March 2026

Welcome to the PA Business One-Stop Shop (BOSS) newsletter! In this spring edition, you'll find updates on key filing dates, business tips and help guides, small business programs, and more.

The recent Business Hub updates have been highly successful, delivering a modernized experience that makes it easier and faster for users to access the resources they need. The redesign introduced simpler navigation, clearer content, and improved system performance, resulting in a more intuitive and user-friendly platform.

Early feedback has been positive, with users benefiting from fewer clicks, improved usability, and a more efficient path to completing business-related tasks. These enhancements strengthen the Hub’s role as a trusted, effective gateway to Commonwealth services and reflect our continued commitment to excellent customer service and continuous improvement.

On December 18, the Business One-Stop Shop convened an interagency collaboration meeting bringing together the Department of State, Department of Revenue, and the Department of Labor & Industry to coordinate on business-related matters impacting communities across the Commonwealth. The meeting provided a forum for agencies to share updates, align initiatives, and identify opportunities to improve how services and information are delivered to Pennsylvania businesses. This ongoing collaboration strengthens interagency communication, reduces silos, and supports a more coordinated, efficient approach to serving the state’s business community.

A good standing certificate is referred to as a Subsistence Certificate for domestic (PA) businesses and a Certificate of Registration for foreign registered businesses. A foreign entity registering in Pennsylvania is not required to provide a subsistence certificate from their domestic state. For more information regarding Subsistence Certificates, refer to the Department of State’s website and for assistance with purchasing a Subsistence Certificate/Certificate of Registration, refer to the Purchase Documents in BFS help guide.

The Business One-Stop Shop maintains several tools to assist users with navigating the Business Hub and registering with the Department of State’s Business Filing Services (BFS) system.

Our web-based Help Guides are digitally and language accessible to ensure all users have equal access to information and services. The Help Guides are located at the top of the page in the Business Hub under the Help Center tab.   

Annual Reports can be filed at any time beginning January 1 and can be used to make updates with the PA Department of State. If an Annual Report has not yet been filed, you should file the Annual Report to update the officers. If the Annual Report has already been filed, you can file an Annual Report Update to update the addresses, governors, and/or officers. Once the Annual Report or Annual Report Update is submitted, the updates will be reflected in the public record right away. 

For assistance with filing an Annual Report, refer to the Department of State’s How to File an Annual Report help guide. 

For assistance with filing an Annual Report Update, refer to the Amend an Existing Business in BFS help guide. 

All registered business/non-profit entities — except fictitious names and general partnerships—are required to file an Annual Report.

The annual reporting filing dates starting in 2026 are as follows:

Annual reports do not replace the annual Certificate of Annual Registration filing for a PLLC. Only restricted professional LLCs, limited liability partnerships (LLP), and limited liability limited partnerships (LLLP) are required to file a Certificate of Annual Registration every year.   

Certificate of Annual Registration and the Annual Report should be filed electronically in the Department of State’s Business Filing Services system by following the same path to amend or close a business. For assistance with accessing the Certificate of Annual Registration refer to the Amend an Existing Business in BFS help guide and for assistance with filing the Annual Report in Business Filing Services, refer to the Complete an Annual Filing in BFS help guide.

On December 8, 2025, Micah Snyder assumed the role as the Director of the Bureau of Corporations and Charitable Organizations at the PA Department of State. He has a master’s degree in business administration and previously worked as a Deputy Director of Enforcement for the PA Department of State’s Bureau of Enforcement and Investigation. The BOSS team welcomes you, Micah, and looks forward to working with you!

The SBA 7(a) American Manufacturers MARC Loan program provides targeted financing to help small manufacturers grow, modernize, and strengthen their operations. Through this program, eligible businesses can access flexible capital to support equipment purchases, facility improvements, and working capital needs. These loans are designed to enhance domestic manufacturing, support job creation, and help Pennsylvania manufacturers remain competitive in today’s economy.

Born from the HIRE Vets Act from 2017, the HIRE Vets Medallion Program recognizes employer efforts to recruit, employ and retain veterans. The purpose of this program is to highlight businesses who actively hire veterans and who have established development programs to improve retention, or include veteran-specific benefits, to draw in the nation’s veteran population.

Awardees receive a certificate for the proper year and can use a digital image of the medallion on advertisements and products to show they are veteran-friendly, which can assist in attracting additional business. To learn more about this program, please visit HIREVets Medallion website. The program is accepting applications through April 30.

Pennsylvania’s life sciences industry is growing at record speed. Last month, Johnson & Johnson announced plans for a $1 billion private-sector investment to build a next generation cell therapy manufacturing facility. This follows on Eli Lilly and Company’s plans to invest $3.5 billion into a new state-of-the-art pharmaceutical manufacturing facility in Lehigh County — the largest life sciences investment in Pennsylvania history. Combined, the two projects will create at least 1,350 permanent good-paying jobs, as well as more than 6,000 construction jobs.

Other life sciences companies like Eurofins Lancaster Laboratories, B. Braun, and GSK have also announced expansions in Pennsylvania, bringing new jobs and R&D investments into the Commonwealth. Those three projects alone represent an additional $967.5 million in investment and at least 650 permanent jobs.

Pennsylvania’s life sciences sector is a national powerhouse, employing over 100,000 people across nearly 3,100 companies and world-renowned research institutions. Over the past five years, Pennsylvania researchers and companies have secured over 10,700 new life sciences patents — the fourth-highest total in the country. To learn more about Pennsylvania’s life sciences sector, visit PAGetsItDone.com.

The Outdoor Business Alliance of Pennsylvania (OBA PA) is dedicated to elevating the needs of Pennsylvania’s outdoor recreation industry and supporting outdoor business development, innovation and growth. The organization hosts regular training and events, including their inaugural PA Outdoor Economy Summit & Industry Expo on April 26-28, 2026. Learn more by visiting the OBA PA website.

The Business One-Stop Shop recently attended an event hosted by the Business Center for Entrepreneurship & Social Enterprise, a Philadelphia-based nonprofit dedicated to supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses. The event provided an opportunity to engage directly with the business community, share information about Commonwealth resources, and strengthen partnerships with organizations working on the ground. Participation in events like this helps ensure the Business One-Stop Shop remains connected to stakeholder needs and continues to support businesses across the Commonwealth through collaboration and outreach.

Did you know that the BOSS office not only provides resources to aspiring entrepreneurs, but conducts both online and in-person presentations? If you have an event you’d like us to speak at either virtually or in-person, please contact Leora Appleby at business.dced@pa.gov with your event details, date, and estimated presentation length.

Mar. 4, 6, 11, 13, 18, 20, 25, and 27

Apr. 1, 3, 8, 10, 15, 17, 22, 24, and 29

May 1, 6, 8, 13, 15, 20, 22, 27, and 29

Jun. 3, 5, 10, 12, 17, 22, 24, and 26

Employer Withholding

SEMI-WEEKLY Payment Remittance

Mar. 4 and 18

Apr. 3 and 20

May 5 and 20

Jun. 3 and 18

Employer Withholding

SEMI-MONTHLY Payment Remittance

Mar. 16 

Apr. 15 

May 15 

Jun. 15 

Employer Withholding

MONTHLY Payment Remittance

Apr. 30

Employer Withholding

QUARTERLY Payment Remittance

Apr. 30

Employer Withholding

QUARTERLY Withholding Return

Mar. 20

Apr. 21

May 20

Jun. 22

Sales Tax

MONTHLY Return and Payment

Apr. 21

Sales Tax

QUARTERLY Return and Payment

Apr. 30

Unemployment Compensation

QUARTERLY Return and Payment

Have questions? Contact Us