What happens to struck off or dissolved companies?
If a limited company has been struck off or dissolved, it is removed from the Register at Companies House. Its cash and assets transfer to The Crown. (see foot of page for more detail), and in order get them back you need to go through a process known as company restoration. (PDF file - 78kB)
If you trade with a struck off or dissolved company prior to that struck off or dissolved company being restored to the Register at Companies House there can be serious legal repercussions, including personal liability for company debts and a host of contractual and other legal issues.
The name of the struck off or dissolved company becomes free for use in a new company incorporation. You may have to change the name of your struck off or dissolved company as part of the application to restore to the register (PDF file - 78kB)if somebody else has formed a new company using the name of the struck off or dissolved company prior to your company restoration application.
The only way a struck off or dissolved company can release any assets (held as "bona vacantia") is by way of an application to the Treasury solicitor and the Registrar of Companies within sections 1024 - 1029 Companies Act 2006, (formerly 651, 652 and 653 of the Companies Act 1985), for a company restoration (PDF file - 78kB), either through court or by means of administrative restoration. In other words, you need to reinstate a struck off or dissolved company by way of a company restoration. (PDF file - 78kB)
A struck off or dissolved under section 1000 of Companies Act 2006 (formerly section 652 of the Companies Act 1985) forfeits its assets and they pass "bona vacantia" to either The Crown, The Duchy of Lancaster or Duchy of Cornwall, depending on the situation of the registered office of the struck off or dissolved company.
Keywords: bon vacantia, struck off or dissolved UK limited company, dissolved company, company restoration, restored to the Register, section 652, Treasury solicitor, section 1000 Companies Act 2006, administrative restoration
