California Statement of Information Changes: What Legal Teams Need to Know
California has changed how businesses can file a Statement of Information (SOI) online.
Effective August 1, 2026, users must have authorized User Access to an entity’s record before they can file a Statement of Information through California’s bizfile Online portal. If access has not been established, the option to file the SOI online will not appear.
Here’s what legal and compliance teams need to know.
1. What Changed With California Statement of Information Filings?
Previously, the Statement of Information filing process did not require the same level of entity-specific user authorization now required by the state.
As of August 1, 2026:
- User Access must be established for the entity before an SOI can be filed online.
- The Statement of Information filing option is only visible to authorized users.
- Businesses may need to request access before an upcoming filing can be completed.
- Entity administrators can control who is authorized to submit online filings.
California says the change is intended to help prevent unauthorized submissions and give businesses greater control over their entity records.
Importantly, the primary change is to filing access—not the underlying SOI filing schedule.
California stock corporations and qualified out-of-state corporations generally file annually, while California nonprofit corporations and LLCs generally file every two years.
2. Who Does the New California SOI Requirement Apply To?
The change matters to any organization filing Statements of Information online through California's bizfile Online system.
This may include:
- In-house legal and compliance teams
- Corporate secretarial teams
- Companies managing multiple California entities
- Law firms and other third-party filing providers
- Entity management and compliance service providers
For companies with multiple California entities, the important question is no longer only:
“When is our next Statement of Information due?”
Teams should also be asking:
“Do we have the appropriate access in place to file it?”
Addressing access before the filing deadline can help prevent unnecessary delays.
3. What Resources Does California Provide?
The California Secretary of State has published several resources to help businesses understand and establish User Access.
California Statement of Information Filing Tips
The Secretary of State's Statements of Information Filing Tips page includes the August 1 update as well as information about SOI filing periods and requirements. View California's Statement of Information Filing Tips
How to Establish User Access Control
California has also created an instructional video explaining how to request access and establish filing permissions for an entity, including how the PIN process works when applicable.
Watch California's User Access instructional resources
California bizfile Online Resources
Businesses can also review California's bizfile resources for additional information about account setup and accessing entity records. Visit California bizfile resources
4. How Filejet Is Helping Customers With the California SOI Change
Filejet’s Customer Success team is here to help customers navigate California’s new access requirements and make the transition as smooth as possible.
For customers with California entities, our team is proactively working to establish the appropriate access through California’s bizfile Online portal so upcoming Statement of Information filings can continue to be managed efficiently.
Depending on how an entity’s current portal access is set up, customers may be asked to take a simple action to help complete the authorization process.
If Your Entity Already Has a Portal Manager
If someone within your organization already manages access to the entity through bizfile Online, they may receive an automated request to approve Filejet’s access.
In that case, the portal manager may need to:
- Log in to bizfile Online.
- Go to Manage User Access.
- Locate the request from Filejet.
- Approve the request and grant Filejet Full Access.
If Your Entity Does Not Have a Portal Manager
If there is no active user managing the entity online, the California Secretary of State may mail a security letter containing a unique Personal Identification Number (PIN) to the entity’s mailing address on record.
If you receive a letter from the California Secretary of State regarding bizfile Online or Access Requirements, please send the PIN—or a clear photo or scan of the letter—to support@filejet.com.
From there, Filejet’s Customer Support team can help complete the authorization process and keep things moving.
Our team is proactively managing this transition and is available to help with any questions along the way. Contact Filejet Customer Success Team at support@filejet.com for assistance.
5. Do Your California Entities Need Attention?
A filing deadline is only one part of maintaining entity compliance.
The California change is a good opportunity to review your entity portfolio and identify entities that may have:
- Upcoming or missed filing requirements
- Good standing issues
- Outdated entity information
- Registered agent information that needs review
- Other compliance gaps requiring attention
Filejet's complimentary Entity Status Review can help uncover potential compliance gaps across your U.S. entity portfolio, including entities registered in California.
Start an Entity Status Review with Filejet to identify California entities that may need attention and get a clearer picture of the compliance status of your portfolio.