Striking companies from Companies Register

Striking companies from Companies Register. Image credit: AdobeStock

Striking companies from the companies register

(Partner Content) There are a limited range of circumstances when a company can request to be removed from the register (known as being struck off). For example, a voluntary strike off can be requested by a dormant or non-trading company.

Striking companies from Companies Register

Striking companies from Companies Register. Image credit: AdobeStock

A limited company can be closed down by getting it ‘struck off’ the Companies Register, but only if it:

  • hasn’t traded or sold off any stock in the last 3 months. For example, a company in business to sell apples could not continue selling apples during that 3 month period but it could sell the truck it once used to deliver the apples or the warehouse where they were stored.
  • hasn’t changed names in the last 3 months
  • isn’t threatened with liquidation
  • has no agreements with creditors, e.g. a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA)

If the company does not meet these conditions, then the company will need to be liquidated (also known as a ‘winding up’).

Before applying for a strike off, the company must be legally closed down. This involves:

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