Companies House has paused both the voluntary and compulsory strike-off processes, for the period 21 January to 21 February, to support businesses affected by COVID-19.
The announcement came as Companies House recognised that reduced resource has led to delays in processing correspondence, documents and forms, which could potentially disadvantage companies at an already challenging time.
The regulator said it will continue to publish first Gazette notices for voluntary strike-off applications, but to give business owners more time to update their records, the second Gazette notice will not be published, and companies will not be removed from the register during the pause.
Both the first and second Gazette notices for compulsory strike-off applications will not be published, however, and companies will not be compulsorily removed during this period.
What is the Companies House strike-off process?
Following a prolonged period of inactivity, registered businesses can be either voluntarily or compulsorily removed from the official register of companies, maintained at Companies House.
You can choose to close down your own limited company by getting it “struck off” voluntarily, providing it meets a strict set of requirements.
A company can be forcibly struck off if company documents are outstanding and the regulator receives no response to its prompts, or if the company has no registered directors.
Partner, Colin Airey, comments: “Despite the concession being made by Companies House, business owners should continue to be mindful of their filing obligations and, where possible, should continue to make every effort to fulfil these.
“If you are concerned about satisfying your responsibilities to provide certain documentation to Companies House, you can speak to your usual adviser or contact one of our friendly team of professionals to discuss your circumstances further.”
How can George Hay help?
As chartered accountants and business advisers, operating across Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Hertfordshire, we are experienced in assisting business-owners with fulfilling the statutory obligations that come with running a company.
To find out more about how we can support you, or to discuss your needs with us, contact us today or fill in our online enquiry form.
Link: Companies House pauses voluntary and compulsory strike off processes
