Prep & filing of the Articles of Dissolution
Shipping the official dissolution documents to you
Expedited services available
The importance of officially dissolving your business
Many factors go into the decision to terminate a limited liability company (LLC), corporation, or nonprofit. But regardless of the reason, it’s important to close your business the right way.
If you don’t officially dissolve your business, you may encounter late fees and penalties. This is because your business continues to exist on the state’s records and remains subject to annual report, tax, and other requirements.
Filing Articles of Dissolution with the state legally ends your company’s existence and ends those compliance obligations.
How our business dissolution filing service works
You provide some simple information, and we do the rest. As part of our expert service, BizFilings will:
- Prepare and quality check your filing to ensure it meets all state requirements. If it doesn’t, we will contact you immediately*
- Request your signature on the pre-prepared dissolution documents.
- Submit your signed documents to the state. We also offer a rush service if you need it faster.
- Deliver a digital copy of the state-approved dissolution documents within your BizComply Status Center.
- Ship your official dissolution documents through FedEx with your tracking number posted within your BizComply Status Center.
*Note: Certain states may require tax clearance (proof that taxes have been paid) which may lengthen the processing of your dissolution. We will let you know if your state requires a tax clearance.
Reduce the stress of closing a business
Closing a business can be overwhelming for business owners, who must complete a number of winding-up tasks. Let BizFilings’ experienced team handle the process of ending your business with the state, so you can focus on other priorities.
Steps for winding up your business
Winding up refers to the process of settling business affairs after Articles of Dissolution for an LLC, corporation, or nonprofit has been filed with the state. While the necessary steps for each business can vary, they often include the following:
- Notifying creditors and settling debts
- Notifying employees, customers, suppliers, insurers, and vendors
- Canceling business licenses, permits, and assumed names
- Paying taxes and filing final tax returns and reports
- Withdrawing from states where foreign qualifies
- Closing out bank accounts
Resource: How to end your business
FAQs
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What is business dissolution?
Dissolution is the termination of the legal existence of a company. A business may undergo a voluntary dissolution process that typically involves approval by the company owners, followed by the filing of Articles of Dissolution (also called Certificate of Dissolution) with the state.
There is also involuntary dissolution, where a company’s state of incorporation or formation dissolves a company if that company has failed to file annual reports with the state, pay annual fees and/or taxes, or is encountering bankruptcy.
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What happens if I don’t dissolve my business?An LLC, corporation, or other business registered with the state must comply with certain requirements, such as filing an annual report and paying state taxes. If that business is not properly dissolved, those legal obligations continue since the business still exists as a legal entity. This can lead to accumulating late fees and penalties. Failing to dissolve can also increase the likelihood of business identity theft. Officially dissolving the business with the state stops these ongoing obligations and helps prevent certain types of business fraud.
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Is the dissolution process different for a limited liability company (LLC) than for a corporation?The existence of an LLC is less stable than that of a corporation in the sense that an outside occurrence (such as the death of an owner) can end the LLC’s existence (depending on the operating agreement). Otherwise, the dissolution process with the state is the same for both entities.
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Can a dissolved business still operate?
Once a business has undergone the formal process of dissolution with the state, it can only operate in order to wind up its affairs and liquidate its assets.
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If I registered my company to transact business in other states, do I also need to dissolve in those states?Yes. If you have registered to transact business (foreign qualified) in a state or states other than your state of incorporation, you need to undergo a withdrawal process with those states.
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Do you need to cancel your EIN?The IRS does not cancel EINs, but you may request to deactivate an EIN after all owed taxes have been paid.
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What steps should I take when dissolving my business in order to minimize any risk to my personal assets?There are various steps involved in properly dissolving a business, such as settling debts, cancelling licenses and registrations, and filing federal, state, and local taxes. See our article How to End Your Business for more details.
File a Dissolution
$199 + state fees
Need your filing completed quickly? Select expedited at checkout for an additional $200.
Tools to help you choose
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