Company Dissolution & Strike-Off

Company Dissolution

The legal process of removing a company from the Companies House register, ending its existence as a legal entity.

Company dissolution (also called strike-off) is the process by which a company is removed from the Companies House register. This can happen voluntarily (when directors apply to close the company) or compulsorily (when Companies House strikes off a company for not filing required documents).

Voluntary dissolution requires that the company has not traded or changed its name in the last three months, is not threatened with liquidation, and has no outstanding liabilities. Directors must apply using form DS01 and the company is dissolved after a two-month notice period in The Gazette.

Compulsory strike-off typically occurs when Companies House has reasonable cause to believe a company is no longer carrying on business. This often happens when companies fail to file their annual confirmation statement or accounts for extended periods.

BORSCH.AI tracks dissolution events, strike-off proposals, and Gazette notices across the entire UK company register, providing early warning indicators for due diligence and credit risk assessment.

0
Dissolved Companies in UK Register

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the difference between dissolution and liquidation?

Dissolution is simply the removal of a company from the register. Liquidation is a formal process of winding up a company's affairs, selling assets, and paying creditors before dissolution. A company can be dissolved without going through liquidation if it has no assets or liabilities.

Can a dissolved company be restored?

Yes, a dissolved company can be restored to the register through administrative restoration (within 6 years) or court order (within 6 years, or longer in certain circumstances).

How long does dissolution take?

Voluntary dissolution takes approximately 3 months: 1 month for processing, then a 2-month notice period in The Gazette. Compulsory strike-off follows a similar timeline after warning letters.

Related Terms

Back to Glossary
Data sourced from 53 official UK government and regulatory bodies including Companies House, FCA, HMRC, and Land Registry. Updated daily.