Secretary of State Tre Hargett has issued a warning to businesses in Tennessee about a mail scam targeting business renewals. The scam involves a deceptive mailer from a company called Tennessee Business Filing Center, which threatens additional fees and business dissolution if the entity does not file within 60 days of the April 1 deadline.
Hargett and the Division of Businesses and Charitable Organizations have received multiple complaints about this misleading mailer, which requests hundreds of dollars in fees from businesses to complete their annual renewal process. Hargett reminds businesses that the Secretary of State’s office provides these services at much lower costs.
Businesses in Tennessee must file annual reports with the state by April 1 each year to maintain active status and legally operate in the state. These reports update or confirm an entity’s records with the Department of State. To file an annual report, businesses can visit the website provided.
Hargett warns all Tennessee business owners to be cautious of mailings from third parties offering services similar to those of the Secretary of State’s office. These third parties are not affiliated with the office, and any suspicious activity should be reported to the Division of Business and Charitable Organizations.
To report suspicious activity related to this scam, businesses can email TNSOS.CERT@tn.gov or call (615) 741-2286. Complaints can also be filed with the Attorney General’s office by calling (615) 741-3491 or visiting their website. For more news and updates across the state, visit the provided link.