# How to Dissolve an LLC in Ohio: Form 616, $50, Tax Steps

> Ohio LLCs file Form 616, Certificate of Dissolution ($50), online at Ohio Business Central. Corporations use Form 561 and notify Taxation on Form D5.

Canonical: https://origindatapartners.com/guides/dissolve-llc-ohio
By: Origin Data Partners
Status: Published
Published: 2026-11-11
Updated: 2026-11-11
Sources checked: 2026-11-11

## Quick answer

To dissolve an Ohio LLC, file Form 616, Certificate of Dissolution, with the Ohio Secretary of State; the fee is $50 and you can file online at Ohio Business Central. The certificate includes a copy of the claims notice the LLC will publish. Close Ohio tax accounts with the Department of Taxation; corporations also notify it on Form D5.

## Key points

- Form 616 costs $50 and can be filed online. Corporations use Form 561, also $50.
- An Ohio LLC can post a claims notice on its website and the Secretary of State's, which bars most late claims after two years.
- Corporations no longer need a tax clearance certificate: since HB 301 they notify the Department of Taxation on Form D5 by certificate or affidavit.

## How to dissolve an LLC in Ohio, step by step

The vote, winding up and federal return are covered in [how to dissolve an LLC](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/how-to-dissolve-an-llc). Ohio's LLC Act adds one decision that shapes the rest: whether to publish a claims notice, because a copy of it goes into the certificate of dissolution itself ([R.C. 1706.471](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.471)).

- Approve the dissolution under the operating agreement. From then on the LLC may act only to wind up: collect assets, sell property, settle debts and distribute what remains.
- Write the claims notice: what a claim must include, the mailing address for claims and the two-year deadline.
- File Form 616, Certificate of Dissolution, with the Secretary of State for $50, online at Ohio Business Central or on the PDF ([Secretary of State](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)).
- Post the notice on the LLC's website, if it has one, and provide it to the Secretary of State for posting there.
- Close Ohio tax accounts with the Department of Taxation, and contact Ohio Job and Family Services about the unemployment account ([Department of Taxation](https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/business-closing-a-business)).
- File the final federal return and close the EIN account ([IRS](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/closing-a-business)).

Source: [Ohio Revised Code 1706.471: effect of LLC dissolution](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.471)

## Form 616: filing the Ohio Certificate of Dissolution

Under R.C. 1706.471, a winding-up LLC delivers a certificate of dissolution on the Secretary of State's form, giving its name and registration number, the fact that it has dissolved, an effective date if it is not effective on filing (never earlier than the filing date) and a copy of the notice it will publish ([R.C. 1706.471](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.471)). The Secretary of State's fee schedule lists the domestic LLC Certificate of Dissolution as Form 616 at $50.00, with a "File Certificate of Dissolution Online at Ohio Business Central" option ([fee schedule](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)).

This guide is general information, not legal or tax advice. Fees and forms change: confirm them with the agency before you file, and ask an attorney or accountant about your situation.

| Document | Form | Fee | Where | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Domestic LLC | Form 616, Certificate of Dissolution | $50 | Secretary of State, Ohio Business Central or PDF | Includes a copy of the claims notice |
| Domestic for-profit corporation | Form 561, Certificate of Dissolution | $50 | Secretary of State, Ohio Business Central or PDF | Department of Taxation notice on Form D5 |
| Foreign LLC | Form 618, Certificate of Dissolution of LLC/Cancellation of Foreign LLC | $50 | Secretary of State | Ends the Ohio registration |
| Foreign corporation | Form 564, Certificate of Surrender of Foreign Licensed Corporation | $50 | Secretary of State | Ends the Ohio license |
| Reinstatement | Form 525A, Reinstatement and Appointment of Agent | $25 | Secretary of State | For an entity the state has cancelled |

Source: [Ohio Secretary of State: business filing forms and fee schedule](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)

## The Ohio claims notice: posted online, two-year bar

Ohio moved LLC dissolution notices off the newspaper page and onto websites. Under R.C. 1706.474, the notice must be posted prominently on the LLC's main website, if it has one, and provided to the Secretary of State to be posted on the state's website. It counts as published once it is on both, or on the state's site alone if the LLC has no website ([R.C. 1706.474](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.474)).

The notice describes what a claim must include, gives a mailing address and states that a claim will be barred unless a proceeding to enforce it starts within two years after publication. That two-year bar covers claimants who were not sent direct notice, claims sent in but not acted on, and contingent or later-arising claims, which is why it is worth posting even though the statute makes it optional.

Source: [Ohio Revised Code 1706.474: publication of LLC dissolution](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.474)

## Ohio taxes and accounts to close

The Department of Taxation lists LLCs, along with corporations and LLPs, among the entity types that follow the Secretary of State's and the Department's dissolution procedures, and it points to account closure instructions for each tax type. Its Tax Release Unit answers at 855-995-4422 ([Department of Taxation](https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/business-closing-a-business)).

- Close each tax account the LLC holds, such as sales and use tax, employer withholding and the Commercial Activity Tax, following the instructions for that tax type.
- Ohio Job and Family Services handles the unemployment account: (877) 644-6562.
- The Bureau of Workers' Compensation handles the workers' compensation policy: (800) 644-6292.

Source: [Ohio Department of Taxation: closing a business](https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/business-closing-a-business)

## Dissolving an Ohio corporation: Form 561 and Form D5

A for-profit corporation files Form 561, Certificate of Dissolution, for $50 ([fee schedule](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)). R.C. 1701.86 lists what goes with it: evidence from the Department of Taxation that its taxes are paid, evidence that unemployment contributions owed to Job and Family Services and workers' compensation premiums are paid, or, instead of those certificates, an affidavit acknowledging that dissolution does not by itself relieve the corporation of those liabilities ([R.C. 1701.86](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1701.86)).

The Department of Taxation's September 2026 release, TR 2026-01, explains the current practice. HB 301 removed the requirement to obtain a Certificate of Tax Clearance and added a second way to notify the Department. A dissolving corporation submits Form D5, Notification of Dissolution or Surrender, using either the certificate method, which closes active tax accounts and returns a Certificate of Tax Clearance valid for 30 days, or the affidavit method, which does not close the accounts. Allow at least 30 days for processing ([TR 2026-01](https://tax.ohio.gov/help-center/communications/information-releases/tr-2026-01)). For the federal side, see [how to dissolve a corporation](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/dissolve-a-corporation).

Source: [Ohio Department of Taxation: TR 2026-01, corporate dissolution certificate changes](https://tax.ohio.gov/help-center/communications/information-releases/tr-2026-01)

## Foreign LLCs, foreign corporations and reinstatement in Ohio

An LLC formed in another state cancels its Ohio registration on Form 618 for $50, and a foreign corporation surrenders its Ohio license on Form 564 for $50 ([fee schedule](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)). Both can be filed online at Ohio Business Central.

If the state has already cancelled the company, the fee schedule lists Form 525A, Reinstatement and Appointment of Agent, at $25. A company that comes back to close properly can then file its dissolution and run the claims notice in the normal way.

Source: [Ohio Secretary of State: business filing forms and fee schedule](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)

## Records to keep after closing an Ohio business

Keep the filed Form 616 or 561, a copy of the posted claims notice and the date it went up, any Form D5 response, the final tax returns and the federal returns. With a two-year claims window, those records are what you will need if a claim arrives. The IRS asks for employment tax records to be kept at least 4 years ([IRS](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records)).

Export the company's working data before you cancel its software, using our guide to [export company records before closing](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/export-company-records-before-closing), and see [what to do with business records after closing](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/business-records-after-closing) for retention choices.

Source: [IRS: How long should I keep records?](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records)

## An Ohio company's records may be worth licensing

Manufacturing logs, service tickets, claims files, call notes, email and code from a working Ohio business are the kind of records AI developers license to train and test their systems. Value depends on volume, completeness and your right to share them once personal data is removed. Our guide to [selling company data after closing](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/sell-company-data-after-closing) covers how it works, and the [closing a business checklist](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/closing-a-business-checklist) covers the rest of the wind-down. A [free estimate](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit) needs no files.

Closing the company? Before you cancel software or delete files, find out whether its records are worth licensing: years of tickets, work orders, email and code can be. [Get a free estimate of what your records could be worth](https://origindatapartners.com/check-fit).


## Questions and answers

### How much does it cost to dissolve an LLC in Ohio?

Form 616, Certificate of Dissolution, costs $50. A foreign LLC cancelling its Ohio registration on Form 618 also pays $50.

### Can I dissolve an LLC online in Ohio?

Yes. The Secretary of State's fee schedule offers a "File Certificate of Dissolution Online at Ohio Business Central" option for Form 616, alongside the PDF.

### Do I need a tax clearance to dissolve an LLC in Ohio?

The LLC statute, R.C. 1706.471, asks for no tax certificate with Form 616. Close the LLC's tax accounts with the Department of Taxation. Corporations notify the Department on Form D5.

### Does an Ohio corporation still need a certificate of tax clearance to dissolve?

No longer as a requirement. According to the Department of Taxation, HB 301 removed it; a corporation files Form D5 by the certificate method or the affidavit method.

### Do I have to publish a notice when dissolving an Ohio LLC?

It is optional but useful. The notice is posted on the LLC's website and the Secretary of State's, and it bars most claims not pursued within two years.

### What is the difference between Form 616 and Form 561 in Ohio?

Form 616 dissolves an Ohio LLC. Form 561 dissolves an Ohio for-profit corporation. Both cost $50.

### How do I close a business in Ohio?

File the Secretary of State dissolution for your entity, close each Department of Taxation account, contact Ohio Job and Family Services and the Bureau of Workers' Compensation, then file the final federal return and EIN letter.

## Sources

- [Ohio Secretary of State: business filing forms and fee schedule](https://www.ohiosos.gov/business/business-filing-forms)
- [Ohio Revised Code 1706.471: effect of LLC dissolution](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.471)
- [Ohio Revised Code 1706.474: publication of LLC dissolution](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1706.474)
- [Ohio Revised Code 1701.86: corporate dissolution](https://codes.ohio.gov/ohio-revised-code/section-1701.86)
- [Ohio Department of Taxation: TR 2026-01, corporate dissolution certificate changes](https://tax.ohio.gov/help-center/communications/information-releases/tr-2026-01)
- [Ohio Department of Taxation: closing a business](https://tax.ohio.gov/business/resources/business-closing-a-business)
- [IRS: Closing a business](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/closing-a-business)
- [IRS: How long should I keep records?](https://www.irs.gov/businesses/small-businesses-self-employed/how-long-should-i-keep-records)

## Related reading

- [LLC Dissolution Fees and Forms by State (2026)](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/dissolve-llc-by-state)
- [How to dissolve an LLC: steps, forms and fees by state](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/how-to-dissolve-an-llc)
- [How to dissolve a corporation: forms, fees and Form 966](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/dissolve-a-corporation)
- [How to close a business: a step-by-step US checklist](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/closing-a-business-checklist)
- [Cancel Google Workspace or delete Slack? Export data first](https://origindatapartners.com/guides/export-company-records-before-closing)