What dormant company accounts are and why you file them
A dormant company is one that has not traded, made money, or spent money during a financial year. If your company falls into this category, you still have to file accounts with Companies House — but you can file a simplified version called dormant company accounts instead of full financial statements. This saves time and cost, and it tells Companies House your company exists but is not currently active.
Filing dormant accounts keeps your company in good standing with the Registrar. If you do not file anything for 18 months, Companies House will send you a strike-off notice and begin the process of dissolving your company. Filing dormant accounts prevents that and keeps your company name and registration number alive for when you want to trade again.
You can only file dormant accounts if your company genuinely did not trade. If you received any income, paid any expenses, or moved money in or out of a business bank account, you must file full accounts instead.
Key Takeaways
- Dormant company accounts are a simplified filing for companies that did not trade or earn money during the year, and they prevent strike-off notices from Companies House.
- You must file dormant accounts within nine months of your company's year-end date, or you risk a late filing penalty and eventual strike-off.
- You file dormant accounts through the Companies House online portal using your authentication code, and the process takes about 15 minutes once you have the information ready.
- If your company received any income, paid any expenses, or held money in a business account, you cannot file dormant accounts and must file full accounts instead.
- Dormant accounts require only a balance sheet and a confirmation statement; you do not need an accountant, though one can help if you are unsure whether your company qualifies.
Check whether your company actually qualifies as dormant
Before you file, confirm that your company meets the legal definition of dormant. A company is dormant if it has not carried on any business activity during the financial year. This includes not receiving any income, not paying any expenses, and not holding any money in a business bank account.
Common situations that disqualify a company from dormant status include: receiving rent or dividend payments, paying accountant or professional fees, paying insurance or utilities, holding cash in a business account (even if untouched), or conducting any trading activity at all. If any of these apply, you must file full accounts.
If you are unsure, contact your accountant or call Companies House on 0303 1246 500. They can confirm whether dormant filing is an option for your company. It is better to ask before you file than to submit dormant accounts when full accounts were required, as this can trigger a compliance notice.
Gather the information and documents you need
Dormant accounts require very little paperwork. You will need your company registration number, your authentication code (sent by Companies House when you first registered), and confirmation of your financial year-end date. You should also have a copy of your last filed accounts or your company's Memorandum and Articles of Association to confirm the year-end date if you are unsure.
You do not need bank statements, invoices, or receipts for dormant accounts. You do not need an accountant to sign off on the accounts, though some companies choose to have one review the filing before submission to avoid errors.
If you have lost your authentication code, you can request a new one from Companies House through their online portal or by calling them. The code is sent by post and usually arrives within 5 to 10 working days.
File dormant accounts through Companies House online
Log into the Companies House WebFiling service using your company authentication code and password. If you do not have a password, you can set one up on first login. Once logged in, select "File dormant accounts" from the menu.
The system will ask you to confirm your company details, your financial year-end date, and the period covered by the accounts. It will then present a simple balance sheet template with minimal fields. For a dormant company, the balance sheet will typically show zero or near-zero figures. You will confirm that the company has not traded and that no accounts audit is required.
After completing the balance sheet, you will file a confirmation statement at the same time. This is a simple declaration that the company information held by Companies House is still correct. Once you have reviewed everything, submit the filing online. Companies House will send you a confirmation email immediately, and the filing is recorded the same day.
Meet the filing deadline to avoid penalties
Dormant accounts must be filed within nine months of your company's financial year-end date. If your year-end is 31 December, you must file by 30 September. If you miss this deadline, Companies House will charge a late filing penalty.
The penalty for late filing of dormant accounts is £150 for companies that file up to three months late, and £375 for companies that file more than three months late. If you are more than 18 months overdue, Companies House will issue a strike-off notice and begin dissolving your company.
If you have missed the deadline, file as soon as possible. Even if you incur a penalty, filing stops the strike-off process and keeps your company active. You can sometimes request that Companies House remove or reduce a penalty if you have a reasonable excuse, such as illness or a postal delay affecting your authentication code.
What happens after you file dormant accounts
Once your dormant accounts are filed, Companies House updates your company record and the filing appears on the public register within one to two working days. Your company remains registered and active, and you will not receive a strike-off notice for that year.
You will need to file dormant accounts again next year if your company remains dormant. If you want to reactivate your company and start trading, you do not need to do anything special — simply open a business bank account, start trading, and file full accounts at the next year-end instead of dormant accounts.
If you want to dissolve your company permanently, you can apply for strike-off yourself through Companies House rather than waiting for them to initiate it. This is a separate process and takes about three months.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can I file dormant accounts if my company has a bank account with money in it?
No. If your company holds money in a business bank account, even if you have not touched it, the company is not dormant. You must file full accounts. The only exception is if the money is held in a dormant account at the bank itself — but you should still check with your accountant, as the definition of dormancy for tax purposes may differ.
What if I file dormant accounts but then realize I should have filed full accounts?
Contact Companies House immediately. You can file amended accounts or full accounts for the same period. Filing the correct accounts stops any compliance action and prevents future penalties. Companies House may still issue a notice, but correcting the error quickly reduces the risk of enforcement action.
Do I need an accountant to file dormant accounts?
No. You can file dormant accounts yourself through the Companies House online portal. However, if you are unsure whether your company qualifies as dormant or if you want someone to review your filing before submission, an accountant can help. The cost is usually lower than for full accounts because the work is minimal.
What is the difference between dormant accounts and a confirmation statement?
Dormant accounts are the financial filing that shows your company did not trade. A confirmation statement is a separate declaration that confirms your company details (directors, shareholders, registered address) are still correct. You file both at the same time when you file dormant accounts.
If I file dormant accounts, can I still trade my company?
Yes. Filing dormant accounts does not prevent you from trading. If you start trading after filing dormant accounts, you will simply file full accounts at the next year-end instead of dormant accounts. There is no penalty for changing from dormant to active status.