How to close down a company by striking off
There are a limited range of circumstances when a company can request to be removed from the register (known as being struck off). For example, a voluntary strike off can be requested by a dormant or non-trading company.A limited company can be closed down by getting it ‘struck off’ the Companies Register, but only if it:hasn’t traded or sold off any stock in the last 3 months. For example, a company in business to sell apples could not continue selling apples during that 3 month period but it could sell the truck once used to deliver the apples or the warehouse where they were stored, hasn’t changed names in the last 3 months’ isn’t threatened with liquidation, has no agreements with creditors, e.g. a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA).If the company does not meet these conditions, then the company will need to be liquidated (also known as a ‘winding up’).Before applying for a strike off, the company must be legally closed down. This involves:announcing plans to interested parties and HMRC making sure employees are treated according to the rules dealing with business assets and accounts.