How to Dissolve an LLC in West Virginia | LLC Closing Guide


Steve Goldstein
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To dissolve a limited liability company one has to take up a set of required steps. In West Virginia, if you and the members of the LLC want to discontinue business, then it is necessary to dissolve their business legally to avoid any administrative and legal consequences. To dissolve an LLC in West Virginia, you are required to submit a complete Article of Dissolution to the Secretary of State. Before submitting the Article of Dissolution, one must follow the operating agreement.

how-to-dissolve-west-virginia

If you have a West Virginia LLC (domestic or foreign) you must have an operating agreement. The first step towards the dissolution of West Virginia LLC is to follow the operating agreement. There are some points to be noted before proceeding with the official paperwork. At first, make sure all the members of the LLC are agreed to dissolve the business. Once all the members are ready, their consent should be recorded via voting. After casting their vote in favor of the dissolution, the legal process must be started. Here are the steps to address for dissolving West Virginia LLC.

How to Dissolve an LLC in West Virginia

Dissolution of West Virginia LLC requires three broad procedural steps. Having a West Virginia LLC Operating agreement, close all the tax accounts, and finally submit the Articles of Dissolution form to the West Virginia Secretary of State.

Step 1: Follow Your West Virginia LLC Operating Agreement

When you have started an LLC as a business entity, then there is an operating agreement that is formed. There are complete details of how the company will function and grow in that operating agreement, which acts as a comprehensive guide. There is also a dissolution process, which is added to your agreement. The common dissolution steps that almost every LLC follows are:-

First of all, the dissolution vote will take place among the LLC members in the dissolution meeting. If the majority is with the YES, then the process goes into legal proceedings.

  • All the dissolution votes will be noted down and recorded with the minutes of the meeting or a consent form.
  • After that, a formal date for dissolving the LLC will be decided.
  • The next step is counting the LLC assets and dividing them among the stakeholders and members accordingly.
  • Finally, the creditors of the business are notified, and the debts of the business are settled.

This is a general process. However, it is strongly recommended to seek professional help to avoid any complications when it comes to terminating an LLC.

Get a Professional Agent Service

When it comes to a limited liability company dissolution, it is important to get professional help. West Virginia registered agent will guide you with everything you need to close your limited liability company. While choosing a registered agent make sure they have a physical street address in the state. A professional service provider helps you to file the Article of Dissolution and close your various tax accounts without any hassle. Below are the best LLC services we strongly recommend for you.

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Step 2: Close All Tax Accounts

Every action that an official business takes is legally bound to some minimum business taxes. For that, various accounts, especially business entity tax account, are maintained by the state government with the help of various departments. You should consider all the taxes that you have paid for your LLC’s duration and make a list of them.

You must contact all government entities and clear the amount of outstanding taxes due until the date you have decided for dissolution. All the taxes must be paid in advance so that you don’t face any issues in the further process of shutting down your LLC.

Some of the common taxes that limited liability companies have to pay are:

  • Unemployment insurance tax
  • Employee withholding tax if your LLC has employees.
  • If your LLC is engaged in selling taxable goods then they are liable to pay the sales and use tax.

Most of these taxes are normally filed, but some departments require official paperwork, without which it is impossible for the business to close their accounts. Apart from business taxes, federal taxes, personal income taxes, and franchise taxes are to be considered. For the franchise taxes, a franchise tax form is required.

That is why the LLC owner should go through the sales tax guide and hire an accounting service. If you want to do the accounting yourself or make accounting easy, try FreshBooks.

Tax clearance

While dissolving the West Virginia LLC, the owner does not require to obtain a tax clearance certificate. However, if you have filed federal taxes, then you must go through the final return option on your IRS form.

The IRS form for the LLC that are classified as partnerships is form 1065, and those LLC’s who have registered themselves as corporate should check IRS form 1120.

Step 3: File Articles of Dissolution

There is a list of dissolution documents that you, as an LLC owner, have to file. Once these articles are filed, the legal existence of the LLC will be over. Like a West Virginia Articles of Organization, one has to file West Virginia LLC Articles of Dissolution. The dissolution procedure and filing the articles of dissolution form is very easy and is discussed below.

  • First of all, the LLC owner(s) has to file the Article of Dissolution. There are multiple methods of filing available, such as file by mail, in-person drop, or/and online filing. To get the application form you need to visit the Secretary of State Website of West Virginia state.
  • You can follow the filing instruction on the official portal so that the steps for dissolution will be easier to complete.
  • In that particular SOS website, the LLC owner has to look for the Domestic LLC Articles of Dissolution page.
  • If you want to dissolve West Virginia Foreign LLC then look for the Foreign LLC Dissolution process.
  • There is a form available on this page, which is the article of dissolution you are looking for. You have to download that pdf form and start filling it.
  • You must fill in all the important and legal information in the form, so you should be extra careful.
  • After filling in all the important information, you must choose the mode of payment you want to use to pay the LLC dissolution filing fees.
  • After filling in every detail, one should submit the form through an official mail address and make a payment.
  • It takes 3-5 business days after filing of articles of dissolution if you are filing it by mail or in-person.

Mail to,

Charleston Office
One-Stop Business Center
1615 Washington St. E.
Charleston, WV 25311

Clarksburg Office
North Central WV Business Center
200 W. Main St.
Clarksburg, WV 26301

Martinsburg Office
Eastern Panhandle Business Center
229 E. Martin St.
Martinsburg, WV 25401

Online FIling: West Virginia Online LLC Dissolution

Filing Fee: $25


The LLC you owned is dissolved, and you are free from all the liabilities linked with the LLC and its taxes. A copy of both original articles and recorded articles should be submitted in front of the probate judge. Now it’s his call that he accepts your expedited dissolutions or not.


Points to Be Noted When Dissolving West Virginia LLC

Apart from these three steps, no major dissolution rules are there in West Virginia. However, there are some other tasks one has to keep in mind while dissolving an LLC legally.

Winding Up

There are some purposes of LLC that require some attention even after dissolution, known as winding up. The task of winding up includes.

  • For a certain period, the property of a business requires preservation.
  • If there is any civil case against the LLC, then the owner needs to finish them.
  • Settle all the existing disputes of LLC.
  • Transfer all the property of LLC to the names of partners.
  • Release all the liabilities that the LLC owes to others.
  • Rightful distribution of all the assets among members, according to their percentage of partnerships.

Cost of Dissolving LLC

LLC cost in West Virginia includes the formation as well as dissolution fees. To dissolve an LLC in West Virginia, LLCs have to file an Article of Dissolution. The filing fee is $25. The details are mentioned on the second page of the article dissolution filing form. Following are the ways to pay for the dissolution,

  • You can select a payment pick-up option.
  • There is an option of direct account transfer through your prepaid accounts.
  • LLC owners can also use their Credit cards, providing their complete details and types. Along with that, an original signature is required to authorize the transaction state will make.

After Dissolving Your LLC

After you formally dissolve your LLC, your business name will not be reserved anymore. Any other business entity will be eligible to use your West Virginia LLC name immediately after 120 days of dissolving your LLC. On the other hand, if you have a foreign LLC in other states, then you must comply with the SOS of the state after the dissolution of your LLC in West Virginia. A registered agent can help you do the needful.

Reasons Behind Dissolving West Virginia LLC

Dissolving a business is something that needs our whole attention. Because if something goes wrong, the company won’t be deemed dissolved. So that is why we always say if you want to dissolve an LLC in West Virginia, you better keep up with the guidelines. Because if you don’t go according to the government, you can face severe consequences for that. Here are the consequences of not going according to the government,

  • If the company is still under the name of operative companies, it will have to pay the dues, i.e., taxes.
  • The government can make the company go for dissolution.
  • There can be lawsuits against the company due to this.
  • The creditors can still ask for the money that is due to them.
  • The assets can lose their value in the market at all.

Top Businesses in West Virginia!

The economy of the state is the one that has a lot to provide to the population. With the help of this nature of the economy, it is best to start an LLC in West Virginia too. There are a lot of things that we need to learn to make a business the best one. The first thing is getting all possible knowledge about it. Here, we have arranged that already for you!

  1. Government enterprises: This sector includes public schools as well as hospitals. The sector allows the people to get what they need and without worrying about the higher costs. It is the primary reason every state has these enterprises for the general public. But still, the sector has provided a significant amount of $10.63 billion to the GDP too.
  2. Mining: If we talk about this sector, then it is the main sector of West Virginia. If we depict the sector’s importance, then around 75% of the income from the mining sector comes from deriving coal. Rest comes from petroleum, crushed stone, sand, silt, and gravel. With all these, the sector also represents the GDP by $9.33 billion.
  3. Manufacturing: Can we ever thrive without the manufacturing sector? No, we cannot as it is the main sector that adds importance to many raw products. It also adds meaning to the GDP by $7.25 billion. The main manufacturing product of the state is chemicals. There are others too, and they are some primary metals like tin plate, structural steel, etc.

West Virginia LLC Dissolution Review

Time needed: 5 minutes

Here’s a recap of the steps you must follow when dissolving your West Virginia LLC. Click on the steps in this list if you want to read the full detail.

  1. Follow Your West Virginia LLC Operating Agreement

    Remember that when you started, you created an operating agreement. Use this agreement as a guide in proceeding with the dissolution of your LLC.

  2. Close All Tax Accounts

    Make sure you close all your tax accounts to avoid incurring further costs.

  3. File Articles of Dissolution

    File the article of dissolution to make it known to the state where your LLC operates is that you are indeed no longer in business.

F.A.Qs

Is there any filing fee the LLC owner has to pay for dissolving their LLC?

Yes, in West Virginia, there is a fee of $25 to be paid for filing the Articles of Dissolution. Articles of Dissolution must be submitted to the West Virginia SOS.

Is the revenue department clearance required for dissolution?

No, there is no requirement of revenue department clearance till the time the SOS of West Virginia accepts the dissolution form.

Can someone else take the name I use for my LLC?

The name will also get deregistered with the dissolution of the LLC. But the name will not be allotted for the next 120 days. After that, if some business wants to name their LLC after the name chosen by you, then it is their choice.

Are there any financial penalties if I don’t dissolve my LLC legally and miss the reports?

If you have not dissolved your LLC, you are liable for business privilege tax, and if it is not paid on time, you are leveraged with 10% of the amount of tax or $50. After that, the additional penalties will increase by $1 per month. If it goes unpaid for a longer duration, then the chances of seizing your property can also recover the tax.

Are there any fees for the probate judge who is taking the dissolution decisions?

Yes, if you are dissolving your LLC, you have to pay some amount to the probate judge who was also present during your LLC formation in the probate office. The minimum fee of the judge is $50, which can vary.

What is the Cost to Dissolve an LLC in West Virginia

To dissolve an LLC in West Virginia you need to file the Articles of Termination with the West Virginia Secretary of State through mail, email, fax, in-person free or online by paying a filing fee of $25.

There are various reasons why a business owner may choose to dissolve their LLC. It could be due to financial difficulties, changes in ownership, or simply the desire to move on to other endeavors. Whatever the reason may be, it is important to take the necessary steps to officially dissolve the LLC and avoid any future liabilities or legal issues.

In West Virginia, the process of dissolving an LLC involves several key steps. First, the LLC members must vote to approve the dissolution. This decision should be documented in the meeting minutes and records of the LLC. Next, a Certificate of Dissolution must be filed with the West Virginia Secretary of State’s office. This document officially notifies the state that the LLC is being dissolved.

Depending on the circumstances of the dissolution, there may be additional requirements to fulfill. For example, if the LLC has any outstanding debts or tax obligations, those must be resolved before the dissolution can be completed. Failure to settle these debts can result in legal consequences for the LLC members.

Along with the legal requirements, there are also costs associated with dissolving an LLC in West Virginia. The filing fee for the Certificate of Dissolution can vary depending on the state’s regulations. Additionally, there may be fees associated with notifying creditors or publishing notice of the dissolution in a local newspaper.

It is important for business owners to carefully consider the financial implications of dissolving their LLC. While the costs of dissolution may seem high, it is important to weigh them against the potential risks of keeping the LLC open. By properly dissolving the LLC, the business owners can ensure that they are not held personally liable for any future debts or obligations of the company.

Ultimately, the cost to dissolve an LLC in West Virginia will vary depending on the specific circumstances of each business. However, it is important for business owners to carefully consider these costs and take the necessary steps to officially close their LLC. By following the proper procedures and fulfilling all legal requirements, they can avoid future liabilities and move forward with confidence in their next business venture.

In Conclusion

Limited liability companies reduce owners’ personal liability. Having an LLC is quite cost-effective. However, if it is required to close down the business, then the dissolution process should be done legally. Get a professional service to get everything done. We hope this article helps you to close your LLC in West Virginia. If you have any query do let us know in the comment box.

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