Company Statuses
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Company Statuses as Listed on Companies House
Companies House assigns different company statuses to reflect the legal and operational state of a company registered in the UK. These statuses give insight into whether a company is actively trading, being dissolved, or undergoing insolvency procedures.
Statuses may change over time due to changes in legislation. The current list of known company statuses, as used by Companies House are:
| Company Status | Meaning of Company Status | |
|---|---|---|
| Converted/Closed | Meaning: The company has been converted to another entity type or closed through reorganisation. Implication: The entity’s status has changed, often part of corporate restructuring. | |
| Active | Meaning: The company is currently in operation and compliant with filing requirements (e.g., submitting annual returns and financial statements). Implication: The company is trading or exists as a legal entity even if it isn’t conducting business actively. | |
| Receivership | Meaning: A receiver has been appointed to take control of the company’s assets. Implication: Typically used when a secured creditor appoints a receiver to sell assets and recover debts. It may not always result in the company’s closure. | |
| Voluntary Arrangement | Meaning: The company has reached an agreement with creditors to pay off debts over time, commonly through a Company Voluntary Arrangement (CVA). Implication: The company can continue trading while restructuring its debt, provided it adheres to the terms of the arrangement. | |
| Liquidation | Meaning: The company is being wound up due to insolvency or other reasons. Implication: A liquidator is appointed to realise assets, settle debts, and distribute remaining funds to shareholders before the company is dissolved. The company ceases trading during liquidation. | |
| Transferred from the UK | The Company has transferred to a jurisdiction outside the UK. It may re-register as an overseas company with Companies House. | |
| Proposal to Strike off | Meaning: The company is in the process of being removed (struck off) from the Companies House register. Implication: This process typically starts if the company has failed to meet statutory filing obligations. If no objections are raised, the company will be dissolved. | |
| Dissolved | Meaning: The company has been legally closed and removed from the Companies House register. Implication: It is no longer a legal entity and cannot operate or trade. The dissolution can occur voluntarily or through strike-off initiated by Companies House for failure to comply with requirements. | |
| Administration | Meaning: The company is undergoing a formal insolvency procedure to avoid liquidation. Implication: An administrator is appointed to manage the company, often with the goal of rescuing it or obtaining the best possible return for creditors. | |
| Insolvency Proceedings | Meaning: The company is involved in formal insolvency processes, but not yet in liquidation. Implication: The company may be undergoing a rescue or restructuring procedure, such as administration, or preparing for liquidation. | |
| Removed | Meaning: The company has been removed from the Companies House register. Implication: The company no longer legally exists, either through dissolution, a successful strike-off process, or failure to meet legal obligations. | |
| Dormant | Meaning: The company is not currently trading and has no significant accounting transactions. Implication: Dormant companies remain on the register and must still file dormant accounts annually but are not engaged in active business. |
For more detailed insights into companies and their current status, explore our Business data product which provides extensive Company Data on all UK-registered companies.
Related Articles:
- Glossary: Dormant CompanyDefinition of a dormant company for accounting purposes. How to determine if a company can be classified as a dormant for accounting purposes.
- Glossary: Struck-Off CompanyPut simply a struck off company is a closed company which is no longer listed on the active register of companies held by Companies House.
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