Do you run a Limited Company? There may be a time when you no longer want to run as a limited company. You might be to getting into other ventures, getting back as a full-time employee, or many other reasons. Whatever reasons, it is important to close your limited company.
The two main ways of ending a company in the UK depend on whether there is sufficient money in the company for it to be able to pay all of its debts. Shortly after it stops trading, these may include:
Assuming that the company is not troubled by any such debt issues, there is a simplified way of closing it down. In a typical case, the steps would be as follows:
The company should carry on no further business, and undertake no further transactions, except those which are necessary to wind it up.
Anyone that the company owes money to should be paid, otherwise they may object to the company being dissolved in this way. The company bank account should not be emptied or closed until all company debts have been paid. Any loans to or from any company directors or shareholders should be repaid.
If any vehicles or equipment have been bought on any form of hire purchase, leasing or finance agreement, then the finance company should be contacted to establish the options for ending the agreement early.
The company will apply to HM Revenue & Customs to have its VAT registration cancelled, using form ‘VAT 7′. A final VAT return will need to be completed, and there may be a VAT payment due.
A final payroll will be run for all of the staff. They will be issued with P45s. At some stage the company will need to make a final P35 return of payroll information to HM Revenue & Customs.
Any of the directors and the company secretary may wish to resign, though at least one director should remain in place to deal with the closure. Remaining as an unpaid director of the company should not affect their own personal taxes in any way.
A final set of accounts will need to be prepared, and submitted to HMRC. They should be informed that the company has stopped trading and has no further taxable income, so that they do not object to the company being closed down.
It is not usually practical to prepare the final set of accounts immediately after the company has stopped trading, as there may be some final expenses in the following weeks or months that may need to be included.
Any corporation tax should be paid from the company bank account. The company generally has 9 months from the close of business to pay this tax, but the company cannot be closed down until it is paid.
It should be clear by now that it is rarely possible to have the process fully wrapped up within a few weeks of making the decision to close down the company. It is normal to leave the company almost dormant over a period of months, while all the formalities are dealt with.
Any money or equipment left in the company after all these expenses have been met should be paid out to the shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings, unless there are alternative provisions in the articles of association. The company should consider making an application to use the Revenue’s Extra Statutory Concession C16, which treats all such final payments as capital gains instead of dividends, as this may result in less tax being due.
Once 3 months have passed since the business closed, the directors will be able to make an application to Companies House under Section 652a of the Companies Act to have the company struck off. Companies House make a charge of £10 for this, and the 652a application form can be downloaded from their website.
As an alternative to the company being fully closed down, it can remain ‘dormant’ on the register. Leaving the company dormant typically costs less than £100 per year, and it means that it can be used again, for any other purpose, without any delay or set-up cost. It also serves to reserve the company name for future use, and an older company has slightly more financial credibility than one that has just been incorporated. If the company is not going to be used for at least 3 years, then it is usually more cost effective to close it down, and then incorporate another company if one is needed.
APJ Accountancy - a team of Chartered Certified Accountant regulated and monitored by The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
www.apjaccountancy.com
The two main ways of ending a company in the UK depend on whether there is sufficient money in the company for it to be able to pay all of its debts. Shortly after it stops trading, these may include:
- Corporation tax for the final period
- VAT for the final period
- Outstanding PAYE and National Insurance on payrolls
- Final accountancy fees
- Any remaining amounts owed to trade suppliers
- Bank loans or overdrafts
- HP or lease agreements, or any other ongoing commitments
- Money owed to directors or shareholders.
Assuming that the company is not troubled by any such debt issues, there is a simplified way of closing it down. In a typical case, the steps would be as follows:
The company should carry on no further business, and undertake no further transactions, except those which are necessary to wind it up.
Anyone that the company owes money to should be paid, otherwise they may object to the company being dissolved in this way. The company bank account should not be emptied or closed until all company debts have been paid. Any loans to or from any company directors or shareholders should be repaid.
If any vehicles or equipment have been bought on any form of hire purchase, leasing or finance agreement, then the finance company should be contacted to establish the options for ending the agreement early.
The company will apply to HM Revenue & Customs to have its VAT registration cancelled, using form ‘VAT 7′. A final VAT return will need to be completed, and there may be a VAT payment due.
A final payroll will be run for all of the staff. They will be issued with P45s. At some stage the company will need to make a final P35 return of payroll information to HM Revenue & Customs.
Any of the directors and the company secretary may wish to resign, though at least one director should remain in place to deal with the closure. Remaining as an unpaid director of the company should not affect their own personal taxes in any way.
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| Close/Shut down a limited company |
A final set of accounts will need to be prepared, and submitted to HMRC. They should be informed that the company has stopped trading and has no further taxable income, so that they do not object to the company being closed down.
It is not usually practical to prepare the final set of accounts immediately after the company has stopped trading, as there may be some final expenses in the following weeks or months that may need to be included.
Any corporation tax should be paid from the company bank account. The company generally has 9 months from the close of business to pay this tax, but the company cannot be closed down until it is paid.
It should be clear by now that it is rarely possible to have the process fully wrapped up within a few weeks of making the decision to close down the company. It is normal to leave the company almost dormant over a period of months, while all the formalities are dealt with.
Any money or equipment left in the company after all these expenses have been met should be paid out to the shareholders in proportion to their shareholdings, unless there are alternative provisions in the articles of association. The company should consider making an application to use the Revenue’s Extra Statutory Concession C16, which treats all such final payments as capital gains instead of dividends, as this may result in less tax being due.
Once 3 months have passed since the business closed, the directors will be able to make an application to Companies House under Section 652a of the Companies Act to have the company struck off. Companies House make a charge of £10 for this, and the 652a application form can be downloaded from their website.
As an alternative to the company being fully closed down, it can remain ‘dormant’ on the register. Leaving the company dormant typically costs less than £100 per year, and it means that it can be used again, for any other purpose, without any delay or set-up cost. It also serves to reserve the company name for future use, and an older company has slightly more financial credibility than one that has just been incorporated. If the company is not going to be used for at least 3 years, then it is usually more cost effective to close it down, and then incorporate another company if one is needed.
APJ Accountancy - a team of Chartered Certified Accountant regulated and monitored by The Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).
www.apjaccountancy.com
