Except as otherwise provided in section three of this article, an employing unit, with the exception of any employing unit for which service in employment is defined in subdivision (10), section sixteen, article one-a of this chapter, shall cease to be an employer subject to this chapter only as of the first day of any calendar year and only if it files with the commissioner not later than January thirty-first of such year, a written application for termination of coverage, as of such first day of January, and the commissioner finds that within the preceding calendar year the employing unit did not pay wages of $1,500 or more in any calendar quarter for employment subject to this chapter and during that calendar year no service was performed for it with respect to which it was liable for any tax against which credit may be taken for contributions required to be paid into the unemployment compensation fund of this state; and any employing unit for which service in employment is defined in subdivision (10), section sixteen, article one-a of this chapter, shall cease to be an employer subject to this chapter only as of the first day of any calendar year and only if it files with the commissioner not later than January thirty-first of such year, a written application for termination of coverage, as of such first day of January, and the commissioner finds that there were no twenty different days, each day being in a different calendar week within the preceding calendar year, within which such employing unit had four or more individuals in employment subject to this chapter: Provided, That the commissioner may for good cause extend the time for filing application for termination of coverage, effective as of the first day of the next succeeding quarter after the application is approved.