Key takeaways
- Companies House starts compulsory strike-off when it has reasonable cause to believe a company is not trading, usually because accounts or the confirmation statement are overdue.
- Under section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006, the registrar sends a letter, waits 14 days, sends a second letter, waits another 14 days, then can publish a Gazette notice.
- The company can be struck off not less than 2 months after the Gazette notice, so file the missing documents straight away.
- On dissolution the company's bank account is frozen and its assets pass to the Crown as bona vacantia.
- A former director can apply for administrative restoration within 6 years of dissolution on form RT01, which costs £341 from 1 February 2026.
- Late accounts for a private company carry a penalty of £150 to £1,500, doubled if the accounts are late two years in a row.
- Directors stay liable after dissolution: section 1000(7) says their liability continues as if the company had not been dissolved.
A compulsory strike-off notice means Companies House thinks your company has stopped trading and plans to remove it from the register. You can usually stop it by filing the overdue accounts or confirmation statement and replying to the letter. Act quickly: the company can be dissolved 2 months after the notice appears in The Gazette.
Why has Companies House sent a strike-off notice?
Companies House sends one when it has “reasonable cause to believe” the company is not carrying on business or in operation. Its strike-off guidance (updated 4 December 2025) gives missing accounts, a missing confirmation statement and having no directors as typical signs.
Two other triggers also lead to compulsory strike-off:
- A false basis. The registrar believes the company was registered using misleading, false or deceptive information. The company can be struck off 28 days after the Gazette notice.
- The default address. If Companies House moves your registered office to its default address, you have 28 days to give a new, appropriate address.
How the process works
The timeline is set by section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006.
| Stage | What happens | Time allowed |
|---|---|---|
| First letter | Registrar asks if the company is trading | 14 days to reply |
| Second letter | Registrar warns a Gazette notice will follow | 14 days to reply |
| First Gazette notice | Proposed strike-off published | At least 2 months |
| Final Gazette notice | Company struck off and dissolved | None |
The notice goes in The London Gazette for companies in England and Wales, The Edinburgh Gazette for Scotland and The Belfast Gazette for Northern Ireland. A copy goes on the company’s public record, where your bank, suppliers and lenders can see it.
What to do next: step by step
Follow these steps as soon as you receive a letter or see the notice.
- Check the company record. Search the company on Companies House’s register and look at the filing history for what is overdue and the date in the Gazette notice.
- Check the registered office. If letters went to an old address, update it now so you receive the rest.
- File the overdue documents. Deliver the missing accounts and confirmation statement. Late accounts trigger a penalty, but that is far cheaper than dissolution.
- Reply to the letter. Tell Companies House the company is still trading or in operation. The guidance asks you to reply promptly.
- Pay the confirmation statement fee. It is £50 online and £110 on paper from 1 February 2026.
- Watch the record. Check that the strike-off action is shown as discontinued. If it is not, contact Companies House before the strike-off date.
What does it cost to put things right?
Filing late costs money, but less than restoring a dissolved company. These are the figures from GOV.UK.
| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Accounts up to 1 month late | £150 |
| Accounts 1 to 3 months late | £375 |
| Accounts 3 to 6 months late | £750 |
| Accounts more than 6 months late | £1,500 |
| Confirmation statement (online) | £50 |
| Administrative restoration (RT01, paper) | £341 |
The late filing penalty doubles if your accounts are late two years in a row. The Companies House fees list was last updated on 25 September 2026.
What happens if the company is dissolved?
The company stops existing as a legal person. Companies House’s guidance says:
- the company’s bank account is frozen and cannot receive payments
- money in the account passes to the Crown
- all other assets pass to the Crown as bona vacantia
- creditors and others can apply to have the company restored
Dissolution does not end your own exposure. Section 1000(7) says the liability of every director, managing officer and member continues and can be enforced as if the company had not been dissolved.
Which applies to you?
- If the company is trading and you missed a filing: file the documents now and reply to the letter.
- If the company is not trading but you want to keep it: consider making it dormant and filing dormant accounts. See what is a dormant company.
- If you want to close the company anyway: do not rely on compulsory strike-off. Deal with assets, debts and HMRC first, then apply for voluntary strike-off or take insolvency advice.
- If a creditor wants to stop the strike-off: they object online. See strike-off objections go online only from 1 December 2026.
- If the company is already dissolved: apply for restoration.
How to restore a struck-off company
A former director or member can apply for administrative restoration within 6 years of dissolution. The rules are in Companies House’s restoration guidance.
- File all outstanding documents, such as accounts and confirmation statements.
- Pay any outstanding penalties.
- Get a bona vacantia waiver letter if the company owned property or money.
- Send form RT01 with the £341 fee and a statement that you are entitled to apply.
Administrative restoration is only open where the company was trading or in operation when it was struck off. Otherwise, or if Companies House refuses, you apply to court. You can apply to court within 28 days of a refusal even if the 6 year period has passed.
Related guides
- Company accounts filing deadlines
- How to file accounts with Companies House
- Directors’ responsibilities in the UK
Frequently asked questions
How long do I have after a compulsory strike-off notice?
The company can be struck off not less than 2 months after the first Gazette notice. For a company registered on a false basis, it is 28 days.
How do I stop a compulsory strike-off?
File the overdue accounts and confirmation statement, and reply to Companies House to say the company is still trading or in operation. Do it as early as possible.
Will I get a fine for filing late?
Yes, for late accounts. A private company pays £150 to £1,500 depending on how late they are, and the penalty doubles if accounts are late two years running.
What happens to money in the company bank account?
When the company is dissolved, the account is frozen and the money passes to the Crown with the rest of the company’s assets.
Can I restore a company that has been struck off?
Yes. A former director or member can apply for administrative restoration within 6 years using form RT01, which costs £341. Otherwise you need a court order.
Sources
Rates, thresholds and rules in this guide were checked against HMRC and GOV.UK guidance on 6 November 2026. Tax rules change, so check the current position on GOV.UK or with a qualified adviser before acting. This guide is general information, not personal advice.