Opening a letter or checking the Companies House register and seeing a first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off can be a shock. It can feel as though your company is about to be shut down without warning.
It is serious, but it is also a signal that you still have time to act. The notice is an early part of the company strike off process, not the end of the story. Official figures from the Office for National Statistics show there were around 75,100 business closures in the UK in just one quarter of 2024, so you are not the only one facing difficult trading conditions.
You still have choices. You may be able to bring filings up to date, correct mistakes, object to the strike-off, or use a formal insolvency process to close the company in an organised way. Our role is to help you understand what the notice means for you and what you can realistically do next.
What Is a First Gazette Notice for Compulsory Strike-Off?
A first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off is an official public notice that Companies House intends to remove your company from the register and dissolve it.
In practical terms, it means:
- Companies House believes your company is not complying with its basic legal requirements, or appears to have stopped trading.
- The registrar has started a compulsory process to strike the company off.
- That intention is advertised in the Gazette, the UK’s official public record, so that anyone with an interest can see what is happening.
This process is known as compulsory strike-off. It is different from applying yourself to close the company. When you apply to close a company, that is voluntary strike-off. With compulsory strike-off, Companies House has begun the process because something has gone wrong with filings or there has been no response to letters.
The first Gazette notice is usually followed by a period of at least two months before the company is actually removed from the register, as long as there is no objection. During this time:
- You can submit overdue documents and bring records up to date.
- You, your accountant or your advisers can write to Companies House and ask them to stop compulsory strike-off if the company is still trading and compliant.
- Creditors, including HMRC, can object to the company being struck off if they are owed money.
The notice is public and appears on the company’s record. That can affect the confidence of suppliers, banks and customers, which is another reason to treat it as a priority and show you are dealing with it.
Is your company at risk of compulsory strike-off? Don’t delay: get help now from the licensed insolvency practitioners at Anderson Brookes. Contact us by phone on 0800 1804 935 or email advice@andersonbrookes.co.uk.
Why Has Your Company Received a First Gazette Notice?
A first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off is not usually a surprise out of nowhere. It is often the result of missed deadlines, unanswered letters or gaps in your company information.
Common reasons include:
- Overdue annual accounts
- Overdue confirmation statement
- No response to formal letters from Companies House
- Registered office address out of date, so letters are returned
- No active directors shown on the public record
Companies House can begin strike-off where it has reasonable cause to believe a company is no longer carrying on business or in operation, including where documents are outstanding or communications have been ignored.
Behind the paperwork, there is often financial pressure. When cash is tight, it is easy for filing deadlines to slip and post to stay unopened. Being in debt to HMRC or key suppliers is common in these situations. None of this makes you a bad business owner. It is simply a signal that the business needs attention and that you may benefit from structured support.
ONS data shows that tens of thousands of UK businesses close every quarter. In the three months from April to June 2024 there were around 75,100 business closures, although most were not formal insolvencies. That scale can be reassuring: you are not the only one navigating tough conditions.
The good news is that a first Gazette notice is the start of a timetable rather than the final step. If the company is still viable, there is usually a route to stop compulsory strike-off. If debts are too high, there are processes to close the company in a controlled way instead of letting events unfold on their own.
What Happens If You Ignore the First Gazette Notice?
If you take no action after a first Gazette notice, the company strike off process continues without you.
The typical sequence looks like this:
- First Gazette notice is published
Companies House places a company strike off notice in the Gazette, stating that the registrar intends to strike your company off the register at the end of a set period if there is no objection. This period is normally at least two months. - Objection and action period
During this window, you can file overdue accounts or confirmation statements, pay any late filing penalties and ask Companies House to stop compulsory strike-off if the company is still trading. Creditors, including HMRC, can also object if they want the company to remain in existence so they can pursue debts. - Final notice and dissolution
If nobody objects and nothing changes, a final notice is published. The company is then struck off the register and dissolved.
Once the company is dissolved:
- It no longer exists as a legal entity. It cannot trade or enter into new contracts.
- Bank accounts are normally frozen. Any cash and other remaining assets owned by the company automatically pass to the Crown as bona vacantia, or ownerless property.
- To get those assets back, you would usually need to restore the company to the register first, which involves time and cost.
Ignoring a first Gazette notice can also create ongoing risk around company debts and potential director personal liability for company debts:
- Creditors can object to the company being struck off at the time of the notice.
- Even after dissolution, certain creditors can ask the court to restore the company so that they can bring claims over unpaid debts or challenge particular transactions.
Company insolvency statistics show that thousands of companies in England and Wales enter formal insolvency procedures each year, alongside many more that dissolve. That reinforces how routine these processes are, but also how important it is to step in early rather than rely on the system to produce a good outcome on its own.
For most people, doing nothing is the riskiest option, especially where there are unpaid creditors or tax arrears. Acting early is what gives you a chance to stop compulsory strike-off or to choose a more protective route to closing the company.
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Options If the Business Is Still Viable
If the company can pay its debts and has a realistic future, a first Gazette notice may be more of a warning than an ending. The focus is usually on how to stop compulsory strike-off and get the company back on track.
Bring Your Filings Up to Date
The most direct way to address a company strike off notice is to correct the problem that triggered it:
- File overdue annual accounts.
- File the overdue confirmation statement.
- Update your registered office or director details.
Once the company is clearly active and compliant again, the registrar can often decide not to continue with compulsory strike-off.
We can help you prioritise what needs to be done and work alongside your accountant where needed.
Ask Companies House to Stop the Strike-Off
If the business is still trading and you intend to keep it that way, you can usually ask Companies House to discontinue the action once filings are up to date. This might involve confirming that:
- The company is carrying on business.
- Missing documents have been filed or are about to be filed.
- Correct contact details are now on record.
We can help you decide how and when to contact Companies House so you feel confident about what you are saying.
Deal with Creditor Pressure
You may also be managing overdue tax, supplier bills or loans. Being behind does not automatically mean the company must close, but it is a sign that you should not ignore things.
We can help you:
- List who is owed what and which debts are priority.
- Understand the options for payment plans or other arrangements, especially with HMRC.
If it becomes clear that the company cannot realistically clear its debts, we will talk openly about more formal routes so you are not left guessing.
Consider Voluntary Strike-Off for a Solvent, Unused Company
Sometimes a first Gazette notice arrives when the company has already stopped trading, has little or no debt and has simply been left on the register with no real purpose.
In that case, it may be better to take control of the process:
- If the company is solvent and has no outstanding obligations, you might use form DS01 to strike off your company voluntarily.
- A broader guide on how to strike off a company can help you plan an orderly closure where the business has simply reached the end of its life.
We can help you check whether the company is genuinely solvent and whether voluntary strike-off is suitable, or if another route would be safer.
Options If the Company Has Serious Debts or Is Insolvent
If the company cannot pay its debts as they fall due, or if its liabilities are greater than its assets, it is likely to be insolvent. In that situation, letting a company being struck off the register by default can increase the risk of problems later on.
Key issues include:
- Creditors may object to compulsory strike-off or ask to restore the company after dissolution to pursue claims.
- Continuing to trade while knowing the company is insolvent can increase the risk of criticism or personal liability.
A more protective approach is to look at a formal insolvency process that puts everything on a clear legal footing.
Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL)
For many insolvent companies, a Creditors’ Voluntary Liquidation (CVL) is the most straightforward route to an orderly closure.
In a CVL:
- A licensed insolvency practitioner acts as liquidator.
- Trading usually stops.
- Company assets are collected in and sold.
- Money is shared among creditors in the order set by law.
Our CVL FAQs explain the process in more detail. Handled properly, a CVL can:
- Draw a line under unmanageable company debts.
- Show that you have taken your duties seriously by not allowing the position to drift.
- Reduce the risk of future personal claims, especially where you have been open about the company’s difficulties.
Help from Licensed Insolvency Practitioners
Choosing the right route depends on your company’s assets, debts and future prospects. As company insolvency practitioners, we can talk you through options like CVL and other forms of company insolvency help for directors.
We look at points such as:
- Whether the underlying business is worth saving, and if so, how to do that safely.
- Whether trying to carry on trading would increase the risk around director responsibilities.
- How personal guarantees, an overdrawn director’s loan account or recent dividends might be treated.
You do not have to decide on liquidation or any other procedure before you speak to us. The first step is simply to understand your options.
Common Questions About First Gazette Notices
Is a first Gazette notice the same as my company being closed?
No. A first Gazette notice means the registrar intends to strike your company off, not that it has already happened. There is still time to object to compulsory strike-off, bring filings up to date or choose another route.
Can I stop a compulsory strike-off once the first Gazette notice is published?
In many cases you can. If the company is still active and you file overdue documents and correct any errors, Companies House can often suspend or discontinue the strike-off action. Creditors can also object if they are owed money and want the company to remain on the register.
Will this affect my personal credit rating or my ability to be a director in future?
A strike-off or liquidation is recorded on the public register and may be taken into account by lenders and credit reference agencies. Your personal credit rating is affected more directly by personal borrowing, guarantees and any personal insolvency. Most people who go through a company closure remain able to act as directors in future, although serious misconduct can lead to disqualification in certain cases.
Can HMRC block a compulsory strike-off if I owe tax?
Yes. HMRC is one of the most active creditors when it comes to objecting to strike-off. If tax is owed, HMRC can ask Companies House not to dissolve the company or apply to court to restore a dissolved company so that it can pursue the debt.
What happens to my business bank account if the company is struck off?
Once the company is dissolved, its bank accounts are normally frozen. Any remaining funds and other company assets automatically pass to the Crown as bona vacantia. To reclaim that money, the company would usually have to be restored first and then an application made to release the funds.
Can I start a new company after my old one is struck off or liquidated?
Many people go on to start new companies after a strike-off or liquidation. There can be restrictions where there has been misconduct, disqualification or where you want to use a similar name to the old company, so it is important to get advice before you set up a new business in similar fields.
If you are unsure how any of these points apply to your situation, it is safer to ask for tailored advice rather than guess.
How Anderson Brookes Can Help You Move Forward
A first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off is a difficult thing to face, especially when you are already under financial and personal pressure. It does not have to mean that everything is over.
We have been helping people deal with problem companies and personal debt since 2001. As regulated company insolvency practitioners, we work across England and Wales to provide clear, confidential support when it matters most.
When you contact us, you can expect:
- A free, no-obligation initial conversation.
- A calm review of your company’s filings, debts, assets and current creditor pressure.
- Straightforward explanations of your position and the realistic choices in front of you.
- A tailored plan, which might include catching up on filings, disputing the notice, agreeing payment arrangements or using a formal insolvency process such as a CVL.
You do not need perfect records or detailed spreadsheets before you get in touch. A rough picture of what is going on is enough for us to start helping.
If you have just received a first Gazette notice for compulsory strike-off, it is better to talk it through now rather than wait and hope it goes away. You can call us today on 0800 1804 935 or send a quick enquiry on our contact page, and we will help you move from worry to a clear, practical next step.