If you are frequently missing out on filing your company accounts or confirmation statement, then Companies House can start the process to remove your company from the register. Under the process, you will get the first Gazette notice, a compulsory Companies House strike-off, and eventually dissolution. It can be avoided by quickly filing overdue documents and responding quickly to Companies House.
It starts with a missed deadline. Imagine this: you are meant to file your company accounts on time, but a busy month turned into another one. Then you receive a late filing penalty. You take it lightly by paying it and carrying on.
Things start to get serious when you miss the following year; only this time, the consequences will be serious. If Companies House believes your company is no longer operating properly, or you fail to submit required documents, it can begin the Companies House strike off process.
For a small business owner like you, this can be alarming. That is why a strike-off warning should never be ignored. Companies House statistics show just how common company dissolution is. Between April and June 2026, 156,515 companies were struck off and dissolved in the UK, including 67,815 through compulsory dissolution.
The good news is that receiving a warning does not automatically mean your company is going to disappear.
In this guide, we will cover everything from penalties to how to avoid Companies House strike off.
What Does Strike Off Mean on Companies House?
A Companies House strike off means removing a company’s name from the official register. Once the process is completed, the company is dissolved and will longer remain as a legal entity.
Companies House can start a compulsory strike-off action when it has sufficient reasons to believe the company is no longer operational or required filings are not being submitted. Missing out on filing accounts or confirmation statement increases the chances of strike off.
It is important to know the difference between being warned strike off and actually being struck off. An “active proposal to strike off” means the process has started. It does not mean the company has already been dissolved. This gives directors an opportunity to act.
Compulsory vs Voluntary Strike Off: What’s the Difference?
The main difference is who starts the process. A voluntary strike off is normally requested by company directors when they want to close their company. Compulsory strike off is initiated by the Registrar of Companies when there is a reason to believe the company should be removed from the register. You might face compulsory strike off action only if you have failed to file accounts or a confirmation statement.
Voluntary strike off is therefore a planned decision. Compulsory strike off is a warning that Companies House believes something is wrong. If your business is still trading, you should treat compulsory strike off action seriously.
You Filed Late Once — Why a Second Time Is More Serious
File late once, and your business will not be struck off because Companies House will consider as a genuine mistake. But frequent late filing will create big compliance problems.
For companies, the Companies House late filing penalty is currently:
- Up to 1 month late: £150
- More than 1 month to 3 months: £375
- More than 3 months to 6 months: £750
- More than 6 months: £1,500
Public companies face a separate, higher scale, with penalties reaching up to £7,500 for the longest delays.
If accounts are late for two consecutive financial years, the penalty is doubled.
There is also a separate corporation tax penalty from HMRC. HMRC doubled its late filing penalties from 1 April 2026, the first increase since 1998. A Company Tax Return filed even one day late now triggers a £200 fixed penalty, rising by a further £200 at three months, and a tax geared penalty of 10% of any unpaid corporation tax once the return is six months overdue, with a further 10% at twelve months.
Not delivering your accounts and confirmation statements will not only cause you an administrative headache. Companies House considers it a criminal offence, and directors may face prosecution and fines.
So, if you have received a penalty for one late filing, make sure it does not happen again. Put a system in place that avoids it. For a small business, this could mean setting reminders, preparing accounts earlier, keeping bookkeeping records up to date or using an accountant to manage the filing process.
The Compulsory Strike-Off Timeline: Warning Letters to Dissolution
The strike off Companies House process generally happens in stages and is certainly not instant removal.
Companies House first connects with the company because it believes that it is no longer in operation or the required filings are not being made.
If the situation is not fixed, then the Registrar can publish the first Gazette notice, which is a warning to strike off the company.
The notice is the start of the formal period during which action can be taken.
For standard compulsory strike off, a company will generally be struck off no sooner than two months after the first Gazette notice unless sufficient evidence is provided to the Registrar or an objection is received.
The company can use this period to resolve the issue.
A typical process looks like this:
| Stage | What happens | What the director should do |
| Filing becomes overdue | Accounts or confirmation statement is not filed | Check what is missing immediately |
| Companies House contacts the company | The Registrar may make enquiries | Respond rather than ignore the notice |
| First Gazette notice | Proposed strike off becomes public | Act quickly and submit outstanding documents |
| Objection or action | Interested parties can object | Resolve the reason for the strike off |
| Strike off | Company is removed from the register | Avoid reaching this stage if the company is still needed |
| Dissolution | Company legally ceases to exist | Restoration may be required if eligible |
Companies House states that a first Gazette notice for compulsory strike off is generally followed by strike off and dissolution after at least two months, unless the Registrar receives sufficient evidence to stop the process.
What Actually Happens If Your Company Is Struck Off?
This is where things get serious. Once your small company is dissolved, it is no longer a legal entity. You cannot continue to operate normally. There can also be consequences for your company’s assets.
Companies House guidance states that when a company is dissolved, money in its bank account is frozen and assets can pass to the Crown as bona vacantia.
That could create significant problems if your business owns:
- Cash
- Property
- Vehicles
- Equipment
- Intellectual property
- Other valuable assets
In that case, your customers and suppliers will be affected. If you owe money, your creditors may have an interest in preventing the company from being dissolved.
This is one reason directors should never assume that a strike-off notice is simply a warning about paperwork. It can affect the legal existence of the business.
How to Stop a Compulsory Strike Off
If your company has received a compulsory Companies House strike off warning, act quickly. The first step is to identify why Companies House has started the process.
Check whether you have outstanding:
- Annual accounts
- Confirmation statements
- Registered office information
- Other Companies House filings
If documents are overdue, get them prepared and delivered as quickly as possible. Companies House specifically advises companies facing strike off because they appear not to be operating to respond promptly to enquiries and deliver outstanding documents.
You should also check the company’s Companies House record. Look for wording such as “Active — Proposal to Strike Off”.
What If Your Company Owes Money to HMRC?
HMRC can object to a company being struck off if it has outstanding tax liabilities. This matters to prevent misuse to avoid debts.
Outstanding Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE or other HMRC liabilities need to be dealt with separately. If your business owes tax, check exactly what is outstanding and communicate with HMRC.
You should also make sure your tax returns and Companies House accounts are up to date. Note that from 1 April 2026, the joint HMRC and Companies House filing service closed, so company tax returns and annual accounts must now be filed separately using commercial software rather than through a single combined route.
So, if your business is behind on both Companies House and HMRC filings, deal with both. Do not assume that fixing one automatically fixes the other. If you have fallen behind and in-house handling is not enough, then professional accounting assistance can make the process easier to manage.
MyIVA provides company accounts, Corporation Tax filing, bookkeeping, VAT and other small-business accounting services, including support with Companies House and HMRC submissions.
FAQs: Frequently Asked Questions
What is compulsory strike off at Companies House?
Compulsory strike off is the process through which the Registrar of Companies removes a company from the register when it believes the company should no longer remain registered. Failure to file accounts or a confirmation statement can be one reason for action.
What does strike off mean on Companies House?
Strike off means removing a company from the Companies House register. Once the process is completed, the company is dissolved and ceases to exist as a legal entity. Company assets can also become property of the Crown.
Can HMRC stop my company being struck off if I owe tax?
Yes. HMRC can object to a company’s strike off where there are outstanding tax matters. If your company owes Corporation Tax, VAT, PAYE or other amounts, deal with the liability and seek appropriate professional advice rather than allowing the strike-off process to continue.
How long does the compulsory strike-off process take?
A company will generally be struck off no sooner than two months after the first Gazette notice for compulsory strike off, although the exact process can vary. Companies House may suspend or discontinue the action if sufficient evidence is provided or an objection is accepted.
Can a struck-off company be restored?
In some circumstances, yes. A company that has already been struck off may be eligible for restoration to the register, depending on how and why it was dissolved and the circumstances of the application. If your company has already been dissolved, professional advice should be obtained promptly because restoration routes and deadlines can apply.
Do I need to complete identity verification for Companies House in 2026?
Companies House is phasing in mandatory identity verification for directors, people with significant control, and anyone filing on a company’s behalf, alongside tighter rules on having a valid registered office address. Failing either can trigger a strike off enquiry on its own, so it is worth checking both alongside any overdue filings.
Conclusion
A Companies House strike off warning is not to be taken lightly. If your business is still trading, the warning is a signal to act.
Conduct a thorough check of what is overdue. File the outstanding documents. Review your HMRC position. Make sure your registered office and company information are correct. Most importantly, put a system in place so the same problem does not happen again.
However, staying compliant does not mean managing every deadline yourself. You can take help from professional providers like MyIVA, who can take care of company accounts, Corporation Tax, bookkeeping and filing requirements, giving you a clearer way to keep your business up to date with Companies House and HMRC.
If you have received a Companies House strike off warning or are worried about overdue filings, contact us today and get your company’s filing position back on track.
