Dissolve an Ohio LLC or corporation
File with the Ohio Secretary of State. Some companies also need a tax sign-off.
The catch
A corporation sends Form D5 to the tax department first and files with the Secretary of State second. The notice we read lists no such step for an LLC.
How to close a company in Ohio
Get the tax sign-off
In Ohio the tax department opens the door and the Secretary of State stamps the exit.
Wind up the business
Hold the vote your governing documents and Ohio law require. Pay or set aside what you owe, in the order your lawyer advises.
File with the Ohio Secretary of State
LLC: Form 616, $50. corporation: Form 561, $50.
Pick how to file
Online or by mail. No fixed time is published.
Check your records
Before you close accounts or delete Slack, work out what you must keep and whether a buyer may want it.
Facts and sources
| Fact | What we found | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Filing office | Ohio Secretary of State, 614-466-3910 | Ohio Secretary of State |
| corporation: dissolve | Form 561: Certificate of Dissolution (domestic for-profit corporation) Fee: $50 How to file: The forms page offers File Online at Ohio Business Central and a PDF download. The PDF can be sent on paper. | Ohio Secretary of StateOhio Department of Taxation |
| LLC: dissolve | Form 616: Certificate of Dissolution of a Domestic Limited Liability Company Fee: $50. $50 per the Secretary of State forms and fees page (Certificate of Dissolution of a domestic LLC, Form 616, revised 1/22, replaces Form 562). Full notesHow to file: The forms page offers File Online at Ohio Business Central and a PDF download. The PDF can be sent on paper. | Ohio Secretary of State |
| Tax clearance | Varies. Ohio Department of Taxation, Tax Release Unit. Notification of Dissolution or Surrender (Certificate of Tax Clearance method or Affidavit method) Form D5 | Ohio Department of TaxationOhio Department of Taxation |
| Before you file |
| Ohio Department of Taxation |
| Reports and final return | Final returns must be filed before the D5 for corporations. | Ohio Department of Taxation |
| How long it takes | Varies. No fixed time is published. | Ohio Department of Taxation |
| Other tax stops |
| Ohio Department of Taxation |
Fees and form numbers change, so check the source before you file.
A checklist can keep you from forgetting things. It cannot tell you what your state requires today. Have your lawyer or CPA look at it before you rely on it. Vaultfish helps you run the process. We are not lawyers and this is not legal advice. If you need counsel who knows this area, we can point you to one. Ask for a referral
Questions people ask
How much does it cost to close a Ohio LLC or corporation?
LLC (Form 616): $50. corporation (Form 561): $50. Fees change, so check the source link before you pay.
Do I need tax clearance to close a Ohio company?
It depends on the business type. A corporation sends Form D5 to the tax department first and files with the Secretary of State second. The notice we read lists no such step for an LLC.
Where do I file in Ohio?
File with the Ohio Secretary of State. You can file online or by mail.
How long does it take to close a company in Ohio?
Ohio publishes no fixed processing time that we could find.
What happens to my Slack, email and CRM when I close?
Closing the company does not decide what happens to your records. Keep what tax and payroll rules ask for. The IRS gives retention periods on its site. Then check what the rest could be worth before you delete it.
Is this legal advice?
No. We read the state pages so you don't have to, then link to them so you can check our work. Have your lawyer or CPA read it too. They like that.
