Lenders and brokers licensed under the California Finance Lenders Law must file an annual report by the Ides of March (i.e., March 15) of each year.  Cal. Fin. Code § 22159.  This is a hard deadline and the Department of Financial Protection & Innovation does not grant extensions.  The consequences of failure to the file the report can be severe.  Not only may the licensee be subject to penalties, the Department routinely and summarily revokes licenses for failure to file a report.  If that was not bad enough, the Department interprets Government Code Section 11522 as imposing a one-year waiting period before a licensee may apply to have its license reinstated.  Before reinstating the license, moreover, the Department must give notice the California Attorney General as well.

Licensees must complete the report online on the Department’s website, https://docqnet.dfpi.ca.gov.  Licensees must log in to the self-service portal in order to complete the report.   Below are some helpful links:

• Instructions for completing the 2022 report (PDF) 

• FAQs – 2022 CFL Annual Report – Frequently Asked Questions (PDF)

• Penalty Matrix reflecting penalties assessable based on the late-filing date (PDF)