  In this work we show the existence of closure domains in Fe$_{1-x}$Ga$_x$
thin films featuring a striped magnetic pattern and study the effect of the
magnetic domain arrangement on the magnetotransport properties. By means of
X-ray resonant magnetic scattering, we experimentally demonstrate the presence
of such closure domains and estimate their sizes and relative contribution to
surface magnetization. Magnetotransport experiments show that the behavior of
the magnetoresistance depends on the measurement geometry as well as on the
temperature. When the electric current ows perpendicular to the stripe
direction, the resistivity decreases when a magnetic field is applied along the
stripe direction (negative magnetoresistance) in all the studied temperature
range, and the calculations indicate that the main source is the anisotropic
magnetoresistance. In the case of current flowing parallel to the stripe
domains, the magnetoresistance changes sign, being positive at room temperature
and negative at 100 K. To explain this behavior, the contribution to
magnetoresistance from the domain walls must be considered besides the
anisotropic one.

Materials Science