Every UK limited company must file annual accounts with Companies House even if it has never traded. A dormant company that fails to file faces financial penalties, director prosecution, and forced strike-off from the register.
Form My Company prepares and files your dormant company accounts directly with Companies House. Standard service is completed within 1 business day. Express service is completed within 24 hours of purchase.
What Is a Dormant Company?
A dormant company is a UK limited company that has had no significant accounting transactions during its financial year. “Significant transaction” is defined under the Companies Act 2006.
A limited company is classified as dormant by Companies House when it has no accounting entries other than:
- Payment of shares taken by subscribers on formation
- Filing fees paid to Companies House
- Penalties imposed by Companies House for late filing
A company limited by shares and a company limited by guarantee both qualify for dormant status under these conditions.
Dormant status for Companies House purposes is separate from dormant status for HMRC and Corporation Tax. A company can be dormant for Companies House but still have obligations to HMRC. Directors must notify HMRC separately to be exempt from Corporation Tax filing.
Do I Have to File Accounts for a Dormant Company?
Yes. All UK limited companies including dormant companies must file annual accounts with Companies House every year. There are no exemptions from this requirement.
The legal obligation is set out in the Companies Act 2006. The company director is legally responsible for ensuring accounts are prepared and filed on time.
Filing requirements for a dormant company include:
- Dormant Company Accounts (form AA02): Filed annually to Companies House
- Confirmation Statement (form CS01): Filed annually to Companies House — use SIC code 99999 for dormant companies
Both must be submitted every year until the company begins trading, is dissolved, or is struck off.
What Happens If I Don’t File Accounts for a Dormant Company?
Failure to file dormant company accounts on time results in automatic financial penalties imposed by Companies House. Continued non-filing leads to compulsory strike-off.
Companies House late filing penalties for private limited companies:
| Delay After Deadline | Penalty |
|---|---|
| Up to 1 month | £150 |
| 1 to 3 months | £375 |
| 3 to 6 months | £750 |
| More than 6 months | £1,500 |
If the company files late 2 years in a row, the penalty is doubled for the second year.
Beyond financial penalties, Companies House can:
- Issue a warning notice to the registered office address
- Strike the company off the register under section 1000 of the Companies Act 2006
- Transfer all remaining company assets to the Crown (bona vacantia)
Company directors and officers can face criminal prosecution for persistent failure to file. Filing on time is the only way to avoid these consequences.
How to File Accounts for a Dormant Company — Step-by-Step Process
Form My Company handles the full preparation and electronic submission of your dormant company accounts to Companies House. You provide basic company details. We do the rest.
Step 1 — Place your order Both cover companies limited by shares and companies limited by guarantee.
Step 2 — Provide company details Submit your company name, company registration number, accounting reference date, and director confirmation. If your company was formed with Form My Company, we already hold the required details.
Step 3 — Accounts preparation Our compliance specialists prepare your dormant company accounts using the AA02 format accepted by Companies House. Accounts include:
- Balance sheet showing no trading activity
- Statement of capital and shareholder information (for companies limited by shares)
- Director’s declaration confirming the company remained dormant during the financial year
Step 4 — Electronic filing with Companies House We file the accounts electronically through the Companies House WebFiling service. Electronic submission is accepted for companies limited by shares and companies limited by guarantee. Note: LLPs cannot file dormant accounts electronically paper submission to Companies House is required for LLPs.
Step 5 — Filing confirmation You receive digital confirmation of successful filing. Retain this for your company records. The filing appears on the Companies House public register within 24 hours of submission.
What Are the Requirements to File Dormant Company Accounts?
To qualify for dormant company accounts filing, your company must have had no significant accounting transactions during the relevant financial year.
Requirements for dormant accounts filing:
- Company registered as a private limited company (Ltd by shares or Ltd by guarantee)
- No significant accounting transactions in the accounting period
- Accounts filed within 9 months of the company’s Accounting Reference Date (ARD) for existing companies
- First accounts filed within 21 months of the company’s incorporation date
The director of the company must confirm, by signing the accounts, that the company was dormant throughout the financial year.
How Long Does It Take to File Dormant Company Accounts?
Standard dormant company accounts are filed within 1 business day of receiving your company details. Express service is filed within 24 hours of purchase.
Timelines:
| Service | Filing Time | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | 1 business day | £89.99 + VAT |
| Express | 24 hours | £99.99 + VAT |
Both services exclude weekends and UK bank holidays. Once submitted electronically, Companies House processes and records the filing within 24 hours. The accounts appear on the public register the same working day in most cases.
What Does the Dormant Company Accounts Service Include?
Both Standard and Express services include full preparation of compliant AA02 dormant accounts and electronic submission to Companies House.
Included in every filing:
- Preparation of dormant company accounts in AA02 format
- Balance sheet with nil trading activity confirmed
- Director’s declaration included and correctly formatted
- Electronic submission to Companies House WebFiling service
- Filing confirmation sent to you by email
- Available for companies limited by shares and companies limited by guarantee
The Express service guarantees submission within 24 hours of purchase suitable for companies close to their filing deadline.
Why File Dormant Accounts With Form My Company?
Form My Company is a UK company compliance specialist. We prepare and file dormant company accounts accurately, on time, and without requiring an accountant.
Key reasons to use this service:
- Compliance guaranteed: Accounts prepared to Companies House AA02 requirements
- Fast turnaround: Standard 1 business day. Express 24 hours.
- Transparent pricing: £89.99 + VAT (Standard). £99.99 + VAT (Express). No hidden fees.
- Electronic filing: Direct submission through Companies House WebFiling system
- Covers both company types: Limited by shares and limited by guarantee
- No accountant required: Full preparation service included
- Expert support: Compliance specialists available to answer queries
Form My Company handles the full filing process. You stay compliant without managing the paperwork.
Dormant Company Annual Compliance Requirements
A dormant UK limited company has 2 annual filing obligations with Companies House: dormant company accounts and a confirmation statement.
Both must be filed every year:
1. Dormant Company Accounts (AA02) Filed annually. Due within 9 months of the Accounting Reference Date. First accounts due within 21 months of incorporation. Prepared and filed by Form My Company through this service.
2. Confirmation Statement (CS01) Filed annually. Confirms that company information held at Companies House is accurate. Use SIC code 99999 for dormant companies. Form My Company offers a separate File a Confirmation Statement service.
Both filings are required independently. Missing either one triggers penalties and potential strike-off.
File Accounts for Dormant Companies Services FAQs
Yes. All UK limited companies must file annual accounts with Companies House, including dormant companies. There are no exceptions.
Place an order with Form My Company. Provide your company registration number and accounting details. Our compliance specialists prepare the AA02 dormant accounts and file electronically with Companies House on your behalf.
Accounts must be filed within 9 months of the company’s Accounting Reference Date. The first set of accounts must be filed within 21 months of the company’s incorporation date.
HMRC and Companies House have separate requirements. A company must notify HMRC of its dormant status independently. HMRC compliance is not covered under this service. Consult a qualified accountant for HMRC obligations.
Yes. Provide your company name, registration number, and accounting reference date. We prepare and file on your behalf regardless of where the company was incorporated.