How to Dissolve an LLC in Montana (2026)
To dissolve an LLC in Montana, you file Articles of Termination with the Secretary of State. There's no filing fee.
You file it online through the Business Filing Portal. Montana requires no tax clearance certificate first, so you move straight to the paperwork.
This page is for closing a domestic Montana LLC on your own. If your LLC formed in another state, you'll use a different form to end it here instead.
Quick Summary
- Notify creditors before you file. Montana law sets a real deadline for their claims, so don't skip this step.
- Skip the tax certificate for a standard dissolution. Request it later only to prove your status to a bank.
- Montana has no short-form dissolution option. Every domestic LLC files the same Articles of Termination, so there's no eligibility test to pass first.
Montana LLC Dissolution Quick Reference
Here's what to check before you file: the fee and the notarization rule. Scan the table, then work through the steps below.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Form name | Articles of Termination |
| Filing fee | No filing fee |
| Expedited options | $20 for 24-hour priority handling, $100 for 1-hour expedite |
| Standard processing | Not officially published |
| Online portal | Montana Business Filing Portal |
| Mail address | Not accepted. Articles of Termination file only through the online portal |
| In-person address | Not accepted. Filing is online only, through the Business Filing Portal |
| Notarization required | No |
| Tax clearance required (agency) | No. An optional Tax Certificate from the Montana Department of Revenue is available on request |
| Online filing mandatory for | All domestic LLCs statewide (no mail-in or paper option) |
| Short-form eligibility | Not applicable. One Articles of Termination form covers all domestic LLCs |
How to dissolve an LLC in Montana: 6 steps
Follow these six steps in order. They're part of the broader process to dissolve an LLC, though the exact filing and fees differ by state.
Step 1: Vote to Dissolve
Start by pulling out your operating agreement. Montana law lets the LLC dissolve once members agree, at whatever vote share the agreement sets [1]. Record that vote in writing and keep it with your company records.
Step 2: Notify Creditors
Send written notice to every known creditor once you dissolve. Montana law gives each creditor at least 120 days to submit a claim [2]. That clock starts from the notice date or the termination filing, whichever comes later.
A claim that misses that cutoff is barred, so your notice should spell out the mailing address for claims and the exact deadline.
Step 3: File Final Tax Returns and Get Tax Clearance
File your final federal return with the IRS and your final state return with the Montana Department of Revenue. Mark each one final.
Montana doesn't require a tax clearance certificate before you file the termination paperwork. Requesting one from the department is free. It can help prove your status to a bank too.
Clear any pending Montana annual report too. Staying current avoids extra paperwork if you ever decide to reinstate the LLC instead.
Step 4: File the Articles of Termination
Submit the Articles of Termination through the online portal. It goes to the Secretary of State's Business Services Division. The state won't take it by mail or in person.
The filing needs no notarization. One Articles of Termination form covers every domestic LLC, so there's no shorter or simplified version to qualify for.
Pay $20 for 24-hour priority handling or $100 for 1-hour service if the standard queue is too slow for your timeline.
Montana law spells out what the Articles of Termination must include [3]:
- The LLC's name and the reason for terminating it
- The effective date, if it isn't immediate
- The person who'll wind up the business and sign the filing
- The registered agent in Montana who'll take legal notices after that
Step 5: Distribute Remaining Assets
Once debts are settled, distribute what's left in this order [4]:
- Creditors, including any member or manager the LLC owes money to
- Members owed a distribution under state law
- Each member's original contribution
- Whatever remains, split by ownership share
Step 6: Close Accounts and Cancel Licenses and Permits
Close business bank accounts and cancel credit cards once every debt is paid. Cancel any state or local business licenses and permits too.
Montana has no general sales tax, so there's no sales-tax account to close. Still, check with your city or county for any license fees you still owe.
What Happens If You Don't Formally Dissolve
Not filing doesn't end your legal duties. Montana can dissolve your LLC on its own if you miss the April 15 annual report deadline.
Fixing that later means paying $35 to reinstate the LLC, plus another $35 for each year of annual reports you missed along the way.
An administratively dissolved LLC loses its authority to do business here. You can still apply for reinstatement, but only within 5 years of the dissolution date [5].
Reinstating means filing every annual report you skipped. You'll also need a certificate from the Department of Revenue showing your state taxes are paid up.
If you'd rather start fresh than reinstate, see our guide on forming an LLC in Montana or compare Montana LLC formation services to help with the paperwork.
FAQs
How Much Does It Cost to Dissolve an LLC in Montana?
It costs nothing to dissolve an LLC in Montana. The state charges no filing fee for the Articles of Termination, though optional expedited processing costs extra.
How Long Does It Take to Dissolve an LLC in Montana?
It takes no fixed number of days to dissolve an LLC in Montana, since the state never publishes a standard turnaround. Pay extra for 24-hour or 1-hour expedited processing if you need it faster.
Do You Need a Registered Agent to Dissolve a Montana LLC?
Yes, you need a registered agent to dissolve a Montana LLC. The Articles of Termination must name an agent authorized to accept service of process after the company's existence ends.
Do Foreign LLCs File the Same Termination Form in Montana?
No, foreign LLCs don't file the same termination form in Montana. They file a Withdrawal to end their registration instead of the domestic Articles of Termination.
References:
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0090/section_0010/0350-0080-0090-0010.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0090/section_0080/0350-0080-0090-0080.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0090/section_0060/0350-0080-0090-0060.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0090/section_0050/0350-0080-0090-0050.html
- https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0350/chapter_0080/part_0090/section_0120/0350-0080-0090-0120.html
