Last updated: 30 September 2026
If your limited company has been struck off the Companies House register, it no longer legally exists — its bank accounts are frozen and anything it owned passes to the Crown. The good news: in most cases the company can be restored. Here’s how restoration works in 2026, the two routes available, and which one applies to you.
Need help with a dissolved Northern Ireland company? Our Belfast team has helped restore businesses and can review your company details. Explore our company restoration service in Northern Ireland for the next steps and a quote.
Why companies get struck off
The most common reasons a company is removed from the register:
- Missed filings — the company failed to file its annual accounts or confirmation statement, and Companies House struck it off after warnings went unanswered.
- Voluntary strike-off — the directors applied to dissolve the company, sometimes only to realise afterwards that it still held an asset, or that they needed it again.
- Lost correspondence — statutory mail went to an old registered office address and the warnings were never seen. (A professional registered office prevents exactly this.)
What happens to the company’s assets?
Once dissolved, everything the company owned — money in the bank, property and equipment — becomes bona vacantia (“ownerless goods”) and passes to the Crown. For companies whose registered office was in Northern Ireland, this is dealt with by the Crown Solicitor’s Office in Belfast. The Crown can sell or disclaim those assets, so the sooner you act, the better the chance of recovering them intact.
Route 1: Administrative restoration
The simpler and cheaper route — but it’s only available if all of the following apply:
- The company was struck off by Companies House (not voluntarily dissolved by its directors);
- The application is made within 6 years of dissolution; and
- The company was trading or in operation at the time it was struck off.
An administrative restoration application is made to Companies House using form RT01. It must be made by an eligible former director or member. Outstanding filings, fees and applicable penalties must be addressed, and a waiver may be required where the company had assets. The relevant Crown representative in Northern Ireland is the Crown Solicitor’s Office. Check the official administrative restoration requirements alongside your company’s circumstances.
Administrative restoration from £985 + VAT, including the RT01 filing fee. Other applicable statutory fees are charged separately. Outstanding filing fees, penalties and additional work can affect the total. We confirm the scope and costs before work starts. See our company restoration service for details.
Route 2: Restoration by court order
If the company was dissolved voluntarily, or doesn’t meet the administrative criteria, restoration requires an application to the High Court — in Northern Ireland, the High Court of Justice in Belfast. The application generally must be made within 6 years of dissolution (different rules apply where restoration is needed for a personal injury claim — talk to us about your circumstances).
Court restoration involves engaging with both Companies Registry and the Crown Solicitor’s Office before the hearing, so it takes longer and costs more than the administrative route. We quote each court restoration individually based on the circumstances.
Which route do I need?
- Struck off by Companies House for missed filings, within the last 6 years, trading at the time → administrative restoration.
- Voluntarily dissolved, or outside the criteria above → court order.
- Not sure? Send us the company name and number and we’ll tell you — no charge for the answer.
How long does it take?
Timing depends on the restoration route, outstanding paperwork and responses from Companies House, the Crown’s representative and, where applicable, the court. Court restoration also depends on court procedure and availability. We discuss likely timescales after reviewing your company; a completion date cannot be guaranteed.
Can you reinstate a dissolved company to recover a bank balance?
Restoration may be needed to deal with money or property left in the company. Explain what assets remain when you enquire, because the reason for restoration helps determine the next steps. Restoration does not itself complete every bank or asset-recovery procedure.
Is restoring a company the same as forming a new one?
No. Incorporating another company creates a separate legal entity; it does not restore the dissolved company or automatically transfer its assets. If you need to deal with the old company, ask about restoration before forming a replacement.
What if the original company name is no longer available?
A company may need to be restored under a different name. The Companies House guide to restoration explains name changes and the requirements for each route.
Experienced company restoration support in Belfast
Established in 1994, The Company Shop has practical experience helping restore dissolved businesses. Our Belfast team can review your company details and explain the next steps. Visit our Company Restoration service page, call our Belfast team on 028 9055 9955, or send us an enquiry and we’ll confirm which route applies to your company.
This article is for general information only and reflects the position at the date it was last updated. It does not constitute legal, tax, accounting or other professional advice and should not be relied upon as such. Fees, rules and deadlines may change. You should seek advice from a suitably qualified professional before acting on anything covered here.