Is this letter really from the state?
Often it is not. Private companies mail official-looking notices offering to file your recurring report, sell you a certificate of good standing, prepare “annual minutes” or file a BOI report. The filing office or attorney general in 48 of 52 jurisdictions has published a warning about them.
- Jurisdictions warning
- 48 of 52
- Checked
- September 2026 Primary sources only
How can you tell a lookalike from a real state notice?
These are the signs the official warnings list, with how many jurisdictions’ warnings name each one.
It is made to look like a state form or bill: a seal, a form number, a “notice date”, a barcode.
Named by 40 jurisdictionsIt pushes a “respond by” date, says “final notice”, or threatens fines, penalties or dissolution.
Named by 27 jurisdictionsIt charges you to file or order something you can file or order from the state yourself.
Named by 27 jurisdictionsIt quotes a statute or says the purchase is “required”.
Named by 26 jurisdictionsThe sender has an official-sounding name, or says it acts for the state.
Named by 25 jurisdictionsIt sells something the state does not ask for at all, such as “annual minutes” for an LLC.
Named by 16 jurisdictionsIt is pre-filled with your real business name, entity number or formation date, copied from public records.
Named by 12 jurisdictionsThe only admission that it is not from the government is in small print, or missing.
Named by 12 jurisdictionsThe return address is a mail drop or out of state.
Named by 11 jurisdictionsIt arrives by text or email, or sends you to a QR code or a website that is not the state’s.
Named by 10 jurisdictionsPayment goes to a private company, or by payment app, gift card, crypto or wire.
Named by 8 jurisdictionsIt arrives before your filing window opens, gives the wrong deadline, or comes after you already filed.
Named by 7 jurisdictionsIt asks you to “confirm” your details or sign, which can authorize the sender to act for your business, even to change your agent of record.
Named by 3 jurisdictions
What should you do with a letter you are not sure about?
Do not pay it, sign it or send it back. Signing can authorize the sender to file for your business.
Look your entity up on the state’s own business search, linked for every state in the table below, and check its status and the next due date there.
Compare the date with your state’s real recurring filings: the compliance calendar lists them, from each state’s filing office.
File or order directly with the state, or through your agent of record.
Report the letter to your state attorney general’s consumer protection office, and to the U.S. Postal Inspection Service if it came by mail.
Do you still need to file a BOI report?
Not if your company was formed in the United States. Under FinCEN’s final rule, effective August 14, 2026, beneficial ownership reporting reaches only entities formed under the law of a foreign country that register to do business in a US state. FinCEN also warns that letters citing a “Form 4022” or “Form 5102” are fake: those forms do not exist. See FinCEN’s BOI page.
Which federal agencies warn about these letters?
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), U.S. Department of the TreasuryBeneficial Ownership Information Reporting
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), U.S. Department of the TreasuryFinCEN Alert on Fraud Schemes Abusing FinCEN's Name, Insignia, and Authorities for Financial Gain (FIN-2024-Alert005)
- Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN), U.S. Department of the TreasuryRecognizing Imposter Scams
- U.S. Department of the Treasury, Office of Inspector GeneralFraud Alerts
- Federal Trade Commission (Consumer Advice)Government impersonators mail fake notices to business owners
- Federal Trade Commission (Business Guidance blog)FTC, Florida AG to small business: Scrutinize “o-fishy-al” invoices
- Federal Trade Commission (Business Guidance)Scams and Your Small Business: A Guide for Business
- Federal Trade CommissionFTC Warns Operators of Websites that Charge for an Employer Identification Number and Claim Affiliation with the IRS
- Federal Trade CommissionImpersonation of Government and Businesses Rule
- U.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeRecognizing common scams
- U.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeHow to avoid scams for trademark services
- U.S. Patent and Trademark OfficeExamples of fraudulent or misleading solicitations
- U.S. Department of LaborWorkplace Posters
- U.S. Postal Inspection ServiceFalse Invoice Scam
- Internal Revenue ServiceHow to know it's the IRS
What has each state published?
The warning each filing office or attorney general publishes, the state’s law on these mailers where it has one, and where to file or order directly. Checked September 2026; primary sources only.
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Found a newer warning, or a letter we should know about? Write to [email protected]. Not sure what a letter is asking for? Ask us before you pay anyone.