Company Strike Off: What Is It & How To Do It

Closing a company can feel more complicated than starting one. Whether you’ve finished a UK project, ceased trading, or decided to restructure your business, navigating the company strike off process can quickly become stressful.

At Goodwille, we’ve managed this process for hundreds of international clients, ensuring every closure is handled quickly, compliantly, and with minimal disruption. Here’s everything you need to know about what a company strike off is – and how to do it the right way.

What Does It Mean to Strike Off a Company?

If you’ve decided to close your UK business, striking off is one of the simplest ways to officially bring it to an end. But before starting the process, it’s important to understand exactly what it involves, and the difference between doing it voluntarily and having it done for you.

Definition of a Company Strike Off

A company strike off is the formal process of removing a business from the Companies House register, effectively bringing it to an end. Once struck off, the company legally ceases to exist. It can’t trade, hold assets, or enter into contracts.

It’s designed to be a simple, low-cost way to dissolve a company that’s no longer active, provided all legal and financial obligations have been met.

What is the Gazette?

The Gazette is the UK’s official public record, published by the government. It announces important legal notices about companies.

When you apply to strike off your company, Companies House publishes a notice in the Gazette to inform any interested parties that your business intends to close. This gives them a chance to object if they believe they’re owed money or have another valid reason to prevent the strike off.

Voluntary vs Involuntary Strike Off

There are two types of strike off in the UK: voluntary and involuntary.

What is a Voluntary Strike Off?

A voluntary strike off is usually chosen by directors who no longer need their UK entity. Common situations include:

• The company has stopped trading and isn’t generating income.
• It has become a dormant company with no active operations.
• The business has fulfilled its purpose, such as completing a specific project or trial in the UK.
• There’s been a group restructuring and the UK subsidiary is no longer required.

What is an Involuntary Strike Off?

An involuntary strike off happens when Companies House removes a company from the register.

Here are the main reasons this can occur, as clarified by Companies House:

• The company appears inactive.
  If a business hasn’t submitted its required documents – such as annual accounts or confirmation statements – or it no longer has any directors, Companies House may assume it’s not trading. The registrar will attempt to contact the company first and publish a notice in The Gazette. If there’s no valid response, the company will be struck off not less than two months after the notice is published.
• The company was registered on false information.
  If Companies House discovers that the company’s registration was based on false or misleading details (for example, incorrect information provided at incorporation), it will again publish a notice in The Gazette. Unless there’s a valid objection within 28 days, the company will be struck off the register.
• The company has an inappropriate registered office address.
  Every company must maintain a valid registered office. If Companies House determines that a company’s address is invalid, it can assign a temporary ‘default address’. The company then has 28 days to provide a new, appropriate address. If it doesn’t do this, a Gazette notice will be issued, and the company will be struck off after two months.

How to Get Form DS01 to Strike Off a Company

You can download Form DS01 directly from the official Companies House website. However, you should only use the paper form if you’re unable to apply online.

This form needs to be signed by ‘the majority’ of company directors, meaning if you have three directors, for example, at least two will need to sign.

Where Do I Send the DS01 Form?

If you’re filling out the paper form, post it and the payment to any Companies House address:

England and Wales

Companies House

Crown Way

Cardiff

CF14 3UZ

Scotland

Companies House

4th Floor

Edinburgh Quay 2

139 Fountainbridge

Edinburgh

EH3 9FF

Northern Ireland

Companies House

Second Floor

The Linenhall

32-38 Linenhall Street

Belfast

Northern Ireland

BT2 8BG

Important Considerations Before Striking Off

Before you take the final step of striking off your company, it’s important to make sure everything is wrapped up properly.

Settling Debts and Closing Accounts

Before submitting your DS01 form, make sure all outstanding debts, taxes, and liabilities are settled. This includes paying suppliers, employees, and HMRC, and sending in your final accounts or tax returns.

If you leave unpaid debts, creditors – including HMRC – can object to the strike off, delaying or stopping the process entirely. If you can’t pay the debts, you can choose to liquidate your company instead.

Handling Company Assets

Before the company is dissolved, you’ll need to make sure any business assets are properly dealt with. This includes things like equipment, vehicles, remaining cash in the bank, or property.

All assets should be distributed among shareholders before the strike off takes effect. Once the company is officially dissolved, any remaining assets automatically pass to the Crown, a legal process known as bona vacantia.

This also applies to future payments, such as HMRC tax refunds. To reclaim anything after dissolution, you’d have to go through the process of restoring the company.

Keeping Company Records

Even after your company is struck off, you still have some record-keeping obligations. If your company employed staff, you should keep copies of its employers’ liability insurance policy and schedule.

You should also retain business documents for at least seven years after dissolution, including bank statements, invoices, receipts, and payroll records.

How to Strike Off a Limited Company

Striking off a company is a six-step process. Here’s how it works:

Step 1 – Check You’re Eligible

Before applying, make sure your company meets the legal requirements.
You cannot apply for strike off if, in the last three months, your company has:

• Traded or carried on business
• Changed its name
• Sold stock or assets for profit in the normal course of business. For example, if your company sold apples, you can’t keep selling apples – but you can sell the delivery van used to transport them.

You can, however, carry out a few limited actions during this time. For example, you can get advice on whether to go ahead with the strike off, pay the application fee, settle any outstanding debts, finish wrapping up your company’s affairs, and complete any final legal requirements.

You’re also not eligible if your company is:

• Going through or facing insolvency proceedings (such as liquidation)
• Involved in a formal agreement with creditors or members (known as a section 895 scheme). This type of scheme is a legally binding arrangement that allows a company to restructure its debts or obligations with the approval of the court and its creditors. It’s designed to help businesses reach an agreement with creditors instead of closing entirely.

If you’re unsure whether your company qualifies, contact Goodwille for expert guidance. Our team will review your situation, confirm eligibility, and help you move forward confidently and compliantly.

Step 2 – Complete and File Form DS01

The official application to close your company is called Form DS01. You can:

• Apply online through the Companies House website, or
• Download and post the DS01 form.

Online applications are faster, while postal submissions may take longer to process. Make sure all company details are accurate and signed by the majority of directors before submitting.

Step 3 – Notify All Interested Parties

Once your application is ready, you need to formally inform anyone affected by your decision to close the company.

This includes:

• Members (usually shareholders)
• Creditors such as banks, suppliers, and landlords
• Employees and pension fund managers or trustees
• Any directors who haven’t signed the DS01 form

Make sure to send them a copy of your application within seven days of filing it. If someone becomes a new director, member, or creditor after your application has been submitted, they must also receive a copy.

Step 4 – Pay the Strike Off Fee

You’ll need to pay a small fee when applying:

• £33 if applying online (payable by debit or credit card)
• £44 if applying by post (payable by cheque or postal order)

Step 5 – Gazette Notice and Objection Period

Once your application is accepted, Companies House will:

• Register your application and place it on the public record
• Send an acknowledgement letter
• Publish a notice of the proposed strike off in the Gazette (the UK’s official public record)

This notice gives interested parties two months to object. If no valid objections are made, the process continues automatically.

Step 6 – Wait for Confirmation

Once the two-month objection period has passed, and if there are no problems, Companies House will publish a second notice in the Gazette confirming that your company has been officially dissolved. From that point, your company no longer exists as a legal entity.

What Happens After Applying for a Company Strike Off?

Once you’ve submitted your DS01 form and Companies House has accepted it, there are a few final steps before your company is officially dissolved. Here’s what to expect next.

Objections to a Company Strike Off

Anyone with a legitimate interest in your company can object to its removal from the register. This usually includes:

• Shareholders or creditors
• Individuals or organisations owed money
• Anyone with an active legal claim against the company

Objections can only be submitted after the first Gazette notice. If your company has already been struck off, it’s still possible to request a court order to restore it, but only in limited cases – for example, if the company owed money when it was dissolved.

What Happens if an Objection Is Made to a Company Strike Off

If an objection is raised, Companies House will pause the strike off process.

You might need to communicate with the objector, settle any outstanding debts, or prove the objection is invalid. If the objection is successful, the company won’t be struck off for another six months, giving you time to put things right before reapplying.

When the Company Is Officially Dissolved

Once the objection period has passed and no valid issues remain, Companies House will publish a second Gazette notice confirming your company has been dissolved.

From that point:

• The company no longer exists as a legal entity.
• You’ll lose access to business bank accounts, and funds can’t be sent or received.
• Any remaining company assets will pass to the Crown (known as bona vacantia).

It’s also important to note that, under the Companies Act 2006, directors and shareholders may still be held responsible for any liabilities that existed before dissolution. In other words, even after the company has been struck off, outstanding obligations are still relevant.

Can a Company Strike Off Be Reversed?

Yes, a company can be restored to the register, but only in certain circumstances. This process is called restoration, and it allows a dissolved company to become active again.

You can apply to Companies House for what’s known as an administrative restoration if:

• You were a director or shareholder of the company.
• The company was struck off and dissolved by the Registrar of Companies within the last six years.
• The company was trading at the time it was dissolved.

If your situation doesn’t meet these conditions, you’ll need to apply to the court to have the company restored instead.

How to Restore a Company to the Register

To request an administrative restoration, you’ll need to send Companies House the following:

• A completed application for administrative restoration (form RT01).
• A cheque for £468, made payable to Companies House.
• Any outstanding documents, such as company accounts or confirmation statements.
• Any filing fees or penalty payments that were due before the company was struck off.
• A waiver letter from Bona Vacantia if your company held assets at the time of dissolution.

Once your application is reviewed and accepted, Companies House will send a confirmation letter, and your company will be officially restored to the register. You can then resume trading or deal with any remaining matters under the company’s name.

What Happens If a Company Strike Off Is Rejected?

Sometimes, even if you’ve followed every step carefully, Companies House may reject your company strike off application. This doesn’t mean the process has failed, it usually just means there’s something small to fix before your company can be dissolved.

If your strike off is rejected, Companies House will write to you explaining the reason. From there, it’s usually a matter of addressing the issue, whether that means clearing debts, correcting paperwork, or responding to an objection, before reapplying.

Set Yourself Up for Success with Goodwille’s Company Closure Services

Take the stress out of your company strike off and move forward with confidence. At Goodwille, we handle every detail to ensure a clean exit from the UK market, without disruption or risk.

With over 25 years’ experience supporting international businesses in the UK, Goodwille has a proven track record of closing companies of all sizes quickly, efficiently, and in full compliance.

Find out more about our company closure services and how we can help you exit the UK market with complete peace of mind.

Frequently Asked Questions

We’ve covered some of the most frequently asked questions about company strike off, from what it means and how it works to what you need to do for HMRC and Companies House.

What Does It Mean if a Company Strikes Off?

When a company strikes off, it’s officially removed from the Companies Register at Companies House through a process called dissolution. Once dissolved, the company ceases to exist.

For many directors, it’s the simplest way to close a business that’s no longer trading or needed. However, it must be done correctly to avoid future issues or objections.

Do I Need to Tell HMRC If I Strike Off a Company?

Yes, and it’s an important step. Before applying for strike off, you must notify HMRC and settle any remaining tax obligations.

1. You’ll need to prepare final accounts and a company tax return for the HRMC, clearly marking them as your final submissions. You don’t need to file final accounts with Companies House.
2. Then, pay all corporation tax, PAYE, National Insurance, and any other tax liabilities due.
3. Finally, ask HMRC to close the company’s payroll scheme.

If you’re unsure how to prepare your company tax return or manage corporation tax before dissolution, it’s best to seek professional advice – a small step that can save time, stress, and penalties later.

Speak to Our Team

Why Would Companies House Strike Off a Company?

If a company stops meeting its legal obligations, Companies House can remove it from the register through a compulsory strike off. This usually happens when accounts or confirmation statements haven’t been filed, or when official letters go unanswered.

In these cases, Companies House assumes the company has stopped operating. If this happens in error, you can contact them to stop the process.

What Is a Company Voluntary Arrangement?

A Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA) is a formal agreement that allows a company to repay debts over time while continuing to trade. It’s designed for businesses that are struggling financially but want to avoid liquidation or compulsory strike off.