If your business is closing, you’ll want to cancel your Gusto account—but that’s not the only step.
When you cancel, we’ll ask Should Gusto pay and file your taxes? Choose Yes. That way, we’ll pay your remaining taxes and file your final quarterly and annual tax forms for your last year in business, including W-2s and 1099s. A filing fee may apply. You’ll see the amount before you confirm, and we’ll add it to your final invoice.
Just canceling Gusto does not close your state payroll tax accounts. If those accounts stay open, your state may expect you to keep filing taxes. Missing filings can lead to big fines—$850 to $1,200 per quarter per state.
To help you avoid those fees, Gusto partnered with SimpleClosure. They can close your payroll accounts and help you shut down your business properly. When you cancel with Gusto, you’ll have the option to get SimpleClosure’s help.
Want to do it yourself? No problem—just follow your state’s rules, file the right forms, and confirm all accounts are closed.
SimpleClosure is a trusted Gusto partner. They help close payroll tax accounts, shut down your business, or both. They manage all the legal and tax steps after your last payroll, so you do not have to worry.
They handle filings for multiple states and agencies, so you do not miss deadlines or get surprise fees.
They’ll take care of:
All filings with tax, labor, and unemployment agencies
Matching payroll dates with closure dates
Following deadlines and doing follow-ups
Making sure you don’t owe more taxes later
$199 per state. This covers all the filings and follow-up work. Services cannot be canceled or refunded after purchase.
It's important to close state payroll accounts if you're closing down your business.
Yes. Gusto stops payroll processing and, if you choose, files your final tax forms. We do not close your state tax accounts. You still need to close them, or the state may charge you fees.
Yes, but it can take time. Some states need you to file with more than one agency. If you miss something, you could get hit with penalties.
Maybe. But many CPAs use SimpleClosure because it’s faster and designed for this exact job—especially if your business worked in more than one state.
SimpleClosure also helps shut down your whole business—not just payroll.
To get started, visit SimpleClosure’s Get Started page and answer a few quick questions.
They handle:
Board resolutions and shareholder approvals
Final franchise tax forms
Secretary of State forms (dissolution or cancelation)
IRS Form 966 and EIN closure
Foreign state withdrawals
Final investor reports (distributions and closing statements)
It depends on your business and where you’re registered. But they often finish in just a few weeks—much faster than the 6–12 months it can take otherwise.
Yes, including:
Employee exits
Payroll/unemployment account closures
Canceling registered agents and vendor contracts
Final tax returns
Investor payment calculations
Get quick answers to some frequently asked questions about Simpleclosure:
Q: What is SimpleClosure?
A: A company that handles the legal and tax steps to shut down your business.
Q: Is SimpleClosure part of Gusto?
A: No, but they work closely with Gusto to help with services Gusto doesn’t offer.
Q: Can I use my Gusto payment method for this?
A: Yes. If you buy SimpleClosure through Gusto when you cancel, the cost will show on your final Gusto invoice.
Q: Can I cancel the Payroll Closure order?
A: No. SimpleClosure does not support cancellations or refunds.
Q: How do I get started?
A: Visit SimpleClosure’s Get Started page and answer a few quick questions.
Still have questions? Contact SimpleClosure directly: