What is the difference between dissolved and dormant?
By DormantFile · Updated 28 March 2026
"Dormant" and "dissolved" are very different things, though they are often confused. The distinction matters because it determines whether you still need to file.
Dormant
A dormant company is still active on the Companies House register but has no significant accounting transactions. It exists as a legal entity — it has a company number, registered office, and directors. It just is not trading.
Filing obligations: A dormant company must still file annual accounts to Companies House, a confirmation statement, and (if registered for Corporation Tax) a CT600 to HMRC every year.
Dissolved
A dissolved company has been removed from the Companies House register. It no longer exists as a legal entity. Its company number is marked as dissolved, and it has no directors, no registered office, and no obligations.
Filing obligations: None. A dissolved company has no filing requirements.
How a company gets dissolved
- Voluntary strike-off (DS01): The directors apply to Companies House to have the company struck off. This takes about 3 months and costs £33.
- Compulsory strike-off: Companies House strikes off the company, usually because it failed to file for an extended period.
Which should you choose?
If you want to keep the company for future use or to protect the name, keep it dormant and file each year. We handle both filings (accounts and CT600) from £19/year. If you are certain you will never need the company again, dissolve it using the DS01 process to end all filing obligations permanently.
Read the full guide: How to close a dormant company (and when to keep it open)