Unsubscribe from business
Do you want to give up your commercial activity? Then you must not forget the trade deregistration. According to § 14 Gewerbeordnung (GewO), all traders are obliged to notify all changes that affect their trade.
For partnerships with several partners (e.g. GbR), please note that deregistration by all partners is required.
When do you have to deregister a business?
A deregistration of the trade must take place at:
- complete abandonment of a trade
- change of ownership under continued operation, e.g. after sale, succession, leasing, etc.
- Withdrawal of a partner in a partnership
- change of legal form, for example from a sole proprietorship to a GmbH
- Conversion according to the Transformation Act (UmwG), for example by merger, division, change of legal form or transfer of assets
The obligation to notify the abandonment of a commercial enterprise exists only if the commercial enterprise is definitively discontinued. A provision according to which the only temporary suspension of business activity is to be notified to the Trade Office is not to be found in the Trade Regulations.
If the company moves to a new city or municipality, only a registration with the responsible municipal regulatory authority at the new location is required. The regulatory authority of the previous place of establishment shall be automatically informed by the new competent authority.
Unsubscribe from business online: What documents do I need?
To unsubscribe from a trade online, you need:
- access to the Wirtschafts-Service-Portal.NRW ([My company account, BundID](https://wsp-frontend.staging.wsp.owl-it.de/help/user account/))
- Identity documents
Here you can unsubscribe your [business online](/application/business registration-unsubscribe/).
To unsubscribe from the trade on site at your responsible trade registration office, you need:
- the form for business deregistration
- your ID card or, if applicable, your residence permit
- if available, your certificate of receipt of the business registration (“trade licence”)
The tax office, the Chamber of Industry and Commerce, the Chamber of Crafts and the competent professional association will be automatically informed about your trade deregistration**.
Download:
Trade deregistration formUnsubscribe from business: costs
In North Rhine-Westphalia, a business deregistration is usually free of charge.
Deregister trade retroactively
The obligation to notify in accordance with the Trade Regulations stipulates that the trade deregistration must take place immediately. If you want to deregister your business retroactively, a period of three months should not be exceeded. If the trade deregistration is carried out later, the trade deregistration office responsible for you can impose a penalty or a fine, as it is an administrative offence.
Looking for a successor for your business?
You can hire and broker your business on Germany’s largest business succession exchange, nexxt-change. Go to nexxt-change.org.
FAQs: Unsubscribe from business
Help and frequently asked questions about trade deregistration
Do I have to inform the tax office about my business deregistration?
The body responsible for deregistration forwards the business deregistration to other bodies, such as the tax office, the trade association, the chamber of crafts or the chamber of industry and commerce and, if necessary, the register court.
What happens if I don't deregister a business?
According to the Trade Regulations, all trade declarations must be made immediately. This also includes timely business deregistration. Without deregistration, you will continue to pay taxes and contributions to the appropriate chambers and professional associations.
The obligation to notify the abandonment of a commercial enterprise exists only if the commercial enterprise is definitively discontinued. A provision according to which the only temporary suspension of business activity is to be notified to the Trade Office is not to be found in the Trade Regulations.
Do I have to repay taxes when deregistrating a business?
If you are unsure whether you have to repay taxes after deregistration, you can contact the tax office responsible for you. Whether you have to repay taxes depends on your income and the time of deregistration. If you have made profits by the time you unsubscribe, taxes may be due. Business documents such as contracts, files, invoices and reminders should be kept for ten years.
Can I deregister my business and register as unemployed?
[Information on unemployment by self-employment can be found here on the website of the Federal Employment Agency.](https://www.arbeitsagentur.de/voluntary unemployment insurance)
How does a trade deregistration work when moving?
A commercial deregistration is not required in this case. If you want to move the place of business of your business to another municipality or city, you only have to register your business with the competent municipal regulatory authority of the new location. The regulatory authority of the previous place of establishment shall be automatically informed by the new competent authority.
[Here you can register your business at the new location online.](https://service.wirtschaft.nrw/application/business registration performance selection/)
Can I unsubscribe and re-register my business?
You must unsubscribe and re-register your business with:
- change of ownership under continued operation, e.g. after sale, succession, leasing, etc.
- Withdrawal of a partner in a partnership
- change of legal form, for example from a sole proprietorship to a GmbH
- Conversion according to the Transformation Act (UmwG), for example by merger, division, change of legal form or transfer of assets.
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