Close a limited company (voluntary strike off)

Striking off is the cheap and ordinary way to end a solvent company that has stopped. It is not a way to escape debts: creditors are notified, they can object, and a struck-off company can be restored to the register for up to six years — with its directors back in the frame.

When it is due

Once the company has not traded or sold stock in the previous three months, has not changed its name in that period, and is not subject to insolvency proceedings.

What we do

• An eligibility check against the statutory conditions before you apply
• The DS01 prepared and filed, signed by a majority of directors
• Notice given to every party the law requires, including creditors, HMRC and any employees
• Guidance on distributing what is left before the company ends, so it does not pass to the Crown

What happens if it is not done

Anything still owned by the company at dissolution — a bank balance, a property, intellectual property — becomes bona vacantia and passes to the Crown. Recovering it means paying to restore the company. Empty the company first.

Questions

Related

• Confirmation statement — The annual filing that confirms the information Companies House holds about your company is correct. Due every year whether or not anything has changed.
• Identity verification — Directors and people with significant control must have a verified identity. We verify you as an authorised corporate service provider.
• Director appointments and resignations — Filing an appointment, a resignation or a change of a director's details at Companies House, with the statutory registers updated to match.
• Change of company name — Changing a registered company name by resolution, with the new certificate issued by Companies House.
• Issue of shares — Allotting new shares — to bring in an investor, reward a joiner, or restructure who owns what — with the return of allotment filed at Companies House.
• Transfer of shares — Moving existing shares from one holder to another — stock transfer form, board approval, register of members and the next confirmation statement.