Close your business

City requirements - close accounts

1. Close the business registration
   Log in to cancel your Business Registration and pay any delinquent taxes or outstanding balances on the account with the Office of the Treasurer and Tax Collector.   
   
   
2. Abandon your Fictitious Business Name  
   If you have filed for a fictitious business name for your business within the last 5 years, you will need to file for an abandonment.  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 Office of the Assessor-Recorder and file your final Business Personal Property Tax. If you are unsure whether you have a business personal property account, email askBPP@sfgov.org or call 415.554.5531 and ask if there is an account associated with your business. 

• Download the Office of the Assessor-Recorder business closure form   

City requirements - cancel permits or licenses

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

• Health Permits (if applicable): Complete a business closure form with the Department of Public Health. Contact them with questions at 415-252-3800.
  
  
• Weights and Measures (if applicable): Complete a business closure form with the Department of Public Health. For questions, contact their program at 415-252-3884 or email SFWeightsAndMeasures@sfdph.org.
  
  
• Fire Department Permit (if applicable): Contact SF Fire Department at 628-652-3260 to close your Fire Permit.
  
  
• Street Vendor Permit (if applicable): Email the Street Vendor Program at streetvendorpermit@sfdpw.org and let them know that you want to close out your vending permit. Please include the permit number, your name, and the business name in the email.

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

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