How to Dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island | 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 Rhode Island, 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 Rhode Island, 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-llc-rhode-island

If you have a Rhode Island LLC (domestic or foreign) you must have an operating agreement. The first step towards the dissolution of Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island LLC.

How to Dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island

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

Step 1: Follow Your Rhode Island 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. The Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island Articles of Organization, one has to file Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island 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,

Division of Business Services
148 W. River Street
Providence, Rhode Island 02904-2615

Filing Fee: $50


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 Rhode Island LLC

Apart from these three steps, no major dissolution rules are there in Rhode Island. 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 Rhode Island includes the formation as well as dissolution fees. To dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island, LLCs have to file an Article of Dissolution. The filing fee is $50. 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 Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island. A registered agent can help you do the needful.

Reasons Behind Dissolving Rhode Island LLC

Having a business on the verge of dissolution is a terrible thing. But for some, it can be a liability that is finally getting off of their shoulders. Just like that, a business can have any reason to dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island with no certain one. In the history of dissolutions, there are plenty of dissolutions that have taken place, and all have different reasons. Let’s take a look at the ones that are mostly it,

  • The low profitability of the business or the company.
  • The increasing competition in the different companies of the same niche.
  • The frequent disagreements between the owners of the company.
  • The poor management of the directors of the company is also a key reason for it.
  • The poor economy regarding the sector of the business.
  • Completion of the contract of the LLC.

Top Businesses in Rhode Island!

Who doesn’t need an excellent opportunity to make more money and be independent? We all do. So in the state of Rhode Island, people can get the opportunity to make a great fortune. So if you need to start an LLC in Rhode Island, you can do it without any difficulty. Check out the different industries that you can go for,

  1. Real estate industry: People need the best of what they imply, so if they want to buy a place or rent it, they get help from the finance industry. That industry is making a tremendous amount of contribution of $11.8 billion in the economy too. Isn’t that what we need? The state sure does.
  2. Professional services: There is a need for service daily, and it is the sector we go to. That makes professional and business services very crucial to the state and economy too. It provides the best jobs to the people, and they can also be employed in it for a longer-term. It contributes a lot to the economy, and if we put it in numbers, it is $7.21 billion.
  3. Health care: The people who need assistance for their health or educational services can get to this sector. Both these things are important for a person, so it is a sector that cannot be eliminated. The contribution that this sector makes is $6.79 billion in amount.

Rhode Island LLC Dissolution Review

Time needed: 5 minutes

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

  1. Follow Your Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island, there is a fee of $50 to be paid for filing the Articles of Dissolution. Articles of Dissolution must be submitted to the Rhode Island SOS.

Is the revenue department clearance required for dissolution?

No requirement of revenue department clearance is required until the SOS of Rhode Island 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 Rhode Island

To dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island you need to file the Articles of Dissolution with the Rhode Island Division of Business Services through mail by paying a filing fee of $50.

One of the primary costs to dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island is the filing fee required by the Rhode Island Secretary of State. This fee is essential to initiate the dissolution process and officially close the business. While the exact amount varies depending on factors such as the type of business entity and the method of filing, it is an unavoidable expense for business owners looking to discontinue their operations.

In addition to the filing fee, there may be other costs associated with dissolving an LLC in Rhode Island. For example, if the LLC has outstanding debts or liabilities, business owners may need to settle these obligations before closing the company. This could involve paying off creditors, resolving legal disputes, or liquidating assets to cover any outstanding financial responsibilities.

Furthermore, business owners must consider the potential costs of hiring legal or financial professionals to assist with the dissolution process. While not always required, seeking professional guidance can help ensure that the LLC is dissolved correctly and in compliance with Rhode Island state law. This level of expertise may come at a cost, which will need to be factored into the overall expenses of closing the business.

Moreover, business owners should be aware of any tax implications associated with dissolving an LLC in Rhode Island. Depending on the circumstances of the closure, there may be tax obligations that need to be addressed, such as paying final business taxes, filing required state documents, or obtaining tax clearance certificates. Failing to address these tax considerations could potentially lead to penalties or legal consequences down the road.

While the costs of dissolving an LLC in Rhode Island are an unavoidable reality for some business owners, it is important to approach the process with careful consideration and proper planning. Understanding the potential expenses involved in closing a business entity can help entrepreneurs prepare financially and ensure a smooth and efficient dissolution process.

In conclusion, business owners looking to dissolve an LLC in Rhode Island should be aware of the various costs associated with this process. From filing fees to outstanding debts, legal assistance to tax obligations, the expenses of closing a business can quickly add up. By understanding and budgeting for these costs upfront, entrepreneurs can navigate the process of dissolving their LLC with confidence and clarity.

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 Rhode Island. If you have any query do let us know in the comment box.

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