Company strike off

The company can do this if it’s no longer needed, for example if:

• the directors wish to retire and there is no one to take over the running of the company
• the company is a subsidiary whose name is no longer needed
• the company was originally set up for a business that turned out not to be feasible

Some companies which are dormant or no longer trading can choose to apply for strike off.

An application for voluntary striking off can only be made on the company’s behalf by its directors or a majority of them and only if the company:

• hasn’t traded or sold off any stock in the last 3 months
• hasn’t changed its name in the last 3 months
• isn’t threatened with liquidation
• has no agreements with creditors, eg a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)

If your company doesn’t meet these conditions, you’ll have to voluntarily liquidate your company instead.

Before applying to strike off your limited company you must close it down legally. This involves:

• announcing your plans to interested parties and HMRC
• making sure your employees are treated according to the rules
• dealing with your business assets and accounts.

In order to apply for a strike off you must complete form DS01 which must be signed and dated by the directors of the company. Once completed you must send a copy within 7 days to anyone who could be affected. This includes:

• members (usually the shareholders)
• creditors
• employees
• managers or trustees of any employee pension fund
• any directors who didn’t sign from DS01.

If you are a director you should not resign before applying for strike off as you must be a director at the time the Registrar receives the application.

There is a fee of £10 made payable to Companies House to cover the cost of providing the service.

Companies house will examine the form and if acceptable it will:

• register the information and put it on the company’s public record
• send an acknowledgement to the address of the form
• publish notice of the proposed striking off in the Gazette to allow interested parties the opportunity to object.

If there is no reason to delay, the register will strike off the company off the register not less than two months after the date of the notice.