{"id":6916,"date":"2019-12-22T16:41:13","date_gmt":"2019-12-22T16:41:13","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/?p=6916"},"modified":"2024-09-18T09:45:54","modified_gmt":"2024-09-18T08:45:54","slug":"what-is-a-compulsory-strike-off-and-how-do-i-stop-it","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.qualitycompanyformations.co.uk\/blog\/what-is-a-compulsory-strike-off-and-how-do-i-stop-it\/","title":{"rendered":"What is a compulsory strike off and how do I stop it?"},"content":{"rendered":"
Compulsory strike off is one of the ways in which a limited company is formally closed and removed (struck off) the Companies Register. This type of company dissolution process is used by Companies House to forcibly strike off a company on the grounds that it is no longer trading.<\/p>\n
It is possible to have a company struck off the register either voluntarily or compulsorily. Whilst this article focuses on compulsory strike off, we will also consider and discuss voluntary strike off for comparative purposes.<\/p>\n Avoid compulsory strike off with our Company Dissolution Service - only \u00a389.99<\/span><\/a>\n \n Company strike off should not be confused with company liquidation (also known as ‘winding up’ a company). Liquidation refers to the process of selling off company assets to pay off creditors, e.g., creditors\u2019 voluntary liquidation, compulsory liquidation, or members\u2019 voluntary liquidation.<\/p>\n Dissolution will generally occur after liquidation, but it can also take place without any accompanying liquidation. For more information on company liquidation, see the government\u2019s advice on liquidate a limited company<\/a>.<\/p>\n Voluntary dissolution generally involves an active decision by the management of a company to close it down and remove it from the register, possibly as a result of going into liquidation.<\/p>\n Compulsory dissolution, meanwhile, is an eventual consequence of a failure to file Confirmation Statements<\/a> (previously known as annual returns) or submit annual accounts<\/a>.<\/p>\n In the case of compulsory dissolution, Companies House makes the assumption that the company is no longer needed and takes the decision to dissolve it. We will consider some of the differences between voluntary and compulsory strike off below.<\/p>\n A company that is no longer trading can apply to Companies House to be struck off and dissolved, under section 1003 of the Companies Act 2006<\/a>. Reasons for doing so may include:<\/p>\n In order to be struck off voluntarily from the register, there are certain requirements for the company:<\/p>\n It is vital that directors making an application for voluntary strike off provide a copy of the application within \u201cseven days from the day on which the application is made, to every person who at any time on that day is \u2026\u201d<\/p>\n Under section 1006 of the Companies Act<\/a> 2006, failure to provide copies of this application to all the relevant parties can lead to a conviction with a maximum of seven years imprisonment and\/or a fine.<\/p>\n The Company Dissolution Service<\/a> from Quality Company Formations helps to avoid the risk of fines, prosecutions, and reputational damage through a voluntary strike off, and includes your required board resolution and the completion and filing of the DS01 form with Companies House.<\/p>\n New customers can purchase the service from our website. Existing customers can purchase the service through the shop on the client portal, OR by emailing us at cosec@qualityformations.co.uk<\/a>, or calling us on +44 (0)203 984 5389.<\/p>\n Closing a company \u2013 a guide to voluntary dissolution and strike off<\/span><\/a>\n \n Unlike voluntary dissolution which is instigated by the company, compulsory dissolution is imposed upon the company by the registrar of companies, Companies House. This is generally considered to be the ultimate consequence of a persistent failure to file Confirmation Statements and annual accounts. Companies House will eventually consider the company to be no longer trading and take steps to strike it off the register of companies.<\/p>\n Compulsory strike off is dealt with under section 1000 of the Companies Act<\/a> 2006 (entitled \u201cPower to strike off company not carrying on business or in operation<\/em>\u201d). There is a strict process that must be followed in the case of compulsory dissolution, which provides a chance for the company to object to proceedings and prevent it from being struck off the register (see below for process).<\/p>\n The process of compulsory strike off is set out by section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006, as follows:<\/p>\n (1) \u201cIf the registrar has reasonable cause to believe that a company is not carrying on business or in operation, the registrar may send to the company a communication inquiring whether the company is carrying on business or in operation.\u201d This is the consequence of directors failing to submit confirmation statements or annual accounts on time and ignoring initial warnings from Companies House.<\/p>\n (2) \u201cIf the registrar does not within 14 days of sending the communication receive any answer to it, the registrar must within 14 days after the expiration of that period send to the company a second communication referring to the first communication, and stating (a) that no answer to it has been received, and (b) that if an answer is not received to the second communication within 14 days from its date, a notice will be published in the Gazette with a view to striking the company’s name off the register.\u201d This provides an opportunity for the directors to react and prevent Companies House from initiating compulsory strike off proceedings.<\/p>\n (3) \u201cIf the registrar (a) receives an answer to the effect that the company is not carrying on business or in operation, or (b) does not within 14 days after sending the second communication receive any answer, the registrar may publish in the Gazette, and send to the company a notice that at the expiration of 2 months from the date of the notice the name of the company mentioned in it will, unless cause is shown to the contrary, be struck off the register and the company will be dissolved.\u201d This is essentially the last chance for the company to prevent being compulsorily struck off the register.<\/p>\n (4) \u201cAt the expiration of the time mentioned in the notice the registrar may unless cause to the contrary is previously shown by the company, strike its name off the register.\u201d Time is up – the company will now be dissolved.<\/p>\n (5) \u201cThe registrar must publish a notice in the Gazette of the company’s name having been struck off the register.\u201d This is an official step, confirming the company has been struck off the register.<\/p>\n (6) \u201cOn the publication of the notice in the Gazette the company is dissolved.\u201d Although the company has now been struck off, the liability of directors, managing officers, and members remain (section 7(a)). Also, the court still has the power to wind up a company which has been dissolved (section 7(b)).<\/p>\n Note: The notice periods for compulsory strike off were reduced by section 103 of Small Business, Enterprise and Employment Act 2015<\/a>. This means there is less time than before for directors to take action to prevent their company from being forcibly dissolved by Companies House.<\/p>\n Dormant Company Accounts Filing Service for only \u00a349.99<\/span><\/a>\n \n There are two key steps to preventing a compulsory strike off from going ahead:<\/p>\nWhat is the difference between voluntary strike off and compulsory strike off?<\/h3>\n
Voluntary strike off<\/h4>\n
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Compulsory strike off<\/h4>\n
What\u2019s the process of a compulsory strike off?<\/h3>\n
I\u2019ve received a compulsory strike off notice – how can I stop it?<\/h3>\n
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