Procedure descriptions
deregister a trade
If you wish to cease operating your business, you are obliged to deregister your business.
The same applies if you move the head office of your business or a branch or dependent branch of your business to a new location and this results in the jurisdiction 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, a business deregistration is also required. First, you must deregister your business under the previous legal form. You then re-register your business under the new legal form.
If you move the head office of your business or a branch office or dependent branch of your business to a new location without changing the jurisdiction within the municipality, a business re-registration is sufficient.
The deregistration must be carried out by the following persons or their authorised representatives:
- In the case of sole traders, by the trader himself/herself,
- 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), trade deregistrations must be carried out by all partners entitled to manage the business.
Responsible department
Depends on the respective national law.
Details
Prerequisite
- liquidation of your business or
- transfer of your registered office or the registered office of a branch or dependent branch outside the previous municipality, or
- change of the legal form of your business
Procedure
You can deregister your trade in person, in writing (for example by fax or letter) or by electronic means.
- If the deregistration is done in person or in writing, you must fill out the form "Gewerbe-Abmeldung" - GewA 3 and sign it personally.
- The "GewA 3" form is available at the office responsible for deregistration or, depending on the offer, can also be downloaded.
- The same data is collected in the electronic procedure 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 in the case of electronic deregistration 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 trade or the chamber of industry and commerce and, if applicable, the registration court.
Deadlines
You are obliged to deregister your business at the time of dissolution of the business or at the time of transfer of the business to the jurisdiction of another municipality or change of legal form.
Required documents
- Copy of identity card or passport with certificate of registration, or presentation on site. In the case of electronic business re-registration, depending on the municipality, further suitable and appropriate procedures for establishing identity (for example 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).
Costs
The costs are based on the respective administrative fee regulations of the Land or on the fee statutes of the bodies responsible under Land law.
Processing time
If you have filled in the form correctly and your documents are complete, the authority will certify receipt of your deregistration immediately if you come in person. If you deregister in writing or electronically, you will receive the receipt of your trade deregistration within 3 days.
Miscellaneous
If the cessation of the business is clear and you do not deregister your trade, the deregistration is carried out ex officio.
Release note
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy
Contact
Bürger- und Standesamt (Bürgeramt)
eMail buergeramt@heidenheim.de
Telefon (0 73 21) 3 27-33 42
Fax (0 73 21) 3 23-33 32