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Official website of the State of North Carolina

Misleading Mailings

How to spot a misleading solicitation

Always read the fine print! Most disclaimers will be seen at the bottom of the form or in very small print in the center. By law, the solicitation must include variations of the following:

The soliciting company:

  • is not a government agency and does not represent a government agency
  • is not a government agency and does not have a contract with any government agency to provide this service
  • is not a government agency and is not affiliated with the Secretary of State or any other government agency
  • does not officially represent the State or any other government entity
  • is a third-party service provider
  • is a private entity

The solicitation may also indicate that:

  • you are not obligated to use this service to fulfill state requirements
  • you may file directly with the Secretary of State’s Office

If you are unsure about the legitimacy of the notice, review your company’s records at the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office at https://www.sosnc.gov to determine if an annual report is required and, if needed, file directly with the North Carolina Secretary of State’s Office for a much lower fee.