How to Complete and File Wisconsin Form 504: LLC Articles of Amendment

Wisconsin Form 504 is the Limited Liability Company Articles of Amendment, filed with the Department of Financial Institutions (DFI) to change information in an LLC’s original articles of organization. The filing fee is $40, you can submit online or by mail, and in most cases the amendment takes effect the day the DFI receives it.1Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Form 504 – Limited Liability Company Articles of Amendment

What Form 504 Can Change

Wisconsin law lets an LLC amend its articles of organization at any time.2Wisconsin State Legislature. Wisconsin Code 183.0202 – Amendment or Restatement of Articles of Organization The DFI’s online portal groups the changes you can make on Form 504 into five categories:1Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Form 504 – Limited Liability Company Articles of Amendment

  • The LLC’s legal name.
  • The registered agent’s name.
  • The registered agent’s office address or email address.
  • The principal office address.
  • Optional provisions in the original articles, such as management structure or purpose clauses.

If nothing in your articles of organization is changing, you don’t need this form. Adding a new member or updating your operating agreement, for example, are internal matters and don’t require a DFI filing unless the articles themselves are affected.

Information to Have Ready

Before you open the form, pull up your LLC in the DFI’s corporate records search at apps.dfi.wi.gov and confirm two things.3Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Search Corporate Records First, the exact legal name on file. The form asks for the company’s current name, and a small mismatch (a missing comma, “LLC” versus “L.L.C.”) can get the amendment returned. Second, the date your original articles of organization were filed, because Item 2 on the form asks for it.

Searching by entity ID number is the quickest way to land on the right record when similar business names exist.

Completing the Form

Form 504 is short. Each field asks for something specific:4Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Wisconsin Form 504 LLC Articles of Amendment

  • Item 1 asks for the LLC’s current legal name as it appears in the DFI’s records. Not the new name. If you’re changing the name, the new one goes in Item 3.
  • Item 2 is the date your original articles of organization were filed.
  • Item 3 is the amendment text itself. Identify which provision of the original articles you’re amending and state how the amended provision should read. Be specific. “The company name is changed to Badger Holdings LLC” reads better than “the name is changed.” List each provision separately if you’re changing more than one.
  • The drafter field. If the form is signed in Wisconsin, state law requires the name of the person who drafted the document. If signed outside Wisconsin, note that instead.
  • Delayed effective date, which is optional. Leave it blank to have the amendment take effect on receipt. You can specify a future date, but not more than 90 days out.
  • Signature. One or more people authorized by the company must sign, with printed name, title, and date. Rejections often happen here, so make sure the signer actually has authority under your operating agreement to execute filings for the LLC.

How to File and What It Costs

Online

The fastest route is the DFI’s online filing portal, which walks you through each field and accepts a credit card (Visa, MasterCard, Discover, American Express) or electronic check. The filing fee is $40, and online filings are typically accepted on receipt with immediate confirmation.5Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Business Entity File Online

By Mail

Print and sign one original of Form 504 and mail it with a $40 check or money order payable to the Department of Financial Institutions:4Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Wisconsin Form 504 LLC Articles of Amendment

State of WI — Dept. of Financial Institutions
PO Box 93348
Milwaukee, WI 53293-0348

Mail turnaround depends on current volume and staff workload.

Expedited Processing

If you need it faster, the DFI offers tiered expedited service:6Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Business Entity Forms

  • Next business day: $25 added to the filing fee.
  • Four-hour in-person processing at the DFI’s Madison office (4822 Madison Yards Way): $250.
  • One-hour in-person processing at the same Madison office: $500.

The paper Form 504 also lists a $100 expedited-service checkbox; if you’re mailing the form and checking it, include the extra $100. The online portal’s expedited fee is likewise $100.7Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Directions – Department of Financial Institutions

After You File

Online filers usually receive confirmation almost immediately. Mail filers get a response back in the mail after processing. Keep whatever confirmation you receive as proof the amendment is on record. If you later need an official certified copy of the filed amendment, the DFI charges $10.8Wisconsin Department of Financial Institutions. Certificates and Certified Copy Fees

If the DFI finds a problem, such as a name that conflicts with an existing entity, a missing signature, or an incorrect fee, they’ll return the filing. The most preventable rejection is a name conflict. Before submitting a name change, search the DFI’s corporate records database to confirm the name you want is available.

Other Agencies to Update

Filing Form 504 updates the DFI’s records only. If your amendment changes the LLC’s legal name, several other notifications follow.

For state tax purposes, fax the updated name to the Wisconsin Department of Revenue’s Registration Unit at (608) 327-0232, or call (608) 266-2776 to update a DBA or ask about the process.9Wisconsin Department of Revenue. DOR How to Change Your Address, Name, or Taxpayer Information Your state tax filings need to match your current legal name.

The IRS also requires businesses to report a name change, and in some situations a name change can require a new Employer Identification Number.10Internal Revenue Service. Business Name Change For most single-member and multi-member LLCs changing only their name, a new EIN isn’t necessary, but IRS Publication 1635 confirms when it is. If your responsible party or business address also changed, file Form 8822-B with the IRS within 60 days.

Your bank will need a copy of the filed amendment, or a certified copy from the DFI, to update the business account. Banks require the account name to match the entity’s registered name, so handle this promptly to avoid problems with checks and deposits under the old name. If your LLC holds professional licenses or permits, contact those issuing agencies too; many require notification within 30 days of a name change. Update contracts, invoices, and official correspondence going forward.