To strike off a UK limited company, also called dissolving it, the directors file form DS01 with Companies House, which costs £13 online or £18 on paper (as of October 2026). The company must not have traded, sold stock or changed its name in the last 3 months, and if nobody objects within 2 months of the Gazette notice, it's removed from the register.
Striking off is the cheap, do-it-yourself way to close a limited company you no longer need. But it's only for solvent companies that have stopped trading, and a few steps have to happen before you file, or you can end up paying far more to reverse it. Here's the GOV.UK process in order.
Can your company be struck off?
GOV.UK says you can only strike off a company if it:
- hasn't traded or sold off any stock in the last 3 months
- hasn't changed its name in the last 3 months
- isn't threatened with liquidation
- has no agreements with creditors, such as a Company Voluntary Arrangement
If it doesn't meet those conditions, you'll have to put it into voluntary liquidation instead.
What to do before you apply
- Tell HMRC, and if you employ staff, follow the redundancy rules, pay final wages and tell HMRC you've stopped employing people.
- Send final statutory accounts and a Company Tax Return to HMRC, and pay all Corporation Tax and other tax owed.
- Share out any business assets among the shareholders.
- Close the company's bank accounts and transfer anything like domain names.
- Fill in the DS01, signed by a majority of the directors.
- Send a copy within 7 days to everyone who could be affected.
Who you must tell
| Who | Why it matters |
|---|---|
| Members (usually the shareholders) | They own the company |
| Creditors | They can object if they're owed |
| Employees | Their employment and final pay are affected |
| Managers or trustees of any employee pension fund | Pension obligations must be dealt with |
| Directors who didn't sign the application | They must know what's been filed |
GOV.UK warns that if you don't follow the rules on who you must tell, you can face a fine and possible prosecution.
The costly mistake to avoid
Here's the trap. When a company is struck off, anything left in it passes to the Crown, including bank balances and any payments it receives later, such as a refund from HMRC. You'd have to restore the company to get them back, and Companies House lists administrative restoration at £341 (as of October 2026), many times the £13 cost of striking off. So empty the bank account, chase any refunds and deal with every asset before you file.
Costs and how to file
| Item | Fee (Companies House, as of October 2026) |
|---|---|
| DS01 filed online | £13, by debit or credit card |
| DS01 on paper | £18, by cheque or postal order only |
| Administrative restoration | £341 |
Companies House says to use the paper form only if you can't apply online, as post takes much longer. You can't pay with a cheque from the account of the company you're striking off.
What happens after you apply
Companies House writes to confirm the form is correct, then publishes a notice in The Gazette. If nobody objects, the company is struck off once the 2 months in the notice have passed, and a second Gazette notice confirms it no longer legally exists. From the date of dissolution, the bank account is frozen.
If the company starts trading again or becomes insolvent, you must withdraw the application; only one director needs to sign the withdrawal, and it can be done online.
Tax when you take the assets out
If you take assets out of the company before it's struck off, GOV.UK says you might have to pay Capital Gains Tax, worked out on your Self Assessment return. But if the amount is worth more than £25,000, it's treated as income and you'll pay Income Tax on it instead. Ask an accountant before you distribute a larger balance.
Striking off vs other ways to close
Striking off isn't the only route. GOV.UK says a company that doesn't meet the conditions, for example because it's threatened with liquidation or has an agreement with creditors, has to use voluntary liquidation instead. And if you made a loss in the final year of trading, GOV.UK notes you may be able to claim terminal loss relief on the final Company Tax Return, offsetting it against profits from previous years. That's worth checking before you send the last return, because once the company is gone, any refund goes to the Crown with everything else.
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Records to keep
Keep business documents such as bank statements, invoices and receipts for 7 years after the company is struck off, and if it employed people, keep copies of its employers' liability insurance policy and schedule. My UK tax year dates guide helps you time the final returns, and if you're starting again, here's what it costs to start a business in the UK.
My verdict
Striking off is the right exit for a small, solvent company that's simply finished, and at £13 online it's the cheapest. Just do it in the right order: final returns, tax paid, bank account emptied and closed, then the DS01. Skip that order and the Crown keeps what's left, which is a far more expensive lesson than the filing fee.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to strike off a company?
£13 online or £18 on paper, according to Companies House (as of October 2026).
How long does it take to strike off a company?
If nobody objects, the company is struck off once the 2 months in the Gazette notice have passed.
Can I strike off a company that's still trading?
No. It mustn't have traded or sold off any stock in the last 3 months.
What happens to cash left in a struck off company?
It passes to the Crown, including bank balances and future refunds such as from HMRC. You'd have to restore the company to get it back.
Who needs to sign the DS01?
A majority of the company's directors. Any directors who don't sign must be sent a copy within 7 days.
How long should I keep records after striking off?
GOV.UK says to keep business documents such as bank statements, invoices and receipts for 7 years.
