HowToCloseCompany

Strike-Off Eligibility Checker

Answer the questions to see whether you may be able to apply, need to wait, or need insolvency help.

Question 1 of 7

Can the company pay its debts on time?

If it cannot pay debts on time, seek insolvency advice before considering strike-off.

What this checker asks

  1. Can the company pay its debts on time?

    If it cannot pay debts on time, seek insolvency advice before considering strike-off.

  2. Has the company traded or sold stock in the last three months?

    The three-month restriction covers trading and normal stock sales.

  3. Will total planned distributions to shareholders exceed £25,000?

    HMRC uses the total distribution amount for this tax rule.

  4. Is the company VAT registered?

    Cancel the VAT registration if the company stops trading.

  5. Does the company have employees or pay subcontractors?

    Tell HMRC when the company stops employing people or using subcontractors.

  6. Does the company have unfinished matters with HMRC?

    Resolve unfinished HMRC matters before applying for strike-off.

  7. Which industry is your company in?

    Choose the closest match.

Conditions this short checker does not ask

Before applying, confirm the company has not changed its name in the last three months.

Confirm the company is not threatened with liquidation.

Confirm the company has no agreement with creditors.

Worked examples

Example: still trading recently

  • Can the company pay its debts on time? Yes
  • Has the company traded or sold stock in the last three months? Yes
  • Will total planned distributions to shareholders exceed £25,000? No
  • Is the company VAT registered? No
  • Does the company have employees or pay subcontractors? No
  • Does the company have unfinished matters with HMRC? No
  • Industry: Other

Result: wait

Wait before applying

Industry: Other. Read our guide to closing a limited company

A company cannot apply for strike-off if it traded or sold stock in the preceding three months.

HMRC's £25,000 limit concerns the total of planned shareholder distributions and possible tax treatment.

You answered that the total will not exceed this amount.

Next steps
  1. Wait until at least three months have passed since the company's last trade or normal stock sale before applying.
  2. Before applying, confirm the company has not changed its name in the last three months. Confirm the company is not threatened with liquidation. Confirm the company has no agreement with creditors.
  3. Settle business debts as part of closing company affairs.

Example: solvent and no recent trading

  • Can the company pay its debts on time? Yes
  • Has the company traded or sold stock in the last three months? No
  • Will total planned distributions to shareholders exceed £25,000? Yes
  • Is the company VAT registered? No
  • Does the company have employees or pay subcontractors? No
  • Does the company have unfinished matters with HMRC? No
  • Industry: Other

Result: may be able to apply

You may be able to apply

Industry: Other.

HMRC's £25,000 limit concerns the total of planned shareholder distributions and possible tax treatment.

You answered that the total will exceed this amount.

Next steps
  1. Before applying, confirm the company has not changed its name in the last three months. Confirm the company is not threatened with liquidation. Confirm the company has no agreement with creditors.
  2. Settle business debts as part of closing company affairs.
  3. Once the conditions are met, the online strike-off application costs £13.

    Use a paper DS01 only if you cannot apply online. A paper DS01 application costs £18.

    Read our guide to closing a limited company

  4. Send a copy of the strike-off application to relevant people within seven days of applying.
  5. If the application is accepted, Companies House publishes a Gazette notice. Strike-off follows no sooner than two months after the Gazette notice.
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