Simply Business homepage
  • Business insurance

    • Business Insurance FAQs

    Business insurance covers

  • Support
  • Claims
  • Sign In
Call Us0333 0146 683
Our opening hours

What is a dormant company? A guide for small businesses

2-minute read

header.jpg
Lauren Hellicar

Lauren Hellicar

25 September 2020

Share on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on LinkedIn

Any small business owner planning on making a limited company dormant will need to take steps to make sure they're staying on the right side of HMRC.

Before we go into the details, it's important to understand what it means to make a company dormant.

What does the term 'dormant company' mean?

Your company is considered dormant if it's not trading and it's not getting any income from other sources, like investments.

The term 'dormant' means different things for your corporation tax and Company Tax Returns, and your annual accounts and returns for Companies House.

Dormant for corporation tax

Your company is dormant for corporation tax if:

  • it has stopped trading and has no other income
  • it's a new limited company that hasn't started trading yet
  • it's a Right to Manage company for a block of flats
  • it's an unincorporated club or association owing less than £100 corporation tax

There's more detail on the government website.

Dormant for Companies House

If your company is dormant according to Companies House and qualifies as small, you can file 'dormant accounts' and you don't have to include an auditor's report.

Your company is classed as ‘small’ if it has any two of the following:

  • a turnover of £10.2 million or less
  • £5.1 million or less on its balance sheet
  • 50 employees or fewer

It means you can:

  • use the exemption so your company’s accounts don't need to be audited
  • choose whether or not to send a copy of the director’s report and profit and loss account to Companies House
  • send abridged accounts to Companies House

The rules are different again if your company is classed as a 'micro-entity' according to HMRC.

Your company is classed as a 'micro-entity' if it has any two of the following:

  • a turnover of £632,000 or less
  • £316,000 or less on its balance sheet
  • 10 employees or fewer

It means you can:

  • prepare simpler accounts that meet statutory minimum requirements
  • send only your balance sheet with less information to Companies House
  • get the same exemptions available to small companies

How to fill in an AA02 for a dormant company

If your limited company has never traded, you can use the form AA02 to file your dormant company accounts.

Downloading and filling out a paper form will take longer than using the government's online service.

How to inform HMRC that your company is dormant

The question of how to declare a company dormant is fairly straightforward – you can tell HMRC that your company is dormant for corporation tax if it has stopped trading and has no other income.

Companies that have never had a 'notice to file a Company Tax Return' can let HMRC know over the phone. Those that have had this notice, or have previously filed a return, will need to file a Company Tax Return online, which will show HMRC that the company is now dormant.

Or, HMRC may write to you to tell you they're treating your company as dormant and that you won't be required to pay corporation tax or file Company Tax Returns.

De-registering for VAT and closing PAYE

It's important to de-register within 30 days if your dormant company is registered for VAT, unless you plan to restart trading at some point. In this case, you should submit 'nil' VAT returns.

Similarly, you should close your PAYE scheme unless your plan is to start your business up again.

How to restart a dormant company

If your business has never traded, you'll need to register with HMRC before you do anything else. Even if your firm has traded before, there are four steps you should take when restarting any dormant company:

  • tell HMRC your company has restarted by registering for corporation tax
  • send accounts to Companies House within nine months of your company year end
  • pay any corporation tax due within nine months and one day of your company year end
  • send a Company Tax Return (including full statutory accounts) to HMRC within 12 months of your company year end

Read more guides for small businesses:

Have you made a company dormant? How easy was the process? Let us know in the comments.

Ready to set up your cover?

As one of the UK's biggest business insurance providers, we specialise in public liability insurance and protect more trades than anybody else. Why not take a look now and build a quick, tailored quote?

Start your quote
Lauren Hellicar

Written by

Lauren Hellicar

We create this content for general information purposes and it should not be taken as advice. Always take professional advice. Read our full disclaimer

Find this article useful? Spread the word.

Share on Facebook
Share on Twitter
Share on LinkedIn

Keep up to date with Simply Business. Subscribe to our monthly newsletter and follow us on social media.

Subscribe to our newsletter

Categories

HomePopular articlesGeneral businessGuestInsuranceLandlordLandlord resourcesLegal and financeMarketingNewsOpinionProperty maintenanceTradesmanCovid-19 business support hub

Insurance

Public liability insuranceBusiness insuranceProfessional indemnity insuranceEmployers’ liability insuranceLandlord insuranceTradesman insuranceSelf-employed insuranceRestaurant insuranceVan insuranceInsurers

About

About usOur teamAwardsPress releasesPartners & affiliatesOur charitable workModern Slavery ActSection 172 statementSocial mediaSite map

Customer support

Contact & supportPolicy renewalMake a claimProof of policyComplaintsAccessibility

Address

6th Floor99 Gresham StreetLondonEC2V 7NG

Northampton 900900 Pavilion DriveNorthamptonNN4 7RG

Careers

Careers at Simply BusinessTech careersCurrent opportunities

Benefits

BenefitsRefer a friendFinance

Legal

Terms & conditionsPrivacy policyCookie policyVuln Disclosure policy

Knowledge

Knowledge centreOpinionsMicrosites

© Copyright 2024 Simply Business. All Rights Reserved. Simply Business is a trading name of Xbridge Limited which is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (Financial Services Registration No: 313348). Xbridge Limited (No: 3967717) has its registered office at 6th Floor, 99 Gresham Street, London, EC2V 7NG.