How to Dissolve an LLC in Wisconsin (2026)
Filing Form 510 with the Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions costs $35. The state does not ask for a tax clearance certificate before it processes your dissolution.
This guide covers a voluntary dissolution that all the members approve for a domestic Wisconsin LLC. A foreign LLC that only registered here files a Statement of Withdrawal of Foreign Registration instead. That form follows different steps.
Quick Summary
- Settle your tax accounts before you file. DFI skips tax clearance, but the Department of Revenue still expects your final returns.
- Check your operating agreement first. Wisconsin's default rule needs every member's consent instead of a simple majority.
- Keep a copy of the filed dissolution. Your bank will want proof the LLC is officially closed.
Wisconsin LLC Dissolution Quick Reference
The table below lists the exact form, fee, expedited option and every filing detail you need before you start the paperwork.
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Form name | Form 510 - Statement of Dissolution or Termination |
| Filing fee | $35.00 |
| Expedited options | +$100.00; acted on by close of business the next business day |
| Standard processing | Not published for mail filings; online filings are accepted and confirmed the same day in most cases |
| Online portal | DFI Business Entity File Online |
| Mail address | State of WI-Dept. of Financial Institutions, PO Box 93348, Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348 |
| In-person address | 4822 Madison Yards Way, 4th Fl., North Tower, Madison, WI 53705 (physical address; also used for express/priority mail) |
| Notarization required | No |
| Tax clearance required (agency) | No - Wisconsin Dept. of Revenue requires final returns instead |
| Online filing mandatory for | Not applicable - no county mandate in Wisconsin |
| Short-form eligibility | Not applicable - one dissolution form covers all Wisconsin LLCs |
Step 1: Vote to Dissolve
How to Dissolve an LLC in Wisconsin: 6 Steps
Wisconsin's default rule is strict. Every member must agree in writing before the LLC can dissolve [1]. That's the law unless your operating agreement says otherwise. A member is anyone who owns part of the LLC.
Check your operating agreement first. Many agreements need only a simple majority instead of unanimous consent. Record the vote in writing and file it with your company records.
For steps that carry over to other states, see our guide to dissolving an LLC. It covers the steps that stay similar across most states before Wisconsin's own rules take over.
Step 2: Notify Creditors
Give known creditors at least 120 days to file a claim [2]. After that, the window closes for good. A known creditor is anyone the LLC already owes money to, like a vendor, a lender or a contractor.
Put the notice in writing, and list what a claim must include with a mailing address. Publish a public notice instead if you'd rather cover creditors you don't know about.
That starts a two-year deadline for unknown claims, instead of the 120-day window for known ones [3]. Miss either deadline, and the claim is barred for good.
Step 3: File Final Tax Returns
Wisconsin doesn't require a tax clearance certificate. The Department of Revenue still expects everything filed and paid before you close [4]. File a final income or franchise tax return and check the box marked "final."
That tells the department not to expect another return next year. If you had employees, file your last withholding reconciliation within 30 days of your closing date.
Send any outstanding W-2s at the same time. Keep a copy of each return, in case the state asks later.
Step 4: File Form 510 with the Department of Financial Institutions
Form 510, the Statement of Dissolution or Termination, is what actually closes your Wisconsin LLC. The Department of Financial Institutions processes it under Wis. Stat. 183.0702 [5]. You can file it online, and most online filings get accepted and confirmed the same day.
You can also mail it to the department's Milwaukee address, or hand-deliver it in person at DFI's Madison office. The filing fee is $35 whether you file online, by mail or in person.
No notary is required, just the signature of someone the company has authorized. File this receipt away with your other closing paperwork.
No Wisconsin county requires online filing, so mailing or hand-delivering your paperwork works everywhere in the state. Form 510 is also the only dissolution form on the books. Every Wisconsin LLC files the same paperwork, regardless of size or debt load.
Paying an extra $100 speeds things up. Your filing gets acted on by close of business the next business day instead of waiting in the standard queue.
If your Wisconsin annual report is overdue when you file, pay the back fees too. DFI collects those from a delinquent LLC on top of the filing fee.
Step 5: Distribute Remaining Assets
Creditors get paid first. Wisconsin law requires the LLC to settle every debt before anyone receives a distribution [6]. That includes money the LLC owes its own members.
Whatever surplus remains afterward goes to members. Each member's share depends on ownership percentage and any distributions already owed to them. A member who owns a bigger share collects a bigger piece of what's left. The operating agreement can set a different split instead.
Step 6: Close Accounts and Cancel Licenses and Permits
Your bank will ask for the filed Form 510 before it closes your business accounts. DFI supplies certified copies of filed documents for a fee. Request one when you file, so you have it ready.
Close your sales and use tax account with the Department of Revenue. You can do this through My Tax Account, by phone or by email.
Cancel any local business licenses or permits tied to the LLC's name. Let vendors and suppliers know the account is closing too, and save a receipt for every account you close.
FAQs
How Long Does It Take To Dissolve a Wisconsin LLC?
It takes as little as the same day to dissolve a Wisconsin LLC filed online, since the department confirms most online filings that fast. Mail filings have no published turnaround. The $100 expedited option gets your filing handled by the end of the next business day.
How Much Does It Cost to Dissolve a Wisconsin LLC?
It costs $35 to dissolve a Wisconsin LLC by filing Form 510 with the Department of Financial Institutions. Paying for expedited service moves your filing to the front of the line.
Do I Need Tax Clearance to Dissolve a Wisconsin LLC?
No, the state does not require tax clearance before you dissolve a Wisconsin LLC. You still must file final income, franchise and withholding returns with the Department of Revenue. Settle any balance due before you're done.
Can a Foreign LLC Withdraw the Same Way?
No, a foreign LLC can't withdraw the same way a domestic LLC dissolves. It uses the Statement of Withdrawal of Foreign Registration in place of Form 510. Form 510 only covers domestic Wisconsin LLCs.
References:
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/vii/0701
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/vii/0704
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/vii/0705
- https://www.revenue.wi.gov/Pages/FAQS/ise-closebus.aspx
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/vii/0702
- https://docs.legis.wisconsin.gov/statutes/statutes/183/vii/0707
Hello, My parent’s began an LLC and put some rural land into it. With my father passing, my mother sold us the property or in essences my two brothers and I purchased the LLC holding the property. We were told to secure a new EIN number for tax purposed. However the government request for a new EIN makes it a general partnership?? How do we address this? This property is in a number of government programs such as CRP and contracts are in place. However in updating these the agency’s are indicated the EIN form say partnership and none of the forms are now acurate?
Since you and your brothers now own the LLC together, it is classified as a partnership, which is why the new EIN application reflects this status. Use the new partnership EIN for all government programs and update your records accordingly. If this classification is not suitable, consult a tax professional to explore other options like electing to be taxed as a corporation.