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How to Shut Down a Business in Wisconsin

Complete guide to dissolving your business entity with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions.

Quick Answer

To dissolve a business in Wisconsin, file Articles of Dissolution — Limited Liability Company with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. The LLC filing fee is $20 and corporation fee is $20. Wisconsin does not require tax clearance before filing. Standard processing takes 5-10 business days.

Quick Facts

Filing Agency Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions
Website https://dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/
LLC Dissolution Fee $20
Corporation Dissolution Fee $20
Tax Clearance Required No
Processing Time 5-10 business days
Online Filing Yes
Phone (608) 261-7577

LLC Dissolution in Wisconsin

Form
Articles of Dissolution — Limited Liability Company
Fee
$20
Online
Yes
Processing
5-10 business days
Download Form →

Steps to Dissolve an LLC

  1. 1 Vote to dissolve the LLC according to the operating agreement or by member consent
  2. 2 Wind up business affairs, settle debts, and distribute remaining assets
  3. 3 File final state tax returns with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
  4. 4 File Articles of Dissolution (Form 510) online through the DFI portal — $20 fee online
  5. 5 Pay any delinquent annual report fees owed to the DFI at time of dissolution
  6. 6 Cancel any licenses, permits, and registrations
  7. 7 Close business bank accounts and cancel your EIN with the IRS

Corporation Dissolution in Wisconsin

Form
Articles of Dissolution — Business Corporation
Fee
$20
Online
Yes
Processing
5-10 business days
Download Form →

Steps to Dissolve a Corporation

  1. 1 Hold a board of directors meeting to recommend dissolution
  2. 2 Obtain shareholder approval for the dissolution
  3. 3 Wind up business affairs, settle debts, and distribute remaining assets
  4. 4 File final state tax returns with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue
  5. 5 File Articles of Dissolution (Form 10) online through the DFI portal — $20 fee online
  6. 6 Pay any delinquent annual report fees owed to the DFI at time of dissolution
  7. 7 Cancel any licenses, permits, and registrations
  8. 8 Close business bank accounts and cancel your EIN with the IRS

Tax Requirements

Tax Clearance Required
No
Final Return Required
Yes

Tax Agency: Wisconsin Department of Revenue

https://www.revenue.wi.gov/

Phone: (608) 266-2776

Wisconsin does not require a formal tax clearance certificate for dissolution. However, you must file final income and franchise tax returns and settle all outstanding tax obligations with the Wisconsin Department of Revenue.

Additional Requirements

Publication Required: No
Creditor Notification: Must notify known creditors of the dissolution and provide a reasonable deadline for claims
Employee Notification: Must provide WARN Act notice (60 days) if 100+ employees. Wisconsin also has a state Business Closing and Mass Layoff law requiring 60-day notice for 25+ employees.
Board/Member Approval: LLC: Member vote as specified in operating agreement. Corporation: Board resolution followed by majority shareholder approval.
Registered Agent: Registered agent designation terminates upon dissolution

Contact Information

Agency: Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions

Address: 4822 Madison Yards Way, North Tower, 4th Floor, Madison, WI 53705

Phone: (608) 261-7577

Email: DFICorporations@dfi.wisconsin.gov

Website: https://dfi.wi.gov/Pages/BusinessServices/BusinessEntities/

Online Portal: https://www.wdfi.org/apps/CorpSearch/Search.aspx

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This guide is for informational purposes only and does not constitute legal advice. Information is sourced from official state websites and was last verified in 2026. Always confirm current requirements directly with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Consult an attorney for advice specific to your situation.