State owes nonprofits, LLPS

More than 60,000 Georgia nonprofits and out-of-state limited liability partnerships are due refunds totaling $1.8 million because of a programming error.

The Georgia Secretary of State’s Office said organizations that filed an annual registration between Aug. 12, 2010, and April 13, 2012, may be eligible for a partial refund.

The General Assembly approved House Bill 1055 in 2010 to raise the annual registration fee for corporations, partnerships, associations, domestic limited partnerships and limited liability companies from $30 to $50.

An internal review, discovered that, while putting the measure in place, the system used for setting the fees for corporations was reprogrammed to charge nonprofits and out-of-state LLPS $50.

Nonprofits usually pay a $30 annual registration fee, while out-of-state LLPS pay $25.

“It was just an error that we caught after the fact,” said the agency’s general counsel, Vincent Russo.

Those charged are being notified by email or first-class mail and can visit https:// secure.sos.state.ga.us/ refund for information. They may also email pecorprefund@ sos.ga.gov or call 404602-9120.

The amount of the refund will vary based on how many annual filings were made and the type of organization.