Company Formation Incorporation for ready made registered companies in UK

Strike-off, Dissolution and Restoration - GBW2

Contents

Introduction

Voluntary striking-off and dissolution
Defunct companies
Restoration to the register
Further Information

This is a guide only and should be read with the relevant legislation.

Introduction

This booklet is a guide to having your company removed from the register of companies. Our booklet, 'Liquidation and Insolvency', is also useful if you are considering winding up your company.

A company may be struck off the register and dissolved if:

it has applied to the Registrar to be struck off; or
the Registrar concludes that it is not carrying on business or in operation.

You will find the relevant law in the Companies Act 1985, Section 652 and Sections 652A to 652F which were inserted by the Deregulation and Contracting Out Act 1994.

This booklet also covers how, in certain circumstances, your company may be restored to the register.

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CHAPTER 1
Voluntary striking-off and dissolution

1. Who can apply to have a company struck off the register?

A private company that is not trading may apply to the Registrar to be struck off the register. It can do this if the company is no longer needed. For example, the active directors may wish to retire and there is no-one to take over from them; or it is a subsidiary whose name is no longer needed; or it was set up to exploit an idea that turned out not to be feasible.

The procedure is not an alternative to formal insolvency proceedings where these are appropriate, as creditors are likely to prevent the striking off (see questions 4 and 7). Even if the company is struck off and dissolved, creditors and others could apply for it to be restored to the register (see chapter 3).

A private company can apply to be struck off if, in the previous three months, it has not:

traded or otherwise carried on business;
changed its name;
for value, disposed of property or rights that, immediately before it ceased to be in business or trade, it held for disposal or gain in the normal course of its business or trade (for example, a company in business to sell apples could not continue selling apples during that three-month period but it could sell the truck it once used to deliver the apples or the warehouse where they were stored);
engaged in any other activity except one necessary or expedient for making a striking-off application, settling the company's affairs or meeting a statutory requirement (for example, a company may seek professional advice on the application, pay the costs of copying the Form 652a, etc). However, a company can apply for striking off if it has settled trading or business debts in the previous three months.

A company cannot apply to be struck of if it is the subject, or proposed subject, of:

any insolvency proceedings (such as liquidation, including where a petition has been presented but has not yet been dealt with); or
a Section 425 scheme (that is a compromise or arrangement between a company and its creditors or members).

2. What should I do before applying?

There are safeguards for those who are likely to be affected by a company's dissolution. If your company has creditors, members etc, you are advised to warn all the people listed in question 4, before applying, as any of them may object to the company being struck off. Any loose ends - such as closing the company’s bank account, the transfer of any domain names - should be dealt with before you apply.

It is also advisable to notify any other organisation or party who may have an interest in the company's affairs, otherwise they might later object to the application. Examples include local authorities, especially if the company is under any obligation involving planning permission or health and safety issues, training and enterprise councils and government agencies.

From the date of dissolution, any assets held by a dissolved company will belong to the Crown - see chapter 2, question 5. The company’s bank account will be frozen and any credit balance in the account will be passed to the Crown.

3. How do I apply?

You should request a Form 652a from the Registrar. Forms are also available from the sources listed under further information.

The form must be signed and dated by:

the sole director, if there is only one;
by both, if there are two; or
by the majority, if there are more than two.

You must give the name, address and telephone number of the person Companies House should contact about the application. You should then send the completed form, with the £10 fee, to the Registrar of Companies, Companies House, Crown Way, Maindy, Cardiff CF14 3UZ.

Make the cheque payable to 'Companies House' and write the company number on the reverse.

4. Who must I inform?

Within seven days after sending Form 652a to the Registrar, you must provide copies of the form to the following:

members, usually the shareholders;
creditors including all contingent (existing) and prospective (likely) creditors such as banks, suppliers, former employees if they are owed money by the company, landlords, tenants (for example, where a bond is refundable), guarantors and personal injury claimants. Also, you must notify appropriate offices of the Inland Revenue, DSS and Customs & Excise if there are outstanding, contingent or prospective liabilities;
employees;
managers or trustees of any employee pension fund; and
any directors who have not signed the form.

Anyone who becomes a member, creditor etc, after the application must also be sent a copy of the form within seven days of doing so.

All VAT-registered companies must notify the relevant VAT office (Finance Act 1985).

5. How should I inform the various parties?

A copy of the Form 652a should be delivered to, left at, or posted to them at:

the last known address (if an individual); or
the principal/registered office (if a company or partnership).

NOTE: To notify creditors who have more than one place of business, you must send copies of the form to or leave copies at all the places of business where the company has had dealings in relation to the current debts (for example, the branch where you ordered goods or which invoiced you). It is advisable to keep proof of delivery or posting.

6. How is the form registered?

The Registrar will check the form and, if acceptable, put it on the company's public record. An acknowledgement will be sent to the address shown on the form. The company will also be notified at its registered office address to enable it to object if the application is bogus.

7. Can anyone object to dissolution?

Any interested party may object.

8. How and why can they object?

Objections must be in writing and sent to the Registrar of Companies with any supporting evidence, such as copies of invoices that may prove the company is trading. Reasons for objecting include:

the company has broken any of the conditions of its application (for example, it has traded, changed its name or become subject to insolvency proceedings) during the three-month period before the application, or afterwards;
the directors have not informed interested parties;
any of the declarations on the form are false;
some form of action is being taken, or is pending, to recover any money owed (such as a winding-up petition or action in a small claims court);
other legal action is being taken against the company;
the directors have wrongfully traded or committed a tax fraud or some other offence.

9. What if I change my mind and want to withdraw my application?

Directors must withdraw the application using Form 652c if a company ceases to be eligible for striking-off. This may be because the company:

trades or otherwise carries on business;
changes its name;
for value, disposes of any property or rights except those it needed in order to make or proceed with the application (for example a company may continue the application if it disposes of a telephone which it kept to deal with enquiries about its application);
becomes subject to formal insolvency proceedings or makes a Section 425 application (a compromise or arrangement between a company and its creditors);
engages in any other activity, unless it was necessary or expedient in order to: make or proceed with a striking-off application; conclude those of its affairs that are outstanding because of what has been necessary or expedient to make or proceed with an application (such as paying the costs of running office premises while concluding its affairs and then finally disposing of the office); or comply with a statutory requirement.

Form 652c can be completed and signed by any director. The form must be sent to Companies House.

10. What happens when the Registrar accepts a Form 652a application?

The Registrar will advertise and invite objections to the proposed striking-off in the London Gazette. The Registrar will strike the company off the register not less than three months after the date of this notice if he sees no reason to do otherwise and the application has not been withdrawn. The company will be dissolved when the Registrar publishes a notice to that effect in the Gazette. (At the time of striking-off, a letter will be issued to the contact name on Form 652a confirming the proposed date of dissolution.)

Offences and penalties
It is an offence:

to apply when the company is ineligible for striking-off;
to provide false or misleading information in, or in support of, an application;
not to copy the application to all relevant parties within seven days;
not to withdraw the application if the company becomes ineligible.

Most offences attract a fine of up to £5,000 on summary conviction (before a magistrates' court) or an unlimited fine on indictment (before a jury). If the directors deliberately conceal the application from interested parties, they are liable not only to a fine but also up to seven years imprisonment.

Anyone convicted of these offences may also be disqualified from being a director for up to 15 years.

11. Do I need to send a fee with Form 652a?

A fee of £10 is payable to cover the cost of providing the service. The fee will not be refunded if the application is rejected or withdrawn after its registration. A further fee will be payable for a new application. Any cheques must be made payable to 'Companies House' and the company number written on the reverse.

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CHAPTER 2
Defunct companies

1. Can the Registrar strike off a company?

Yes, if it is neither in business nor in operation. The Registrar may take this view if, for example:

he has not received documents from a company that should have sent them to him; or
mail he has sent to a company's registered office is returned undelivered.

Before the Registrar strikes a company off the register, he must inquire whether it is still in business or operation. If he is satisfied that it is not, he will publish a notice in the London Gazette that he intends to strike the company off. A copy notice is placed on the company's public record. If he sees no reason to do otherwise, the Registrar will strike the company off not less than three months after the date of the notice. The company will be dissolved on publication of a further notice stating this in the Gazette. At the date of dissolution any assets held by a dissolved company will belong to the Crown: see question 5. The company’s bank account will be frozen and any credit balance in the account will be passed to the Crown.

2. How can I avoid this action?

If the company is to remain on the register, it is important to reply promptly to any formal inquiry letter from the Registrar and to deliver any outstanding documents. Failure to deliver the necessary documents may also result in the directors being prosecuted.

3. Can I object?

The Registrar will take into account representations from the company and other interested parties such as creditors.

4. How does the Registrar's intention to strike off a company appear in the London Gazette?

The Company Law Official Notifications Supplement to the London Gazette publishes weekly notices on microfiche. Copies are available from:

The London Gazette, PO Box 7923, London SE1 5ZH .
web site: www.gazettes-online.co.uk
telephone: 020 7394 4517

5. What happens to the assets of a dissolved company?

From the date of dissolution any assets held by a dissolved company will be 'bona vacantia'. This means they belong to the Crown. The company’s bank account will be frozen and any credit balance in the account will be passed to the Crown.

Enquiries about bona vacantia property should be addressed, as appropriate, to:

If the company's registered office is in Lancashire:	The Solicitor to the Duchy of Lancaster 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A 3LH
If the company's registered office is in Cornwall or the Isles of Scilly:	The Solicitor to the Duke of Cornwall 66 Lincoln's Inn Fields London WC2A 3LH
In all other cases:	The Treasury Solicitor (BV) One Kemble Street London WC2B 4TS www.bonavacantia.gov.uk

CHAPTER 3
Restoration to the register

The Registrar cannot restore a company to the register without a Court Order. When the Registrar receives an office copy of the Court Order for restoration, a company is regarded as having continued in existence as if it had not been struck off and dissolved.

1. Who can apply to have a company restored to the register?

For companies struck off following a Form 652a application: any of the parties who must be notified of the application (see chapter 1, question 4) can apply to the Court within 20 years of dissolution for the name of the dissolved company to be restored to the register. The Court may order restoration if it is satisfied that:

the person was not given a copy of the company's application;
the company's application involved a breach of the conditions of the application; or
for some other reason it is just to do so.

The Secretary of State may also apply to the Court for restoration if this is justified in the public interest.

For companies struck off at the instigation of the Registrar: the company, or a member or creditor of it, can apply to the Court for restoration within 20 years of the dissolution. When a company applies for its own restoration, a member of the company must also be an applicant to give any necessary undertakings to the Court.

Where a company is dissolved: the liquidator or any other interested party such as a creditor can apply to the Court for the dissolution to be declared void. In most cases an application must be made within two years of dissolution, but it can be made at any time if its purpose is to bring proceedings against a company for:

damages for personal injuries including any sum under Section 1(2)(c) of the Law Reform (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act 1934 (funeral expenses); or
damages under the Fatal Accidents Act 1976 or the Damages (Scotland) Act 1976.

2. Where do I apply for a Court Order for restoration?

Apply to the High Court by completing a Part 8 claim form (this is the standard form that starts proceedings. It can be downloaded from www.courtservice.gov.uk). The Registrar of the Companies Court in London usually hears restoration cases in chambers once a week on Friday afternoons. Cases are also heard at the District Registries. Alternatively, an application can be made to a County Court that has the authority to wind up the company. For more detailed guidance on restoration, see the ‘Treasury Solicitor’s: A Guide to Company Restoration’ available from www.tsol.gov.uk or telephone 020 7210 3000.

3. How do I serve documents?

The claim form should be served on:

the solicitor dealing with any bona vacantia assets namely the Treasury Solicitor or the solicitor to the relevant Duchy, and

The Registrar of Companies
Restoration Section
Companies House
Crown Way
Cardiff CF14 3UZ
Tel: 029 2038 0069 Fax: 029 2038 0006
DX: 33050 Cardiff

The Registrar will accept delivery by post (recorded delivery is recommended). He will also accept delivery by hand at Companies House, Cardiff or at Companies House, Bloomsbury Street, London, during or outside normal office hours. The Registrar will also require a copy of the affidavit or witness statement in support of the application.

The Registrar must be given at least 10 days notice of the hearing to allow him time to instruct the Treasury Solicitor and deal with the matter.

4. What evidence must I give?

The Court will require an affidavit (statement of truth) or a witness statement confirming that:

the originating document was served; and
the solicitor dealing with the bona vacantia assets has no objection to the restoration of the company (a copy of his or her letter should be attached to the affidavit or witness statement).

The affidavit or witness statement should also cover, as appropriate to the application:

when the company was incorporated and the nature of its objects (a copy of the certificate of incorporation and the memorandum and articles of association should be attached);
its membership and officers;
its trading activity and, if applicable, when it stopped trading;
an explanation of any failure to deliver accounts, annual returns or notices to the Registrar of Companies;
details of the striking-off and dissolution;
comments on the company's solvency;
any other information that explains the reason for the application.

The Registrar will provide information to assist in an application to the Court. Before the Court hearing, he will normally ask for:

delivery of any statutory documents to bring the company's public file up to date. These should be sent to the Registrar at least five working days before the hearing to allow him time to process and examine them as they may have to be returned for amendment;
the correction of any irregularities in the company's structure.

5. Are there costs or penalties?

Yes. The Treasury Solicitor, whose costs are normally met by the Claimant(s), will represent the Registrar. The company must normally pay any statutory penalties for late filing of accounts delivered to the Registrar outside the period allowed by the Companies Act 1985. The penalties that may be due are:

unpaid penalties outstanding on accounts delivered late before the company was dissolved; and
penalties due for accounts delivered on restoration, if the accounts were overdue at the date the company was dissolved.

The level of any late filing penalty depends on how late the accounts are the Registrar receives them, as shown in the table below. In the case of accounts delivered on restoration, the period during which the company was dissolved is normally disregarded. For example, a set of accounts that should have been delivered 2 months before a private company was dissolved are normally regarded as 2 months late if they are delivered on restoration - the late filing penalty is still £100.

Length of delay, measured from the date the accounts became due (excluding the period of dissolution)	Private company	Public company
3 months or less	£100	£500
3 months and one day to 6 months	£250	£1,000
6 months and one day to 12 months	£500	£2,000
More than 12 months	£1,000	£5,000

Late filing penalties are not normally collected for accounts received on restoration that became due while the company was dissolved. For more information about penalties, please see our booklet, ‘Late Filing Penalties’.

6. What happens when the order for restoration is made?

An office copy of the order with the court seal must be delivered to the Registrar by the applicant wishing to restore the company. A company is regarded as restored when the order is delivered.

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CHAPTER 4
Further information

1. Where do I get forms and guidance booklets?

This is one of a series of Companies House booklets which provide a simple guide to the Companies Act.

Statutory forms and guidance booklets are available, free of charge from Companies House. The quickest way to get them is through this website or by telephoning 0870 3333636.

If you prefer you can write to our stationery sections in Cardiff or Edinburgh.

Forms can also be obtained from legal stationers, accountants, solicitors and company formation agents - addresses in business phone books.

2. How do I send information to the Registrar?

You may deliver documents to the Registrar by hand (personally or by courier), including outside office hours, bank holidays and weekends to Cardiff, London and Edinburgh.

You may also send documents by post, by the Hays Document Exchange service (DX), or by Legal Post (LP) in Scotland. If you send documents, please address them to:

For companies incorporated in England & Wales:	For companies incorporated in Scotland:
The Registrar of Companies Companies House Crown Way Cardiff CF14 3UZ DX33050 Cardiff	The Registrar of Companies Companies House 37 Castle Terrace Edinburgh EH1 2EB DX ED235 Edinburgh 1 LP – 4 Edinburgh 2

If you are sending documents by post, courier or Britdoc (DX) and would like a receipt, Companies House will provide an acknowledgement if you enclose a copy of your covering letter with a pre-paid addressed return envelope. We will barcode your copy letter with the date of receipt and return it to you in the envelope provided.

Please note: an acknowledgement of receipt does not mean that a document has been accepted for registration at Companies House.

Please note: Companies House does not accept accounts or any other statutory documents by fax.