Dissolved company help

[shadow123]

Our company was dissolved in January 2025 but we have just received an email from the management company of our old retail premises to say we are due a refund of our service charges. They want to pay it into our business account but this was closed by the Treasury. We do have an old company account that wasn't closed. Are we able to claim the refund into this account or as we are dissolved would this not be legal?

 

[David Griffiths]

Any assets of a dissolved company are known as "bona vacantia" which means emplty goods i.e. with no owner. All bona vacantia becomes the property of the Crown on dissolution of the company (or in some circumstances the Duchy of Cornwall or Lancaster) The only legal way to claim the money is by reinstating the company, which might or might not be worth it depending on how much is involved..

Any company bank accounts are normally closed by the bank when the dissolution is confirmed, not by the Treasury, so you might find the other other old bank account is also closed unless the bank has made an error.

Strictly speaking, if you get your hands on the money and keep it that would be theft. Some people might well choose to take that risk

 

[Elliot Green]

Our company was dissolved in January 2025 but we have just received an email from the management company of our old retail premises to say we are due a refund of our service charges. They want to pay it into our business account but this was closed by the Treasury. We do have an old company account that wasn't closed. Are we able to claim the refund into this account or as we are dissolved would this not be legal?

Needs to go to the crown

 

[ChrisCallaghan]

Hi @shadow123 ,

Unfortunately no real way to claim this without reinstating the company and opening a new company bank account.

Whilst the company remains dissolved, it's assets are bona vacantia, i.e. property of the crown.

How much are we talking about?

 

[shadow123]

Hi @shadow123 ,

Unfortunately no real way to claim this without reinstating the company and opening a new company bank account.

Whilst the company remains dissolved, it's assets are bona vacantia, i.e. property of the crown.

How much are we talking about?

Hi @shadow123 ,

Unfortunately no real way to claim this without reinstating the company and opening a new company bank account.

Whilst the company remains dissolved, it's assets are bona vacantia, i.e. property of the crown.

How much are we talking about?

Hi, just over £400, so probably not worth reinstating the company. Oh well, some you win, some you lose.....

 

[David Griffiths]

Hi, just over £400, so probably not worth reinstating the company. Oh well, some you win, some you lose.....

That would mean that the management company should send the money to the Treasury.

Anybody want to put a bet on whether they do that?

 

[Newchodge]

That would mean that the management company should send the money to the Treasury.

Anybody want to put a bet on whether they do that?

Not to the Treasury, to the Crown. And many may think the Crown has more than enough already.

 

[David Griffiths]

Not to the Treasury, to the Crown. And many may think the Crown has more than enough already.

You actually make payment to the Treasury Solicitor.

And many may think that (insert name of large retail store) has more than enough already, so it's Ok to walk out without paying for goods.

 

[Newchodge]

You actually make payment to the Treasury Solicitor.

And many may think that (insert name of large retail store) has more than enough already, so it's Ok to walk out without paying for goods.

Joking apart, does it just go into the Treasury, or is it held by the Crown (as, I assume the money received by the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster is held by them)?

 

[David Griffiths]

Joking apart, does it just go into the Treasury, or is it held by the Crown (as, I assume the money received by the Duchies of Cornwall and Lancaster is held by them)?

I honestly have no idea. I came across the Treasury involvement in a real life situation last year where property owned by a dissolved company was disclaimed by the Treasury Solicitor. I think that the cash does go into an account with "Crown" in the account name.

Perhaps it should go to the Crown so they don't have to charge the RNLI for launching lifeboats off "their" beach.

 

[eteb3]

“The Crown” is effectively the Treasury - His Majesty’s Treasury.

The Crown is not the King in his own person but (in effect if not strictly de jure - idk) the monarch conceived of as the embodiment of the state.

Imho an argument denying the Crown its right in respect of bona vacantia would also be an argument capable of justifying tax evasion.

The Duchies are more like the King’s personal property - though even there they are trusts for the benefit of descendants of [insert forgotten medieval king here], not his personal property strictly speaking .