Restoring a dissolved UK company can cost as little as £341 in Companies House fees for an eligible administrative restoration, but the total cost can be higher once outstanding filing fees, late filing penalties, Bona Vacantia costs, court fees, professional advice and other expenses are taken into account. The route you use makes a significant difference. If the company qualifies for administrative restoration, the process is handled through Companies House using form RT01. If administrative restoration is unavailable, you may need restoration by court order, which introduces court fees and potentially legal and other costs.

As of 2026, the current Companies House fee for administrative restoration is £341. A Bona Vacantia waiver letter, where required, costs £64. For a court restoration application in England and Wales, GOV.UK currently lists a £326 court fee for form N208, although the overall cost of court restoration can be substantially higher depending on the circumstances. This guide breaks down the costs, explains what you may actually have to pay, and shows how to estimate the total before starting the restoration process.

How Much Does It Cost to Restore a Dissolved Company?

There is no single restoration price because the total depends on the company's circumstances. For an eligible administrative restoration, the main costs can include:

The £341 RT01 fee is not necessarily the total cost of restoration. GOV.UK requires an administrative restoration application to include outstanding documents, applicable filing fees and late filing penalties. Where the company had assets that became bona vacantia, a waiver letter may also be required.

That distinction matters when budgeting. A company with a clean filing history apart from the event that led to its dissolution could have a relatively straightforward restoration bill. A company that has years of unresolved filings, penalties and assets may cost considerably more.

What Is the £341 Administrative Restoration Fee?

If your company meets the statutory requirements for administrative restoration, you can apply to Companies House using form RT01. The current fee is £341. Companies House states that the application will be rejected if the correct fee is not included. Administrative restoration is generally available where:

• You were a director or shareholder of the company.
• The company was struck off and dissolved by the Registrar.
• The dissolution occurred within the last six years.
• The company was trading when it was dissolved.

If the directors voluntarily applied to strike the company off, administrative restoration is not available and a court order is generally required instead.

The £341 fee is only the starting point

One of the most common budgeting mistakes is to treat £341 as the complete cost. Companies House requires the administrative restoration application to be accompanied by outstanding documents and applicable fees and penalties.

For example, imagine a company was dissolved after failing to keep its accounts and confirmation statements up to date. The former director may need to budget for: £341 restoration fee + outstanding filing costs + applicable late filing penalties + any required asset-related costs. The exact total cannot be calculated without examining the company's filing history.

When Do You Pay the £64 Bona Vacantia Fee?

This is one of the less obvious costs associated with company restoration. When a company is dissolved, assets it owned can pass to the Crown. These assets are known as bona vacantia, meaning ownerless property. They can include property, land, money, shares and intellectual property.

If the dissolved company had assets, an administrative restoration application may require a Bona Vacantia waiver letter. Companies House currently states that the former director or shareholder is responsible for obtaining the waiver letter and that the fee is £64. This means an eligible administrative restoration involving bona vacantia could have a basic government-related cost of: £341 + £64 = £405, That is before considering outstanding filings, penalties or professional fees.

Why assets can make restoration more complicated

Suppose a company owned a commercial property before dissolution. The property does not simply remain in the company's name as though nothing happened. Dissolution can trigger bona vacantia consequences, meaning the property may have passed to the Crown. Restoring the company may therefore require additional steps to deal with the property. The same issue can arise with:

• Bank balances
• Shares
• Intellectual property
• Land
• Trademarks
• Other company-owned assets

This is why asset ownership should be investigated before submitting a restoration application.

What Does Court Restoration Cost?

Court restoration is different from administrative restoration. If the company does not qualify for administrative restoration, the Companies Act 2006 provides a route for restoration by court order. This can apply to companies dissolved following certain insolvency procedures and companies struck off voluntarily or by the Registrar. For England and Wales, GOV.UK states that an application for restoration by court order can be made using form N208 and currently requires a £326 court fee. But the £326 should not be interpreted as the total cost of court restoration.

Possible court restoration costs

Depending on the case, you may also have:

• Solicitor's fees
• Legal drafting costs
• Costs of preparing witness evidence
• Court-related expenses
• Registrar's costs
• Costs associated with dealing with bona vacantia property
• Outstanding company filing fees
• Late filing penalties
• Other financial penalties

Companies House specifically notes that the court may require payment of the registrar's costs connected with restoration proceedings and costs associated with dealing with bona vacantia property. This is why two court restoration cases can have very different total costs even though they start with the same court application fee.

Administrative Restoration vs Court Restoration: Cost Comparison

The figures above are current published fees, but fees can change. Check the relevant GOV.UK guidance before submitting an application.

Do You Have to Pay Old Companies House Penalties?

Potentially, yes. This is another reason the final restoration cost can be higher than the headline application fee. Companies House states that administrative restoration applications must include outstanding late filing penalties for accounts.

For court restoration, Companies House explains that unpaid penalties on accounts delivered late before dissolution may remain payable. It also states that penalties can apply to accounts that were overdue when the company was dissolved and are delivered on restoration.

However, there is an important distinction. A company is not liable for late filing penalties for accounts that became due while the company was dissolved, according to Companies House restoration guidance. Therefore, you should not simply assume that every year between dissolution and restoration creates another late filing penalty. The relevant dates and filing history need to be examined.

What About Outstanding Confirmation Statement Fees?

Restoration can also involve outstanding company filings. GOV.UK states that administrative restoration applications should include outstanding documents such as accounts and confirmation statements, together with applicable filing fees. The Companies House fee structure should therefore be checked when calculating the final amount.

For example, if a company has outstanding confirmation statements, the costs associated with filing them may need to be added to the restoration budget. This is particularly important for companies that were already behind on compliance before they disappeared from the register.

How Much Should You Budget for Professional Help?

Professional fees are separate from government fees. You do not automatically need a solicitor simply because a company has been dissolved. A straightforward administrative restoration may be manageable by an eligible former director or shareholder who understands the requirements and has the necessary documentation. Professional assistance can become more valuable where:

• The company was voluntarily struck off.
• The company owned significant assets.
• There are creditor issues.
• The company had an insolvency history.
• Ownership changed before dissolution.
• There are disputes involving former directors or shareholders.
• The company has complex tax or accounting problems.
• A court restoration application is required.

There is no single standard solicitor fee for restoration. A straightforward administrative matter and a contested or asset-heavy court application are fundamentally different pieces of work. The sensible approach is to obtain a written estimate that separates:

1. Government fees
2. Professional fees
3. Filing and penalty costs
4. Asset-related costs
5. Any expected additional court expenses

That makes the real cost much easier to understand.

Three Realistic Restoration Cost Scenarios

Scenario 1: Simple administrative restoration

A company was struck off by the Registrar. The former director applies within six years, the company was trading at dissolution, and there are no company assets requiring a Bona Vacantia waiver. The starting government cost is: £341 If there are no outstanding filing fees, penalties or professional charges, the total could remain close to that amount.

Scenario 2: Administrative restoration with assets

A company qualifies for administrative restoration but had assets when it was dissolved. Potential starting costs include:

• £341 RT01 fee
• £64 Bona Vacantia waiver letter

That gives a starting total of: £405, Outstanding filings, penalties or other costs could increase the final amount.

Scenario 3: Court restoration

A company was voluntarily struck off. The former director now needs the company restored to deal with an unresolved business matter. In England and Wales, the application starts with the £326 court fee, but the total may also include legal fees, registrar costs, asset-related costs and outstanding company obligations. This is why it is not useful to tell someone that "court restoration costs £326." £326 is the published court application fee, not necessarily the final bill.

How to Calculate Your Likely Restoration Cost

Before spending money, build a simple restoration cost sheet.

Step 1: Find the company's Companies House record

Check:

• Company status
• Date of dissolution
• Reason for dissolution
• Filing history
• Previous directors
• Previous accounts
• Confirmation statements

Step 2: Identify the restoration route

Ask: Was the company struck off by the Registrar, or did the directors voluntarily apply for strike-off? This distinction can determine whether administrative restoration is available.

Step 3: List outstanding documents

Identify every account, confirmation statement or other document that needs attention.

Step 4: Check penalties

Find out whether there are outstanding late filing penalties and how they relate to the company's filing history.

Step 5: Investigate assets

Check whether the company owned:

• Property
• Land
• Money
• Shares
• Intellectual property
• Other valuable rights

Step 6: Add professional costs if necessary

If court restoration or complex legal issues are involved, obtain a fee estimate before proceeding.

Step 7: Check current official fees

Companies House and GOV.UK fees can change. The published administrative restoration fee is currently £341, while GOV.UK currently lists £326 for the court application in England and Wales.

Is It Cheaper to Restore an Old Company or Start a New One?

This depends on why the original company matters. Starting a new company may appear cheaper when viewed purely from the perspective of incorporation fees. But incorporation creates a completely new legal entity. That means the question is not simply: "Which option costs less?" It is also: "What would be lost by abandoning the original company?" A dissolved company may have a valuable:

• Trading history
• Brand
• Contract
• Intellectual property
• Customer relationship
• Asset
• Corporate structure
• Commercial record

Restoration may therefore make commercial sense even when the restoration costs exceed the basic cost of incorporating a new company. On the other hand, if the old company has no meaningful assets, contracts, history or commercial value, forming a new company may sometimes be worth considering. The correct comparison should include the economic and administrative consequences, not just the government filing fees.

What Happens to the Company After Restoration?

Restoration does more than put the company's name back on the Companies House register. Under the Companies Act 2006, restoration generally operates as though the company had continued in existence as if it had not been dissolved, subject to the statutory rules and any directions made by the court. Once restored, the company may still need to address:

• Outstanding accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Corporation Tax matters
• Banking arrangements
• Payroll
• Contracts
• Registered office details
• Regulatory requirements
• Insurance
• Commercial relationships

For a global founder, this operational follow-through can be especially important. IncorpUK, for example, is positioned as a UK company formation and business infrastructure platform for global founders who need to start, manage and grow a UK company remotely. Its broader company-management offering can be relevant to founders dealing with the administrative responsibilities that continue after incorporation or restoration.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much does it cost to restore a dissolved UK company?

The minimum government fee depends on the restoration route. Administrative restoration currently costs £341 through Companies House. Court restoration in England and Wales currently has a £326 court application fee, but the total cost can be higher because of legal, filing, penalty, registrar and asset-related costs.

Is the £341 Companies House fee the total restoration cost?

No. The £341 is the administrative restoration application fee. You may also need to pay outstanding filing fees, late filing penalties and, where applicable, £64 for a Bona Vacantia waiver letter.

How much does a Bona Vacantia waiver letter cost?

The current Companies House RT01 guidance states that the former director or shareholder responsible for the waiver letter must pay £64.

How much does court restoration cost?

In England and Wales, GOV.UK currently lists a £326 court fee for an N208 restoration application. However, the overall cost can be substantially higher because the court may require payment of registrar costs, bona vacantia-related costs and other expenses. Legal fees may also apply.

Do I need a solicitor to restore a dissolved company?

Not necessarily. An eligible former director or shareholder can apply for administrative restoration. However, professional legal advice may be useful where court restoration, company assets, insolvency, creditors or other complicated issues are involved.

Can a company voluntarily struck off be restored?

Yes, but generally through the court rather than administrative restoration. Companies House specifically states that RT01 cannot be used where the directors applied for voluntary strike-off.

Do dissolved companies still have to pay old late filing penalties?

Some penalties can remain payable. Companies House states that unpaid penalties relating to accounts delivered late before dissolution can be due after restoration. However, late filing penalties do not apply to accounts that became due while the company was dissolved.

Is there a deadline for restoring a dissolved company?

Generally, restoration applications must be made within six years of dissolution, although the Companies Act 2006 contains specific exceptions.

Final Takeaway

The cost of restoring a dissolved UK company is not simply the price printed on an application form. For a qualifying administrative restoration, £341 is the current Companies House application fee. If the company had assets requiring a Bona Vacantia waiver, another £64 may apply. Outstanding filing fees and late filing penalties can increase the bill further.

For court restoration in England and Wales, £326 is currently the published court application fee, but legal fees, registrar costs, asset-related expenses and outstanding company obligations can make the total substantially higher. The best way to estimate the real cost is therefore to determine why the company was dissolved, which restoration route applies, what filings and penalties remain outstanding, and whether the company had assets.

Most importantly, do not confuse the headline government fee with the total cost of getting the company fully restored and operational. A careful review of the company's Companies House record before applying can prevent avoidable expenses and help you choose the appropriate restoration route from the outset.