Misleading termination solicitations
A private company named Business Filings Division is sending official-looking letters to California corporations and LLCs, directing them to submit $495 — along with a completed form that is provided with the letter — in order to terminate their business entities. (Click here to see an example.) Note: There is no filing fee associated with dissolution/cancellation documents when filed with the SOS.
The form does not meet the requirements of the California Corporations Code, according to the Secretary of State. If a business entity pays the $495 and submits the completed form to the private company, it will not be officially dissolved/canceled and the $800 minimum/annual tax will continue to accrue.
California businesses that receive one of these fraudulent solicitation letters can mail a written complaint, along with the entire solicitation (including the solicitation letter, the outer and return envelopes, and all related documents), to:
Public Inquiry Unit
California Attorney General
P.O. Box 944255
Sacramento, CA 94244-2550
A complaint form, which can be completed online and printed to mail, is available on the California Attorney General's Web site at: www.ag.ca.gov/consumers/general.php.
