Guidance Note – Voluntary Strike Off & Dissolution

IN LIGHT OF THE ECONOMIC CRIME & CORPORATE TRANSPARENCY ACT 2023, THIS TEMPLATE IS CURRENTLY UNDER REVIEW. 

This guidance note provides a broad overview of the key points of the regime for directors and secretaries of SME private companies considering the process of voluntarily striking their company off the register. As there are inherent costs and burdens in keeping a company on the register, it is always worth considering whether the company should remain on the register at Companies House.

This guidance looks at:

• the reasons why a company may be dissolved;
• the alternatives to dissolution;
• the process of dissolution;
• withdrawing a dissolution application;
• restoration to the register; and
• third party objections to a dissolution.

The guidance does not deal with the tax implications or tax considerations associated with a strike off application and dissolution.

It is a serious offence to apply to strike off a company when a company is ineligible or to provide false or misleading information during the strike off process.

This template has been updated considering the Economic Crime & Corporate Transparency Act 2023 (ECCTA). The ECCTA has expanded the circumstances available to Companies House to strike a company off. As of 18th March 2025, Companies House may expedite the striking off of a company where the registrar has concluded that the company was formed on a false basis. The ECCTA also enables the registrar to strike a company off if it does not maintain an appropriate registered office address.

These notes are designed to complement rather than replace the Government’s guidance. The Government’s guidance is freely available at www.gov.uk and is extremely comprehensive. Companies with complex structures may need to consider seeking independent legal advice.

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