Closing a company? Your state sets the first steps.

The form, the fee and the tax step, with links to the state's own pages.

Check your data

Before you delete the old Slack, check whether a buyer may want it.

The closing checklist

One list for the whole job, from the vote to the last tax return. Records steps come first.

Step 1 of 7

Which state is the company in?

Pick the state where it was formed, since each state has its own form and fee. Type a name or a code, like TX.

Which state is the company in?

This checklist works best with JavaScript on. Here is the whole list as plain text. Tick as you go, then print. Ticks are not saved without JavaScript. Your state's form, fee and tax step are on its own page. Pick it above, or find it in the list below.

Download .csv Download .md

1 Decide and document8 items

1.1Read your operating agreement or bylaws for how to vote on closingWhy: It says who must vote and how many votes it takes.
1.2Hold the vote and write it downWhy: Minutes or a signed consent are the proof banks and the state may ask for.
1.3Name the person who runs the wind-downWhy: One name keeps bills, filings and archives from falling through.
1.4List what the company owns and owesWhy: Everything else on this list depends on that list.
1.5Check contracts for end dates, notice periods and feesWhy: Ending a contract early can cost money.
1.6Check who must approve, such as investors, lenders and landlordsWhy: Some agreements say you must ask first.
1.7Talk to your lawyer and CPA about the order of stepsWhy: The order can change who gets paid and what you owe.
1.8Write a one-page wind-down plan with datesWhy: A plan with dates beats a plan in your head.

2 Tell the right people7 items

2.1Tell staff, after you check the notice rulesWhy: Some employers owe notice before layoffs. Ask your lawyer.
2.2Tell customers and plan how open work gets handed offWhy: Customers with open orders need a clear end date.
2.3Tell vendors, landlords and lendersWhy: Each contract has its own notice rules.
2.4Tell payroll and benefits providersWhy: Benefit plans have their own ending steps.
2.5Tell your insurers and ask about coverage after closingWhy: Claims can show up after the doors shut.
2.6Tell your bank and card processorsWhy: Keep the accounts open until the last bill clears.
2.7Tell partners who share data or resell your workWhy: Their contracts may say what happens to shared records.

3 Save the records12 items

4 Settle with creditors and the tax offices10 items

5 File and close8 items

5.1Check what your state asks for before you fileWhy: Many states want taxes and reports settled first.
5.2File the dissolution form with your state's filing officeWhy: This is the step that ends the company on the state's books.Find the form name and fee for your state on the state pages at vaultfish.com/closing-a-business.
5.3Publish a newspaper notice if your state asksWhy: A few states want a public notice.
5.4Check annual or final report rulesWhy: A missed report can block the filing.
5.5Save the state's confirmationWhy: You will want proof the company is closed.
5.6Close your registrations in other statesWhy: Each state where you registered wants its own closing papers.
5.7Close the bank accounts after the last payment clearsWhy: Closing early bounces the last bills.
5.8Store the archive and the wind-down papers for the agreed periodWhy: Questions can arrive long after the doors close.

What the closing checklist covers

The checklist runs in the order you do the work. Pick your state and it fills in that state's form, fee and tax clearance step.

The records come before the filing. Chat and email accounts can go dark while the paperwork is still open, so save them while you still can.

Five groups, from the vote to the last tax return.

Every state on one page, and the federal side

The checklist works one state at a time. These pages cover the rest of the job.

How to dissolve an LLC or corporation, state by state: every checked state's form and fee in one table.
Which states require a tax clearance to dissolve: yes, varies or no, with the form or agency to ask.
Final tax return when closing a business: the IRS forms in order, from Form 966 to the EIN letter.
What to do with company records when you close: the federal keep periods, and when to license before you delete.
What happens if you close your business and walk away: the fees, taxes and personal liability an unfiled company leaves running.

Checked and ready

Every fact on a checked state page links to an official source.

Still being checked

These pages are live, but a few facts need a second look.

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

Does the closing checklist cover every state?

Not yet. A state counts as checked when every fact on its page has an official source behind it, and more states join as we check them.

Why is a state on the closing checklist marked as still being checked?

We found a form and a fee, but not every answer on the state's own pages. That state's page says which facts need a second look.

Can I use the closing checklist instead of a lawyer?

No. We check the state pages so you don't have to, then link to them so you can check our work. Have your lawyer or CPA look it over too. They like that.

What does the closing checklist do?

The closing checklist lists what to do in order, from the vote to the last tax return. Pick your state and it fills in that state's form, fee and tax clearance step. It also puts the records steps first, because chat and email can go dark before the filing is done.

Does the closing checklist keep my answers?

No. Your answers stay in your browser. The share link holds your answers and statuses, with no names in it.

What about my Slack, email and CRM when I close?

Closing the company does not decide what happens to your Slack, email and CRM records. Check what you must keep and what the rest could be worth before you delete anything.