Company Compliance
Filing Dormant Company
Accounts Online
Dormant companies are required to prepare certain statutory documents for Companies House every year, including annual returns and dormant company accounts.
We prepare your dormant accounts for you and allow you to file online with Companies House seamlessly. We handle the entire compliance process for a fixed fee of just £100*.
Pro Tip: Managing Bank Accounts
Closing the company bank account is the simplest way to keep a company dormant and prevent accidental accounting transactions. Do not open a company bank account until you are completely ready to commence trading.
Eligibility
When do dormant company accounts apply?
A company is legally considered dormant by Companies House only if it has had no significant accounting transactions during the financial year. Specifically, this applies if:
- No significant accounting transactions have taken place from during the accounting period.
- No significant entries have been made through the company bank account.
- No dividends have been paid to any shareholders.
- No other events have taken place which would require an entry in the company accounts.
Administrative DutiesAdministration of a Dormant Company
Annual Returns & Structural Changes
Even though your company may be dormant, you are still required to file an Annual Return (Confirmation Statement) to Companies House. The filing deadline is within 28 days of the anniversary of company formation, or the made-up date of the previous return.
If you decide to appoint a Company Secretary, Director, or need to change the details of any of these officers while the company is dormant, you must notify Companies House. The same applies to any change of registered address.
How long can a company remain dormant?
There is no time limit for keeping a company in a dormant status. You can keep a company dormant indefinitely to protect its name in readiness for a future project.
However, the directors must still perform their administrative duties each year without fail, ensuring the dormant accounts and confirmation statements are filed correctly and on time to avoid being struck off the register.
Penalties for Not Filing Dormant Accounts
Failure to submit dormant company accounts or an annual return will incur immediate penalties from Companies House. Official guidance dictates: "Failure to file annual returns or accounts is a criminal offence which can result in directors being fined personally in the criminal courts".
Any fines for directors are in addition to statutory penalties that must be paid by the company. Fines start at £150 but grow rapidly to £1,500, and can be completely doubled if the company persistently files its dormant company accounts late.