Company restoration

Administrative restoration

A former director or shareholder can apply. Before applying they must:

• file all outstanding documents, such as overdue accounts and confirmation statements
• pay any outstanding penalties and fines
• get a waiver letter from the Crown’s representative if the company had assets that became bona vacantia

Accounts that were overdue before dissolution attract late filing penalties as if the company had never been dissolved. Accounts that fell due while it was dissolved do not.

Restoration by court order

Former directors, shareholders, creditors and others with an interest can apply to the court, generally within 6 years of dissolution. There is no time limit where restoration is needed for a personal injury claim.

A trading company struck off in March 2026 over an overdue confirmation statement, with £8,000 still in its bank account, could apply for administrative restoration until March 2032.

Restoration costs time and money, so SmartFiling’s guide to avoiding strike-off for overdue filings is the better starting point while the company is still on the register.