Closing a UK Ltd Company: can you just stop trading?

If a UK Ltd company is no longer trading, it must still be formally closed. Simply stopping business activity does not remove legal obligations to HMRC and Companies House. If the company has not traded for at least 3 months, has no debts, and meets other conditions, it may be eligible for voluntary strike off (removal from the register).

Before applying, the company must submit final accounts and tax returns to HMRC, settle any outstanding tax, close PAYE if it was used, and notify all relevant parties of the intention to dissolve the company. Failure to complete these steps can result in delays or rejection of the application.

We help prepare the required documentation, check HMRC obligations, and support the full strike-off process from start to finish.