Receiving a Companies House strike-off notice can be worrying, particularly if you are still trading or have simply fallen behind with your company filings. The important thing is not to ignore the notice. Acting promptly can help you understand why the strike-off process has started and what steps may be available to keep your company on the register.
1. What Does a Strike-Off Notice Mean?
A strike-off notice means that Companies House intends to remove your company from the register and dissolve it unless the required action is taken. The registrar may begin the process where there is reasonable cause to believe that a company is no longer carrying on business or is not operating.
For example, Companies House may start the process where required company documents have not been filed or where there are concerns about the company's registered office address. A notice may also be published in the relevant Gazette and added to the company's public record.
2. Check Why Your Company Is Being Struck Off
The first step is to carefully read the notice and check your company's Companies House record. Look for outstanding documents, such as accounts or a confirmation statement, and check that the company's registered office and director information are correct.
If the company is still trading, it is particularly important to act quickly. A strike-off process does not simply mean that the company's filing obligations can be ignored.
3. Can You Stop the Strike-Off?
If the company should remain active, you should respond to the reason for the proposed strike-off as soon as possible. Depending on the circumstances, this may involve delivering outstanding documents to Companies House or addressing an issue with the company's registered office.
If an objection is appropriate, Companies House allows interested parties to object to a company being struck off after the relevant Gazette notice has been published. The objection needs to be supported by evidence and submitted before the company is struck off.
4. How Long Do You Have?
Do not assume that you have unlimited time to respond. The Gazette notice will state when the company is due to be struck off. In many cases, the strike-off date is at least two months after the notice is published, although certain circumstances can result in a shorter period.
Because the deadline depends on the circumstances and the notice received, check the specific date stated on your Companies House record and take action promptly.
5. What Happens If the Company Is Struck Off?
If the company is struck off and dissolved, it will no longer legally exist. Access to company bank accounts can be lost, and any assets remaining in the company may pass to the Crown.
If the company has already been dissolved, restoring it to the register may be possible in certain circumstances. The process depends on how and why the company was struck off, so professional advice may be appropriate where the situation is more complex.
6. Keep Your Bookkeeping Up to Date
Keeping your bookkeeping records accurate and up to date can make it easier to identify outstanding company obligations and prepare the financial information needed at year-end.
If your company has fallen behind with its bookkeeping, getting the records organised is a useful first step. Bank statements, invoices, receipts, expenses, and other financial records should be properly maintained so that your accountant or tax adviser has reliable information when preparing any required filings.
7. What Should You Do Now?
If you have received a strike-off notice, do not ignore it. Check the reason for the notice, review your Companies House record, identify any outstanding requirements, and note the deadline stated in the Gazette notice.
Where bookkeeping records are incomplete or out of date, getting them brought up to date can help provide a clearer picture of the company's financial position and support the next steps.
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