Restoring a dissolved company to the Companies House register

Can I restore a company to the Companies House register?

If a company has been removed from the register at Companies House, it will have either been voluntarily dissolved by its directors, or struck off the register by Companies House for failing to file Confirmation Statements and company accounts.

While companies dissolved by either of these methods can be restored, the process of restoration differs.

If Companies House dissolved the company due to non-compliance while the company was still trading, directors can apply to have the company restored to the register by way of an administrative restoration.

If the company's directors dissolved the company voluntarily, however, a more complex court restoration will be required.

What is an administrative restoration of a limited company?

An administrative restoration can be requested by former directors/shareholders if the company was struck off by Companies House within the last six years while the company was still trading.

In order for the restoration application to be successful, all outstanding Confirmation Statements and company accounts must be filed, and the appropriate financial penalties paid for non-compliance. There will also be a company restoration cost to be paid which should accompany the application form RT01, along with the relative fines and penalty payments.

Only directors and shareholders can apply for an administrative restoration, and if the application is successful, the registrar will confirm the company’s restoration to the register by letter. Most administrative restorations are achieved within a month of application.

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What is a court restoration of a dissolved limited company?

When an administrative restoration is not possible, an interested party - such as a former director, outstanding creditor, or any party with a contractual relationship with the company - can apply for a court restoration instead.

A court restoration will be required if:

• The company is planning to recommence trade using the previous limited company details
• The company needs to be temporarily  restored to enable the release of an asset which has become bono vacantia
• A creditor or employee wishes to file a claim against the company 

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Administrative Restoration v Court Restoration: A Comparison

Can HMRC restore a dissolved company?

HMRC can apply to have a dissolved company restored to the Companies House register if there are significant tax debts that HMRC believe the company could afford to repay. Restoration will take place via the court restoration process.

Can a creditor restore a dissolved company?

It is not just HMRC who can apply to have a dissolved company restored; in fact, any creditor can apply for the restoration of a dissolved company's restoration if they have reason to believe that the dissolved company had assets which should have gone to creditors.

If you have reason to believe your company owes money to creditors including HMRC or suppliers, closing it down via the dissolution or strike off process is not recommended. Companies can be - and are - restored to the register to allow for monies owed to be collected. Before closing your company, ensure you speak to a licensed insolvency practitioner to fully understand your options.

For more information on restoring a company to the Company House register, contact our expert team at Real Business Rescue. We can offer professional advice and practical support at every stage. Call today for a same-day consultation free-of-charge.