Deregister trade

Do you want to discontinue your business, move to a location that falls under the jurisdiction of a municipality other than the one that was previously responsible, or do you want to change the legal form of your business? Then you must deregister your business.

You are only obliged to deregister your business if you wish to permanently cease operating your business.

If you relocate the headquarters of your business or a branch office or a dependent branch of your company to a new location and this results in the jurisdiction of a different municipality, you must register your business at the new location.

Deregistration at the previous location is usually carried out ex officio. In this case, the new competent authority informs the previous competent authority, which then carries out the deregistration.

If you change the legal form of your business, a business deregistration is required. You must first deregister your business under its previous legal form. You then re-register your business under the new legal form.

If you relocate the headquarters of your business or a branch office or dependent branch of your company to a new location without changing the jurisdiction within the municipality, a business re-registration is sufficient.

A business deregistration is also required if the business is transferred, for example through sale or succession.

Responsibility lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city in whose district the activity was previously carried out.

This procedure can also be handled by a "single point of contact". The "Single Point of Contact" is a special service offered by the municipalities and the state for service providers.

Responsibility lies with the municipality, the joint municipality and the city in whose district the activity was previously carried out.

This procedure can also be handled by a "single point of contact". The "Single Point of Contact" is a special service offered by the municipalities and the state for service providers.

• Forms: yes
• Online procedure possible: yes (if offered)
• Written form required: no
• Personal appearance required: no
  

• Dissolution of your business or
• relocation of your registered office or the registered office of a branch or dependent branch outside the previous municipality or
• Change in the legal form of your business

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You can deregister your trade in person, in writing (for example, by fax or letter) or by electronic means.

• If you deregister in person or in writing, you must fill out the form "Trade Deregistration" - GewA 3 and sign it personally.
  • The form "GewA 3" is available at 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 personal deregistration. However, it is possible to deviate from the form and you do not have to sign it personally.
• The office responsible for deregistration may use suitable and appropriate procedures to establish your identity when deregistering electronically using the online procedure (for example, PIN/TAN procedures, the electronic ID function, De-Mail or a self-declaration of identity).
• You will receive a certificate from the authority for the receipt of your trade deregistration.
• The office responsible for deregistration forwards the trade deregistration to other offices, such as the tax office, the employers' liability insurance association, the chamber of crafts or the chamber of industry and commerce and, if applicable, the registration court.
  

If the cessation of the business is clearly established and you do not deregister your trade, the deregistration will be carried out ex officio.

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