Close your business

City requirements

1. Close the business registration
   
   Log in to cancel your Business Registration and pay any delinquent taxes on the account with the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector.   

2. Abandon your Fictitious Business Name 
    
   You must tell the City if you plan to abandon your business trade name or close your business. This is done at the Office of the County Clerk.  

3. Request Closure of an existing business personal property account (if applicable) 
    
   If you have been reporting and filing Unsecured Business Personal Property Taxes for your business, you must notify the Assessor-Recorder’s Office and file your final Business Personal Property Tax. Download the closure form, or contact them at (415) 554-5531 or email at askbpp@sfgov.org.   

4. Cancel permits or licenses
   
   Common permits you may need to cancel include from the Department of Public Health, Fire Department, Weights and Measures, and Street Vendor. Contact a small business permit specialists at 628-652-4949 or email sfosb@sfgov.org to get help.

State requirements

1. Close your LLC/Corporation with the Secretary of State (if applicable) 
    
   Read more and submit the appropriate form for your business type online. You will also need to go online to close your LLC/Corporation’s account with the Franchise Tax Board. During this process, you will need to pay any unpaid taxes, interest, and penalties.

2. Close your Seller’s Permit (if applicable) 
   
   Fill out and mail the CDTFA-65 form to the CA Department of Tax & Fee Administration. You can also read Publication 74 for more information.

3. Provide your employees with information about Unemployment Insurance Benefits (if applicable)

4. Pay your final state payroll taxes (if applicable)
   
   To submit your payroll taxes, file a Payroll Tax Deposit and Quarterly Contribution Return and Report of Wages along with payment to the CA Employment Development Department (EDD) within ten days of closing your business. Learn more about the closing requirements from the EDD.

Federal requirements

1. Close your business with the IRS
   
   When you close or sell your business, you must file final employment tax returns with the IRS. You also must file returns to report disposing of business property, to report the exchange of like-kind property, and/or to change the form of your business. The IRS Closing a Business guidelines provide all the information you need to close, sell, or declare bankruptcy for your business with the IRS.
    
2. Follow the Department of Labor instructions for laying off employees (if applicable)
   
   The Department of Labor instructions for downsizing and closing explain the federal rules for laying off employees, and offer services to assist you through a layoff as well as plan for and avoid future layoffs.

More considerations

1. Close all private business accounts 
    
   This might include bank accounts, business credit cards, insurance policies, vendor accounts, or others. 

Resources

Toolkit for Transitioning to Employee Ownership

Small Business Administration Guide to Closing a Business

Legal Services for Small Businesses