Restoring a dissolved company to the Companies House register

How 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 members, or struck off the register for failing to file Confirmation Statements and company accounts.

The type of restoration process required depends on who originally struck off the company. This could be an administrative restoration as mentioned, or if directors dissolved the company, a court restoration will be needed.

What is an administrative restoration of a limited company?

An administrative restoration can be requested if the company was struck off by Companies House within the last six years. 

All outstanding Confirmation Statements and company accounts must be filed, and the appropriate financial penalties paid for non-compliance. It will cost £468 to restore a company plus any penalties or fines which the company is liable for.

When applying for an administrative restoration a cheque, made payable to ‘Companies House,’ should accompany the application form RT01, along with the relative fines and penalty payments.

These penalties may include:

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.

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What is a court restoration of a dissolved limited company?

A number of reasons exist as to why a court restoration may be necessary. These include the recommencement of trade, releasing of an asset, or someone making a claim against the company.

Recommencing trade

If the company was dissolved voluntarily by its directors, they’ll need to apply for a court order if they want to trade again under the limited company in question. This must be done within six years of the dissolution.

In England and Wales, a court restoration can be applied for using form N208, and again, must be accompanied by a fee. In this instance a court fee of £308 is required, along with all outstanding Confirmation Statements, company accounts, and any penalty payments due.

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Releasing an asset

A six-year time limit also applies to court restoration to release an asset. The company will be restored temporarily to the register at Companies House so that the asset(s) in question can be released.

Any assets held by a dissolved company become the property of the Crown after a certain time period, under the laws of ‘Bona Vacantia,’ or ownerless property. In this situation, there is no need for directors to file any missing Confirmation Statements or company accounts, as the restoration is only temporary and normal trade is not to continue.

Claims against the company

The company may be restored to the register by a creditor who wishes to pursue a claim against it; there is no set time limit under these circumstances. A dissolved company can be restored to the register by HMRC if they have reason to believe they will be able to recover monies owed to them.

If directors have failed to withdraw cash from the company’s bank account prior to dissolution, and the amount is less than £3,000, they may be able to recover the money via a discretionary grant rather than having to restore the company.

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.