Missouri online business filings up 34 percent

Carnahan’s office administers a program in which businesses can save money if filing annual reports online at www.sos.mo.gov.

Traditional mail-in filings cost $45 annually, while online filing costs $20.

“Online filings are more cost-effective for taxpayers and also save dollars for Missouri businesses,” Carnahan said in a news release. “When we can administer effective programs that promote both good government and are business-friendly, everyone wins.”

Carnahan added that she is making online services a priority in order to reach her goal of cutting the red tape for Missouri businesses.

“We will continue to stress the use of online annual report fillings in our mailings, on our Web site, and in our other interactions with Missouri businesses,” she said.

Of the 48,064 Missouri businesses that have filed annual reports this year, 32,500 were filed online, saving an estimated $812,500 for Missouri businesses. In the first quarter, 68 percent of annual business registration reports were filed online, an improvement over the 49 percent filed online in the first quarter of 2004.