Insolvency guideLast updated 1 January 1970

What a strike-off notice tells you

TL;DR

A UK strike-off notice is either voluntary (DS01 — directors closing a solvent company) or compulsory (Registrar dissolving a non-filing company). Notices run in the London Gazette in two rounds, ~two months apart. Suppliers with unpaid invoices can object and stop the process; directors dissolving a company with debts risk personal liability.

The two-notice sequence

Day 0

First Gazette notice

Public warning. Two months to object.

Day 60

Second Gazette notice

Dissolution effective. Assets pass to Crown.

Anytime

Objection

Creditors and HMRC can pause via written objection.

Voluntary vs compulsory — the crucial distinction

Voluntary strike-off (DS01) is initiated by directors when a company is solvent, has stopped trading for three months, and has no assets/debts to sort. It's a cheap way to close a dormant company (£33 fee).

Compulsory strike-off is initiated by the Companies House Registrar — usually because the company stopped filing. It doesn't ask directors' consent. The register just closes the entity.

What triggers compulsory strike-off?

Two or more missed confirmation statements (CS01).
Overdue accounts for months on end.
No response to Registrar mail — often because the registered office is stale.
Belief that the company is no longer carrying on business.

Full detail on why filing hygiene matters in how to read Companies House filings and see also our confirmation statement checker.

What suppliers should do

If a company that owes you money is heading for strike-off, act inside the two-month window:

File a written objection with Companies House citing the outstanding debt.
Serve a statutory demand for debts over £750 (business debts).
Consider a winding-up petition to the court.
If you're a secured creditor, ensure your charges are registered — you'll be first in line if formal insolvency follows.

What directors should NOT do

Do not use voluntary strike-off (DS01) to close a company with unpaid creditors. It's an offence. You can be personally liable and disqualified as a director. If the company can't pay its debts, the proper route is Creditors' Voluntary Liquidation or Administration. See our administration explainer.

Assets after dissolution

Anything a dissolved company owns — cash, IP, property, contracts — passes to the Crown as bona vacantia (Latin: "ownerless goods"). Recovering it requires restoration, either administrative (simple cases within 6 years) or by court order (complex, contested, or older). Costs range from £468 in Companies House fees to thousands with a solicitor.

Reading strike-off in the wild

On Companies House, the filing history will show "Gazette 1st notice for voluntary strike-off" or "Compulsory strike-off action". Cross-check the London Gazette by company name and the DS01 or Registrar's notice will be there. If the company is important to you — a customer, a supplier, a target — put a watch on it via the free UK company checker.

Frequently asked questions

What is a strike-off notice?

A formal notice, published in the Gazette and shown on the Companies House filing history, that a UK company is being dissolved. There are two kinds: voluntary (DS01, initiated by directors) and compulsory (initiated by the Registrar for non-filing).

How long does the strike-off process take?

Roughly two months from first Gazette notice to dissolution — if nobody objects. Compulsory strike-offs can take longer if HMRC or a creditor objects.

Can I stop a strike-off?

Yes. Any creditor, HMRC, a director, or an interested party can object to Companies House. Filing missing accounts and paying penalties usually pauses the process for compulsory strike-off.

What happens to company assets on strike-off?

Anything owned by the company at dissolution passes to the Crown as bona vacantia — technically the King's private estate. Recovering assets after dissolution requires court restoration.

What happens to the bank account?

Frozen and eventually paid to the Treasury Solicitor. Balances above a threshold require restoration to recover.

What does 'proposed to be struck off' mean?

The first stage of compulsory strike-off. Companies House has notified the company that it will be struck off unless directors act (usually by filing overdue accounts and CS01).

Is strike-off the same as liquidation?

No. Strike-off is a low-cost dissolution for solvent, dormant, or abandoned companies. Liquidation is a formal insolvency process involving a licensed practitioner and creditor meetings.

Can directors dissolve a company with debts?

Not properly. Voluntary strike-off (DS01) requires no trading, no legal action, and no assets/creditors to worry about. Filing DS01 with outstanding debts risks personal liability and disqualification.

How do I check if a company I supply is being struck off?

Open its Companies House page. Look for 'Gazette 1st notice' or 'Compulsory strike-off action' in filing history. Cross-check the London Gazette by company name.

Can a struck-off company be restored?

Yes — administrative restoration (within 6 years) or court restoration. It's slow and costs from £468 in fees plus solicitor. Some restorations succeed; some don't.

What should I do as a supplier of a company facing strike-off?

Stop extending credit. File a written objection with Companies House to buy time. Consider a statutory demand or petition for winding-up if debts are material.

Are strike-offs common?

Yes — Companies House strikes off hundreds of thousands of UK companies a year, most of them dormant. The vast majority are administrative housekeeping.

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