You have decided to end your business voluntarily. The ending of a business form is called "dissolution," and this process includes several forms and steps:
Since you registered the business with a specific state or states, you must follow their regulations as to the process. Each state has different regulations on whether you can continue in business any form after dissolution.
For a Sole Proprietorship, there is no paperwork to be sent to the state, but you must be certain that all business operations are shut down or sold and that creditors are paid off.
With other legal forms, including Limited Liability Companies and Corporations (including Subchapter-S Corporations), there are other forms to be completed and processes that must be taken care of:
- Resolution of Dissolution
The board of directors, partners, or members must enact a resolution formally dissolving the business, and this resolution must be approved by the shareholders, partners, or members. This is an internal document that doesn't need to be filed with the state, but there must be evidence that the shareholders, partners, or members have formally approved the dissolution.
- IRS Notification
The IRS must be notified of the dissolution. For a corporate dissolution, file IRS Form 966 within 30 days after the date of the resolution.
- Final Income Tax Returns
When you file your federal income tax return for the last year of operations for your business, mark the return as "final."
- Employment Taxes
Continue to file payroll tax returns on Form 941 and unemployment tax returns on Form 940, and submit wage reports for employees and independent contractors as required, for the last year of the business.
- State Notification
You must file Articles of Dissolution with your state Secretary of State. This document should include the information about the business entity, the reason for dissolution, and signatures of the appropriate individuals within the business entity.
- Payment to Creditors
You must notify creditors (those vendors to whom you owe money) of the dissolution and make arrangements to pay them by selling assets or by other means.
- Distribution of Remaining Assets
After all creditors have been paid, the remaining assets must be distributed to shareholders, members, or partners.
- Closing Accounts/Cancelling Numbers
Close any business accoiunts you have, and close your business account with the IRS by writing to them at "Internal Revenue Service, Cincinnati, Ohio 45999." This will in effect close your Employer ID Number.
- Notify Your City and County
Notify your city and county of your dissolution. You will need to cancel any "fictitious name/dba" filing , local tax requirements, or other ordinances.
- Pay Wages, Taxes, and Fees
Finally, you will need to pay all taxes due to the IRS and state, and make certain that anything you owe is paid off.
There are three ways to work through this process of dissolution:
- You may decide you want to work through this process on your own. If you have a very simple dissolution with few or no assets and no employees, this might be possible. Check the website for your state Secretary of State for more information. There is typically only a small charge to you ($50 or less) for filing the Articles of Dissolution with your state.
- You may want to retain the services of an attorney. This is the most expensive option, because it is based on hourly fees and impossible to estimate, but it is probably best if your dissolution is complicated or involves several states.
- You may want to use online forms for a relatively simple dissolution. There are a number of online sources of these forms, which walk you through the process. One site, USLegalForms, charges around $50.
The IRS has an excellent checklist for closing a business for your review.
