deregister business
service description
If you want to stop operating your business, you are obliged to deregister your business.
The same applies if you move the headquarters of your company or a branch or a dependent branch of your company to a new location and this results in the responsibility of a different municipality. First deregister your trade or business at the previous location. Then register it again at the new location.
If you change the legal form of your business, you will also need to deregister your business. First, you must deregister your business under the previous legal form. Then you must re-register your business under the new legal form.
If you move the headquarters of your company or a branch or a dependent branch of your company to a new location without changing the jurisdiction within the municipality, a business re-registration is sufficient.
The following persons or their authorized representatives must deregister:- in the case of individual trades by the trader himself,
- in the case of corporations (e.g. GmbH, AG) by the legal representatives.
In the case of partnerships (e.g. OHG, KG, GbR/BGB-Gesellschaft, GmbH & Co. KG), all partners with management rights must deregister their business.
procedure
You can deregister your business in person, in writing (e.g. by fax or letter) or electronically.
- If the deregistration is made in person or in writing, you must fill out the "Commercial deregistration" form - GewA 3 and sign it personally.
- The "GewA 3" form is available from the office responsible for deregistration or, depending on the offer, can also be downloaded.
- In the electronic procedure, the same data is collected as in the context of personal deregistration. However, you can deviate from the form of the pre-printed form and you do not have to sign it personally.
- The office responsible for deregistration can use suitable and appropriate methods to determine your identity (e.g. PIN/TAN method, the electronic ID function, De-Mail or a self-declaration of identity) in the event of electronic deregistration in the online process.
- You will receive a certificate from the authority upon receipt of your business deregistration.
- The office responsible for the deregistration forwards the business deregistration to other offices, such as the tax office, the trade association, the chamber of crafts or the chamber of industry and commerce and, if necessary, the registry court.
- If the deregistration is made in person or in writing, you must fill out the "Commercial deregistration" form - GewA 3 and sign it personally.
requirements
- liquidation or
- Relocation of your place of business or the seat of a branch or dependent branch outside the previous municipality or
- Changing the legal form of your business
What documents are required?
- Copy of identity card or passport with registration certificate, or presentation on site. In the case of electronic business re-registration, depending on the municipality, other suitable and appropriate procedures for determining identity (e.g. PIN/TAN procedure, the electronic ID function, De-Mail or a self-declaration of identity).
- Copy of the extract from the commercial register if your company is entered in the commercial register (also: register of cooperatives, register of associations)
What fees apply?
The costs are based on the respective administration fee schedule of the state or on the fee statutes of the bodies responsible under state law.
What deadlines do I need to consider?
You are obliged to deregister your business at the time the business is dissolved or at the time the business is relocated to the area of responsibility of another municipality or the change in legal form.
processing time
If you have filled out the form correctly and your documents are complete, the authority will immediately confirm receipt of your deregistration if you visit us in person. If you deregister in writing or electronically, you will receive confirmation of receipt of your business deregistration within 3 days.
legal basis