6-K

UNITED STATESSECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSIONWashington, D.C. 20549

FORM 6-K

REPORT OF FOREIGN PRIVATE ISSUER PURSUANT TORULE 13a-16 OR 15d-16UNDER THE SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

For the month of May 2022

Commission File Number: 001-36885

TANTECH HOLDINGS LTD

(Translation of registrant’s name into English)

c/oZhejiang Forest Bamboo Technology Co., Ltd.

No.10 Cen Shan Road, Shuige Industrial Zone

LishuiCity, Zhejiang Province 323000

+86-578-226-2305

(Address of principal executive offices)

Indicate by check mark whether the registrant files or will file annual reports under cover Form 20-F or Form 40-F.

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(1):   ¨

Indicate by check mark if the registrant is submitting the Form 6-K in paper as permitted by Regulation S-T Rule 101(b)(7):   ¨

Explanatory Note:

On May 18, 2022, Tantech Holdings Ltd (the “Company”) received a letter (the “Letter”) from The Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) stating that since the Company has not yet filed its Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021 (the “Filing”), it no longer complies with Nasdaq Listing Rules (the “Rules”) for continued listing under Listing Rule 5250(c)(1).

Under Nasdaq’s Rules the Company now has 60 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance and if Nasdaq accepts the Company’s plan, Nasdaq can grant the Company an exception of up to 180 calendar days from the Filing’s due date, or until November 14, 2022, to regain compliance.

The Company shall email its plan to Nasdaq no later than July 18, 2022. If Nasdaq does not accept the Company’s plan, the Company will have the opportunity to appeal that decision to a Hearings Panel.

The Letter has no effect on the listing of the Company’s shares at this time and the Company’s common shares will continue to trade on The Nasdaq Capital Market under the symbol “TANH.”

Exhibits

SIGNATURE

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized.

Exhibit 99.1

Tantech Received Notification of Deficiencyfrom Nasdaq Related to not timely Filing of Annual Report Form 20-F

LISHUI, China, May 19, 2022 – Tantech Holdings Ltd (NASDAQ: TANH) ("Tantech" or the "Company"), a clean energy company, today announced it has received a notice of non-compliance from Nasdaq Stock Market LLC (“Nasdaq”) on May 18, 2022 stating that, as a result of not having timely filed its annual report on Form 20-F for the year ended December 31, 2021, Tantech is not in compliance with Nasdaq Listing Rule 5250(c)(1), which requires timely filing of periodic financial reports with the Securities and Exchange Commission. This notice has no immediate effect on the listing or trading of Tantech’s common shares on the Nasdaq.

Under Nasdaq’s listing rules, the Company has 60 calendar days to submit a plan to regain compliance. If the plan is accepted by Nasdaq, the Company can be granted up to 180 calendar days from the Company’s Form 20-F’s filing due date, or until November 14, 2022, to regain compliance.

About Tantech Holdings Ltd

For the past decade, Tantech has been a highly specialized high-tech enterprise producing, researching and developing bamboo charcoal-based products with an established domestic and international sales and distribution network. Since 2017, when the Company acquired 70% of Shangchi Automobile, a vehicle manufacturer based in Zhangjiagang City, Jiangsu Province, it has manufactured and sold vehicles. The Company established two new subsidiaries, Lishui Smart New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd. and Zhejiang Shangchi New Energy Automobile Co., Ltd., in November 2020, to produce and sell street sweepers and other electric vehicles. The Company is fully ISO 90000 and ISO 14000 certified and has received a number of national, provincial and local honors, awards and certifications for its products and scientific research efforts. The Company's subsidiary, First International Commercial Factoring (Shenzhen) Co., LTD, is engaged in commercial factoring for businesses in and related to its supply chain. For more information, please visit: http://ir.tantech.cn.

Forward-Looking Statements

This news release contains forward-looking statements as defined by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Forward-looking statements include statements concerning the sales, plans, objectives, goals, strategies, future events or performance, and underlying assumptions and other statements that are other than statements of historical facts. These statements are subject to uncertainties and risks including, but not limited to, product and service demand and acceptance, changes in technology, economic conditions, the impact of competition and pricing, government regulations, and other risks contained in reports filed by the Company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. All such forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, and whether made by or on behalf of the Company, are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement and any other cautionary statements which may accompany the forward-looking statements. In addition, the Company disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, except as expressly required by applicable law.

For more information, please contact:

Global IR Partners

David Pasquale

New York Phone: +1-914-337-8801

TANH@globalirpartners.com