRS Form 1120, Schedule L. Bring in a CPA or attorney when the downside of an error exceeds the cost of review:
- Multi-class stock or SAFEs converting: preferred allocations change Assumed Par Value capital per class (8 Del. C. § 503(a)(2)).
- 25%+ foreign ownership: IRS Form 5472 carries an automatic $25,000 penalty per year (IRC § 6038A); a missed filing dwarfs any advisory fee.
- Void or forfeited charter: revival requires paying every delinquent year plus penalties and 1.5%/month interest; professionals sequence the filings correctly.
- Financing or M&A diligence in progress: investors require a Short or Long Form Certificate of Good Standing and reconciled cap-table-to-state figures.
What to prepare before you ask for help
Gathering these five items first cuts review time (and your bill) roughly in half, because the professional does not have to reconstruct your records:
- Certificate of Incorporation plus amendments: authorized shares and par value per class.
- Current cap table / stock ledger: issued shares must reconcile with the state filing.
- IRS Form 1120, Schedule L (Line 15d): total gross assets as of year end; pre-revenue companies use the December 31 balance sheet.
- The Delaware notice or prior Annual Reports: shows which method was previously elected.
- EIN confirmation letter (CP 575): required for any federal filing discussion.
What happens after you submit, and what does it cost?
1. Triage. We review your inquiry and, where a partner professional fits, forward it with your reference ID. We are not a law or accounting firm and provide introductions only — never legal or tax advice.
2. Scoping call. The professional confirms the fact pattern (share classes, delinquent years, deadlines) and quotes a fixed or hourly fee before any work begins.
3. Typical market ranges. As a rough guide: a franchise-tax method review often runs a few hundred dollars; charter revival with multi-year back taxes typically runs into the low four figures; foreign-owner Form 5472 compliance engagements start higher. Always get the quote in writing.
4. Deadlines still apply. C-Corp Annual Reports are due March 1 ($200 penalty + 1.5%/month after); LLC tax is due June 1. Engaging a professional does not pause statutory interest.
Consultation FAQ
Is DelawareTaxCalc a law firm or CPA firm?
No. We publish free calculators and statutory guides, and we can introduce you to independent partner CPAs and attorneys. Any engagement is strictly between you and that professional.
Can you file my Annual Report for me?
No. Delaware Annual Reports are filed by the company through the Division of Corporations portal (corp.delaware.gov). A partner professional can prepare or review the figures, but the filing itself remains yours.
I already paid the $85,215 notice. Is it too late?
Not necessarily. Under 8 Del. C. § 505(a) you may petition for a refund until March 1 of the second calendar year after the tax year (e.g., March 1, 2028 for the 2026 tax) by filing an amended report electing the Assumed Par Value method.
How fast can a Good Standing certificate be obtained?
Routine orders take 2–3 business weeks; 24-hour and same-day expediting are available from the state for an additional fee. If a financing is closing, request expediting through the official channel rather than waiting.
Will my information stay confidential?
Yes. Inquiry details are used only to route your request to a suitable professional and are never sold. See our privacy policy for retention details.