The cost to dissolve an LLC is made of a few parts. There is the state's filing fee. There may be amounts the LLC already owes the state. There is the final tax return. And, if you choose, there is the cost of having someone do the work for you. This guide goes through each part so you can see the full picture before you start.
1. The state filing fee
Most states charge a fee to file the dissolution document. Some charge nothing. This table shows the fee for the 12 states we cover. Fees can change, so check the state's current fee before you file.
| State | Document | State fee |
|---|---|---|
| Arizona | Articles of Termination | $35 |
| Colorado | Statement of Dissolution | $10 |
| Delaware | Certificate of Cancellation | $220 |
| Florida | Articles of Dissolution | $25 |
| Georgia | Certificate of Termination | No state fee |
| Indiana | Articles of Dissolution | $20 |
| Montana | Articles of Termination | No state fee |
| Nevada | Articles of Dissolution | $100 |
| North Carolina | Articles of Dissolution | $30 |
| Oregon | Articles of Dissolution | $100 |
| Virginia | Articles of Cancellation | $25 |
| Wyoming | Articles of Dissolution | $60 |
The document has a different name in different states. If the words confuse you, read dissolution vs. cancellation vs. termination.
2. Amounts the LLC may already owe
The filing fee is often not the biggest cost. Most states only accept a dissolution from an LLC in good standing. That means its annual reports are filed and its fees and franchise taxes are paid. If the LLC is behind, you usually have to pay what is overdue before the state accepts the dissolution.
Common examples:
- Missed annual reports. Many states charge a fee for each annual report, and some add a late penalty. If you missed several years, this adds up. See how to dissolve an LLC with an overdue annual report.
- Delaware annual LLC tax. Delaware requires its $300 annual LLC tax to be paid for every year, including the year of cancellation. An LLC that skipped two years and closes in the third may owe $900 in tax, plus any penalties and interest, on top of the filing fee.
If the state has already dissolved the LLC because of missed reports, read administrative dissolution. That situation can cost more, because fees and penalties may have kept building up.
3. The final tax return
The LLC's last year still needs a federal tax return. What it costs depends on the type of return and on who prepares it:
- Single-member LLC owned by a US person: no separate LLC return. The last year goes on the owner's Form 1040. If you already prepare your own return, the extra cost may be small.
- Multi-member LLC: a final Form 1065 with a Schedule K-1 for each member. Most owners use an accountant for this.
- Foreign-owned single-member LLC: Form 5472 attached to a pro forma Form 1120, also for the final year. Missing it can carry a $25,000 penalty per form, per year, so this is not the place to save money. See Form 5472 in the final year.
Accountant fees vary a lot. They depend on the return, how many transactions the LLC had, and whether earlier years are missing. Ask for a quote before you start. We do not prepare or file tax returns. Read the LLC final tax return for more.
4. Doing it yourself: what it costs
You can dissolve an LLC yourself. Many owners do. If you go this way, your costs are:
- the state filing fee from the table above,
- any overdue amounts the state requires first,
- the final tax return, filed by you or by an accountant you pay,
- your own time to check the LLC's standing, fill in the state form, write and send the IRS letter.
Closing the EIN account with the IRS has no fee. You send a signed letter with the LLC's legal name, EIN, business address and the reason for closing. See closing an EIN business account. Our step-by-step guide and close LLC checklist show what you need to do, in order.
For a simple LLC that is in good standing, doing it yourself is realistic. It gets harder if you live outside the US, if the LLC is behind with the state, or if you are not sure which forms apply.
5. Having us do it: our two packages
If you would rather not handle it yourself, we offer two packages. Each one is a fixed price for our work, plus the state fee.
| Package | Price | What we do |
|---|---|---|
| Dissolution package | $349 plus state fee | We check the LLC's standing with the state, file the state's dissolution document and send you the state's confirmation. |
| Dissolution and EIN closure package | $449 plus state fee | Everything in the first package, plus the IRS letter that closes the EIN business account. We prepare it for one signature and send it. |
A few things to know about the price:
- The state fee is passed on at cost. It appears at checkout as a separate line.
- Overdue state amounts are not part of any package. If the state requires an overdue amount first, we get back to you about it before anything is paid.
- No package includes a tax return. The final return is filed by you or your accountant.
- We work with a network of independent, licensed CPAs and tax advisors. We are not a law firm or a CPA firm, and we do not give legal or tax advice.
An example
Say you own a single-member LLC in Wyoming. It is in good standing and you want us to close both the state registration and the EIN account. You would pay $449 for the package plus the Wyoming state fee from the table. The last year then goes on your own Form 1040, or, if you live outside the US, on Form 5472 with a pro forma Form 1120, filed by you or your accountant.
If the same LLC were in Delaware and had missed its annual tax, the $300 for each unpaid year would come first. We would tell you the amount before anything is paid.