Glossary
Administrative dissolution
When a state ends a business’s registration because it failed to meet a requirement, most often a missed report or fee.
Also called: Involuntary dissolution, Revoked, Forfeited, Canceled, Inactive.
A company doesn’t have to choose to close. If it stops filing reports, stops paying required fees or taxes, or has no registered agent, the state can dissolve it. For out-of-state companies the equivalent is having the registration revoked.
The status wording varies: administratively dissolved, revoked, forfeited, canceled or simply inactive. The record stays in the database, which is why old companies keep appearing in searches.
Many states let the owners reinstate the company within a set period by catching up on filings and fees. Whether the name is protected during that period, and for how long, is a state rule.
Where you'll see it in a business search
In the status field of a search result, sometimes with the reason, such as "tax".