How do you close down a VAT Registered LTD company

[commadus]

So I have come to the conclusion there is no real benefit to me keeping open this company. There are zero sales, no VAT to reclaim, no debtors, nothing outstanding.

My last company accounts were made to year end March 2024, so the current accounts to March 2025 are due by end of this year.

What is the cleanest and quickest way to do this?

 

[WaveJumper]

You could have a read here

Strike off your limited company from the Companies Register

How to close down your limited company by getting it struck off the Companies Register

www.gov.uk

 

[DWS]

Deregister for VAT and submit the final VAT return, then apply to Companies House to dissolve to the Company, which WaveJumper has provided information on above.

 

[commadus]

I am a bit confused what it means by stopping trading for 3 months.

Currently the only bills being paid are for VAT return quarterly and a telephone number monthly. So I should cancel the telephone number and wait 3 months before starting the strike off? I kept the telephone number as I thought its a legal requirement to have a number.

 

[fisicx]

You don’t need a phone if you have ceased trading. There is no law that says a business has to have a phone or even an email address.

 

[Nathanto]

I am a bit confused what it means by stopping trading for 3 months.

Currently the only bills being paid are for VAT return quarterly and a telephone number monthly.

"Trading" is doing things that generate business/income such as buying or selling products/assets or you providing a service.

So long as you haven't used the phone for buying or selling stuff over the last three months then paying a phone bill is not trading so you can apply for the strike off now.

 

[UK Contractor Accountant]

My advice slightly different from the above - file the 03/25 CT Return with HMRC ticking box not attaching accounts & computations and fill in the explanation box with the date company ceased trading.

Once that done apply for Strike Off.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

So I have come to the conclusion there is no real benefit to me keeping open this company. There are zero sales, no VAT to reclaim, no debtors, nothing outstanding.

My last company accounts were made to year end March 2024, so the current accounts to March 2025 are due by end of this year.

What is the cleanest and quickest way to do this?

Does the company still have any assets - equipment on the balance sheet, any old stock, cash in the bank etc., and has it had any income or gains since 31 March 2024?

 

[commadus]

Does the company still have any assets - equipment on the balance sheet, any old stock, cash in the bank etc., and has it had any income or gains since 31 March 2024?

No stock, no equipment, about £75 in cash to pay the monthly phone bill and small monthly bank fee.

No income gains or losses. The company was only running to pay off BBL which was done last year.

 

[Paul Kelly ICHYB]

£75 a month in phone costs - are you running a call centre?

 

[commadus]

£75 a month in phone costs - are you running a call centre?

Oh no, That's the total in the account, the phone number is a few pounds a month.

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

Oh no, That's the total in the account, the phone number is a few pounds a month.

In that case I second the suggestion by DWS ie deregister for VAT, submit the final VAT return, then apply to Companies House to strike-off the company.

 

[commadus]

So my VAT return for quarter ending Sep is due, so I submit that first and then deregister for Vat. Or do I deregister first?

So once I deregister - do they ask me to complete a final vat return?

 

[DWS]

Submit a nil VAT return for September and then you will need to submit another nil return up to the deregistration date that has been accepted

 

[Bobbo]

My advice slightly different from the above - file the 03/25 CT Return with HMRC ticking box not attaching accounts & computations and fill in the explanation box with the date company ceased trading.

Once that done apply for Strike Off.

Agree this - HMRC will likely object to the striking off if they haven't had the last CT600.

 

[DWS]

Agree this - HMRC will likely object to the striking off if they haven't had the last CT600.

Which is part of the process of dissolving the Company as per the link provided in reply #2 by WaveJumper

 

[commadus]

I have not acted on this - my health deteriorated. Now if I am correct I need to do the following in this order from today. I need a dumb person guide.

1. Deregister for VAT - but what date do I put down for when ceased trading?
2. File the 03/25 CT Return with HMRC ticking box not attaching accounts & computations and fill in the explanation box with the date company ceased trading?
3. The file accounts again after the company has closed -final accounts?

So when do I apply for strikeoff? After the HMRC has accepted final accounts?

 

[Scalloway]

1. September is mentioned above so I would use that.
3. File accounts for the y/e 3/25
4. Apply for strike off now.

 

[commadus]

I have applied for strikeoff - first gazette was end of December.

So the final Gazette will be around end of Feb?

So will the bank be automatically informed and close the account or will I have to do that?

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

I have applied for strikeoff - first gazette was end of December.

So the final Gazette will be around end of Feb?

So will the bank be automatically informed and close the account or will I have to do that?

If no one objects the company will be struck-off 2 months after the date of the first notice and one more final notice will be published.

You need to transfer any funds out of the account and close the bank account yourself. If you dont do this the bank account will be frozen and any funds in the account pass to the Crown.

 

[commadus]

What do I with the companies house/ VAT/HMRC logins - do they automatically get deleted or closed down?

 

[MyAccountantOnline]

What do I with the companies house/ VAT/HMRC logins - do they automatically get deleted or closed down?

I'd keep them just in case they are needed. The records don't get deleted once the company is struck-off but it'll show the company has been dissolved.

 

[CLM Controller]

So I have come to the conclusion there is no real benefit to me keeping open this company. There are zero sales, no VAT to reclaim, no debtors, nothing outstanding.

My last company accounts were made to year end March 2024, so the current accounts to March 2025 are due by end of this year.

What is the cleanest and quickest way to do this?

If the company genuinely has no activity, no assets, no debts and nothing pending with HMRC or VAT, you don’t need to go through a formal liquidation.

In cases like this, the usual and most straightforward route in the UK is a voluntary strike-off using form DS01 with Companies House.

Before doing that, just make sure the company has stopped trading, the bank account is closed and there are no outstanding filings or tax matters. Once the DS01 is submitted, Companies House publishes the notice and, if there are no objections, the company is dissolved.

For a “clean” company as you described, this is typically the simplest and most cost-effective way to close it properly.

 

[commadus]

If the company genuinely has no activity, no assets, no debts and nothing pending with HMRC or VAT, you don’t need to go through a formal liquidation.

In cases like this, the usual and most straightforward route in the UK is a voluntary strike-off using form DS01 with Companies House.

Before doing that, just make sure the company has stopped trading, the bank account is closed and there are no outstanding filings or tax matters. Once the DS01 is submitted, Companies House publishes the notice and, if there are no objections, the company is dissolved.

For a “clean” company as you described, this is typically the simplest and most cost-effective way to close it properly.

The only thing I haven't done is close the bank account as I thought that was the last thing to do. There is now £35 left in the account so if I take this out - how do I account for it?

I receieved a notice from the bank that they have been informed the company is being struck off.

 

[Scalloway]

If the company is about to be struck off you don't need to do anything in the company books. I understand there are no personal tax issues for such a small sum.

 

[CLM Controller]

The only thing I haven't done is close the bank account as I thought that was the last thing to do. There is now £35 left in the account so if I take this out - how do I account for it?

I receieved a notice from the bank that they have been informed the company is being struck off.

If there is £35 remaining, that balance should normally be treated as a final distribution to the shareholder before dissolution.

In small strike-off cases (with total distributions under £25,000), this is typically treated as a capital distribution rather than income, provided the company is solvent.

From an accounting perspective, you would:

• Clear any remaining liabilities
• Transfer the remaining balance to the director/shareholder loan account or treat it as final distribution
• Bring the bank balance to nil before closure

It’s generally advisable to withdraw the funds and close the bank account before the company is formally dissolved.

Also, once the bank has been notified of the strike-off, they may freeze the account at some stage, so it’s sensible to deal with the balance promptly.

 

[commadus]

So how long does company strike off take?

App strike off 22/12/25
First Gazette 30/12/25

I thought it was 2 months after the first gazette?

 

[DWS]

So how long does company strike off take?

App strike off 22/12/25
First Gazette 30/12/25

I thought it was 2 months after the first gazette?

The wording says ‘not less than 2 months’
I have had some go through within days after the 2 months and others that take months.
Just had one now 2 weeks after the 2 months date that has had the strike off suspended due to an objection.