Restoring a dissolved UK company is rarely as simple as completing one form and sending it to Companies House. Before you start, you need to establish why the company was dissolved, whether you are eligible to restore it, which restoration route applies, what filings are outstanding, whether company assets became bona vacantia, and whether you are still within the statutory time limit.

For an eligible administrative restoration, the application is made using Form RT01. As of February 2026, Companies House charges £341 for an administrative restoration application. You may also need to provide outstanding company documents, deal with late filing penalties and obtain a bona vacantia waiver where applicable. But RT01 is not available in every case. If the company was voluntarily struck off, for example, restoration generally requires a court order instead. This checklist walks through what to establish and prepare before starting the process.

UK company restoration checklist at a glance

Before applying to restore a dissolved company, check that you have:

• The company's exact name and company number
• The date and reason for dissolution
• Evidence of how the company was struck off
• Confirmation that you are entitled to apply
• Confirmation that the company meets the requirements for administrative restoration, if using RT01
• All outstanding accounts and confirmation statements
• Information about outstanding filing fees and penalties
• Details of any company assets
• A bona vacantia waiver where required
• Any additional evidence required for the particular strike-off route
• The correct restoration application and fee
• A plan for dealing with the company's affairs after restoration

The first task, however, is not gathering paperwork. It is choosing the correct restoration route.

1. Confirm that restoration is actually the right solution

A dissolved company cannot simply be treated as an inactive business that you can restart whenever convenient. Restoration is appropriate where there is a reason for the original legal entity to come back onto the register. Common reasons include:

• The company owns property
• Money remains in a company bank account
• Customers owe the company money
• The company owns intellectual property
• An important contract remains outstanding
• The company has a legal claim
• The founder needs to deal with historic corporate affairs
• A creditor needs to pursue the company

A new company is not automatically a substitute. If the dissolved company owned a commercial property worth £250,000, for example, incorporating a new company does not make the new company the owner of that property. This is one of the first questions to answer: What does the dissolved company still own, owe, or have the right to enforce?

2. Check the company's exact Companies House record

Before preparing an application, obtain the company's Companies House information. Check:

• Company name
• Company number
• Current status
• Date of dissolution
• Filing history
• Previous names
• Former directors
• Shareholders or members
• Charges
• Insolvency information
• Registered office history
• Strike-off information

Do not rely on memory for the dissolution date. The six-year restoration period is calculated from the date of dissolution. For administrative restoration, section 1024 of the Companies Act 2006 states that an application cannot be made after six years from dissolution, and the application is treated as made when it is received by the Registrar. That makes the exact date critical.

Example

If a company was dissolved on 20 October 2020, the former director should not assume they have until the end of October 2026 to deal with everything. The statutory deadline needs to be treated carefully, particularly because Companies House must receive the application within the permitted period. If the company is approaching six years from dissolution, start immediately.

3. Establish how the company was dissolved

This is arguably the most important item on the checklist. There are different restoration procedures, and not every dissolved company qualifies for administrative restoration. For administrative restoration, Companies House currently states that:

• You must have been a director or shareholder
• The company must have been struck off and dissolved by the Registrar within the last six years
• The company must have been trading when it was dissolved

If the directors applied for voluntary strike-off, you cannot use the administrative RT01 procedure and will generally need a court order instead. The Companies Act also limits administrative restoration to companies struck off under specified statutory provisions.

Your first route decision

Ask: Was the company struck off by Companies House, or did the directors voluntarily apply for strike-off? If you get this question wrong, you can spend time preparing an RT01 application that cannot succeed.

4. Confirm that you are entitled to apply

Administrative restoration is not open to everyone. Under section 1024 of the Companies Act 2006, an administrative restoration application can be made only by a former director or former member of the company. So before preparing the application, establish your status. For example:

• Former director → potentially eligible
• Former shareholder/member → potentially eligible
• Ordinary creditor → administrative restoration is not the route; court restoration may be relevant
• Third party with a contractual or legal interest → court restoration may potentially be available

This distinction becomes particularly important where a company has been dissolved following a dispute or insolvency.

5. Confirm that the company was operating when it was struck off

Administrative restoration has an important substantive requirement. The company must have been carrying on business or in operation at the time of striking off. This is set out in section 1025 of the Companies Act 2006. That means the application should not simply assert eligibility without considering what evidence supports the company's status. Depending on the circumstances, useful evidence could include:

• Business bank activity
• Customer invoices
• Supplier invoices
• Contracts
• Tax records
• Trading correspondence
• Payroll records
• Business premises records
• Evidence of ongoing commercial activity

This is particularly relevant if the company's Companies House filing history makes it look dormant or neglected.

6. Identify every outstanding filing

One of the biggest practical mistakes is completing RT01 before checking what the company still owes Companies House. Companies House requires outstanding company documents to be delivered as part of the administrative restoration process. Its current RT01 guidance specifically refers to outstanding documents such as accounts and confirmation statements. Create a filing inventory before submitting anything.

Check for outstanding:

• Annual accounts
• Confirmation statements
• Registered office changes
• Director appointments or resignations
• PSC information
• Other required statutory filings

Do not assume that restoring the company automatically fixes its filing history. The objective is to bring the Companies House record up to date as required by the restoration process.

7. Check outstanding accounts and late filing penalties

Accounts deserve separate attention because they can create unexpected costs. Companies House states that applicants must provide outstanding accounts and deal with applicable late filing penalties when seeking administrative restoration. Before starting the application, establish:

1. Which accounts were due before dissolution?
2. Which accounts remain outstanding?
3. What penalties are payable?
4. Which documents need to be prepared?
5. Are accounting records available?

There is an important distinction around the period during which the company was dissolved. Companies House guidance states that the company is not liable for late filing penalties for accounts received on restoration where those accounts became due while the company was dissolved. That does not mean all historic penalties disappear. Penalties that were already due before dissolution can remain relevant.

8. Check confirmation statements

Confirmation statements are another common source of confusion. A company that failed to file confirmation statements before dissolution may need to address those outstanding filings during restoration. Review the company's filing history and identify:

• The last confirmation statement filed
• The next confirmation statement that became due
• Any subsequent outstanding statements
• Changes in shareholders
• Changes in PSC information
• Changes in directors
• Registered office changes

Do not simply recreate information from memory. Where the company has been dissolved for several years, the corporate structure may have changed considerably since the last filing.

9. Investigate bona vacantia before applying

This step is essential if the dissolved company owned property or rights. When a company is dissolved, certain property can pass to the Crown as bona vacantia. For administrative restoration, section 1025 requires the necessary consent from the Crown representative where company property or rights have vested as bona vacantia. The applicant is responsible for obtaining that consent.

Companies House's current RT01 guidance describes this as a bona vacantia waiver letter and states that the former director or shareholder is responsible for obtaining it. The current stated cost is £64.

Look beyond obvious assets

Check whether the company owned:

• Bank balances
• Land
• Buildings
• Shares
• Intellectual property
• Loans owed to it
• Contractual rights
• Equipment
• Other investments

An overlooked asset can completely change the commercial importance of restoration.

10. Identify assets that may need urgent protection

Some assets require more attention than others. Suppose the dissolved company owns a property. The issue may involve title, insurance, rent, maintenance and management. Suppose it owns intellectual property. There may be licensing agreements, registrations or infringement claims.

Suppose it is owed £100,000 by a customer. The limitation period for recovering that debt may become a separate concern. Restoration should therefore be viewed as part of a broader asset-recovery exercise. Make a separate list headed: “Everything the company owned or was entitled to when it was dissolved.” Then investigate each item.

11. Check whether the company has debts or legal liabilities

Restoration is not a mechanism for keeping assets while leaving liabilities behind. A restored company can have historic obligations that need to be addressed. Check for:

• Bank loans
• Supplier debts
• HMRC liabilities
• Employee claims
• Director loans
• Lease obligations
• Guarantees
• Litigation
• Regulatory obligations
• Contractual liabilities

This is particularly important if the company was struggling financially before dissolution. If creditors are involved, do not assume that creating a new company is a solution. Where insolvency issues or creditor disputes exist, specialist legal or insolvency advice may be necessary.

12. Check whether the company was involved in litigation

A dissolved company may have legal rights or liabilities that do not appear obvious from its Companies House record. Ask:

• Was the company suing anyone?
• Was anyone suing the company?
• Was there an unresolved commercial dispute?
• Was there an insurance claim?
• Was the company owed damages?
• Was there an intellectual property dispute?

If litigation is involved, restoration can become much more than a filing exercise. The Companies Act contains specific restoration rules for court applications, including provisions dealing with legal proceedings and limitation periods. This is a situation where legal advice should be considered early.

13. Prepare Form RT01 correctly

If administrative restoration is available, the core application is Form RT01. The current Companies House form states that applications can be returned if information is missing or completed incorrectly. Its checklist includes matching the company name and number to the public register, confirming that the restoration conditions have been met, authentication by a former director or member, and payment of the correct fee. Before submitting, check:

• Company name matches the register
• Company number is correct
• Applicant has the correct status
• Restoration conditions are satisfied
• Required declarations are complete
• Correct fee is enclosed
• Supporting documents are included
• Bona vacantia waiver is included where required

A small administrative error can delay an application, which matters even more when the six-year deadline is approaching.

14. Budget for the full restoration cost

The RT01 fee is only one part of the potential cost. As of February 2026, Companies House charges £341 for administrative restoration. You may also need to budget for:

• Outstanding filing fees
• Late filing penalties
• Bona vacantia costs
• Accounting work
• Legal advice
• Court fees if court restoration is required
• Asset-related professional fees

The right question is not: “How much does RT01 cost?” It is: “What will it cost to put this company back into a usable and compliant position?” That figure can be considerably higher.

15. Decide whether administrative or court restoration applies

At this point, make the route decision.

Administrative restoration is potentially appropriate where:

• You are a former director or member
• The Registrar struck off the company
• The company was trading or operating when struck off
• The company was dissolved within six years
• The other statutory conditions can be satisfied

Court restoration may be required where:

• The company was voluntarily struck off
• You are not eligible to use administrative restoration
• The company's circumstances fall outside the administrative procedure
• There are unusual or complex circumstances

Companies House describes court restoration as the alternative where administrative restoration is unavailable. Do not submit RT01 simply because it is the easier-looking option.

16. Prepare for what happens after restoration

Successful restoration is not the end of the process. Once restored, the company may need to deal with:

• Outstanding statutory filings
• Tax compliance
• Accounting records
• Bank accounts
• Assets
• Contracts
• Creditors
• Employees
• Directors and shareholders
• Registered office information

Companies House explains that restoration generally puts the company back on the register and treats it as continuing in existence as if it had not been struck off and dissolved. That legal effect is precisely why restoration can be valuable. It can also be why the process needs careful preparation.

A practical UK company restoration checklist

Use this as your final pre-application review.

Company status

• Company name confirmed
• Company number confirmed
• Dissolution date confirmed
• Strike-off method identified
• Companies House filing history reviewed

Applicant

• Former director or member status confirmed
• Applicant's details match the company's historical records
• Eligibility for administrative restoration confirmed

Time limit

• Six-year deadline calculated
• Enough time remains to prepare the application
• No special limitation issue has been overlooked

Corporate filings

• Outstanding accounts identified
• Outstanding confirmation statements identified
• Other required filings identified
• Applicable penalties calculated

Assets

• Bank accounts checked
• Property checked
• Shares and investments checked
• Intellectual property checked
• Debts owed to the company identified
• Bona vacantia position investigated
• Waiver obtained where required

Liabilities

• Creditors identified
• HMRC position checked
• Loans and guarantees reviewed
• Litigation identified
• Contractual obligations reviewed

Application

• RT01 completed correctly, if applicable
• Statement of compliance completed
• Correct £341 fee prepared
• Supporting documents attached
• Bona vacantia waiver included where required
• Application package checked before submission

A realistic example: why preparation matters

Consider a former director whose company was dissolved after failing to file accounts. Three years later, the director discovers that the company still owns a commercial unit worth £180,000 and is owed £35,000 by a former customer. At first glance, restoration appears straightforward. But the checklist reveals several additional questions:

• Was the company struck off by Companies House?
• Was it trading when struck off?
• Are the outstanding accounts available?
• Are penalties due?
• Did the property become bona vacantia?
• Is there a bona vacantia waiver?
• Is the £35,000 debt still legally recoverable?
• Are there outstanding liabilities?
• Is there any litigation?

The value of the restoration checklist is that it exposes these issues before the application is submitted. That can save considerably more time and money than simply completing RT01 immediately.

What founders and global business owners should know

For founders, restoration is ultimately about more than getting a company back onto the Companies House register. A dissolved company can still have economic value. A UK company may hold intellectual property, investment interests, property, contractual rights or receivables even after its business activity has stopped. For international founders, those assets may be spread across multiple jurisdictions, making a careful restoration review particularly important.

IncorpUK, a UK company formation and management platform for global founders, sits within the broader company administration landscape, but restoration involving substantial assets, creditor disputes, insolvency or litigation should be treated as a legal and financial matter rather than a routine filing exercise.

Frequently Asked Questions

What documents do I need to restore a UK company?

For administrative restoration, you generally need Form RT01, the correct fee, outstanding company documents such as accounts and confirmation statements, applicable filing fees or penalties, and a bona vacantia waiver where required. Additional evidence may be required depending on why the company was struck off.

How much does it cost to restore a dissolved company?

The current Companies House fee for administrative restoration is £341. Additional costs can include overdue filing penalties, outstanding fees, a £64 bona vacantia waiver where applicable, accounting or legal costs and court costs where court restoration is required.

Can I restore a company without filing its overdue accounts?

Generally, outstanding documents needed to bring the Companies House record up to date must be delivered as part of administrative restoration. Companies House specifically lists outstanding accounts and confirmation statements among the documents that may need to be filed.

Do I need a bona vacantia waiver?

You may need one if company property or rights vested in the Crown as bona vacantia following dissolution. Companies House states that the former director or shareholder is responsible for obtaining the waiver for an administrative restoration.

Can I use RT01 if the company was voluntarily struck off?

No. Administrative restoration through RT01 is not available where the directors applied for voluntary strike-off. A court order will generally be required instead.

How long after dissolution do I have to restore a company?

Administrative restoration generally must be applied for within six years of dissolution. The Companies Act states that the application is made when it is received by the Registrar.

Can a creditor use this restoration checklist?

Creditors can use the checklist to understand the information that matters, but a creditor cannot use RT01 simply because a dissolved company owes them money. Administrative restoration is restricted to former directors and former members. A creditor may instead need to consider court restoration.

What happens after a company is restored?

The company is generally treated as continuing in existence as if it had not been struck off and dissolved. Its historic affairs may therefore need to be addressed, including outstanding filings, assets, liabilities, contracts and tax matters.

What if Companies House refuses my restoration application?

Depending on the circumstances, you may be able to apply to the court for restoration. The Companies Act provides a specific 28-day route following refusal of a timely administrative restoration application, even where the normal six-year period has subsequently expired.

Conclusion

A successful UK company restoration starts before Form RT01 is completed. The most important preparation is establishing the company's dissolution history, confirming your eligibility, calculating the six-year deadline, identifying outstanding filings, investigating assets and liabilities, and resolving any bona vacantia issues. The core checklist is simple: Confirm the company → confirm the applicant → confirm the route → confirm the deadline → identify filings → identify assets → identify liabilities → obtain required documents → complete the correct application → plan for post-restoration compliance.

If the company was eligible for administrative restoration, the process can be relatively straightforward. If it was voluntarily struck off, involved insolvency, has significant assets or is connected to litigation, the situation may require court proceedings or specialist advice. Most importantly, do not treat restoration as merely a Companies House form. You are bringing a legal entity back into existence, along with the rights, assets, responsibilities and history attached to it. Preparing properly before you start is what makes the process more predictable, efficient and commercially useful.