Closing down & dormancy
An accountant settles final tax, closes payroll and VAT, and prepares final accounts before you file DS01. Companies House charges the strike off fee at cost.
Written and reviewed by Waqas Sagar Member of ICAEW, Fellow of ACCA, Fellow of AAT, a double graduate and entrepreneur at heart, helping startups grow and serving thousands of businesses nationwide with an excellent team. Published by LimitedCompany.Accountants, 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Reviewed 12 September 2026 against 2026/27 UK rates and current Companies House and HMRC guidance.
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QuickBooks PartnerCertified ProAdvisor100+ yearsCombined team experienceFully insuredUp to £2m indemnityAn accountant clears final corporation tax, deregisters PAYE and VAT, prepares final accounts up to cessation, and confirms reserves are within the £25,000 capital distribution limit before you file form DS01. The Companies House strike off fee is charged at cost with no VAT.
The accountant's role before DS01
What it costs
An accountant clears final corporation tax, deregisters PAYE and VAT, prepares final accounts up to cessation, and confirms reserves are within the £25,000 capital distribution limit before you file form DS01. The Companies House strike off fee is charged at cost with no VAT.
Before applying to strike off, all significant liabilities must be settled and any remaining reserves distributed to shareholders. The accountant calculates final corporation tax due, files the last CT600 covering the cessation period, and deregisters the company for VAT and PAYE where applicable.
They also check the £25,000 lifetime limit on capital treatment for informal strike off distributions; above that figure the whole distribution is taxed as a dividend, which often points towards a members' voluntary liquidation instead.
The DS01 filing fee is charged by Companies House at cost, with no VAT added, whether you file it yourself or your accountant files it for you. The accountancy fee covers the final accounts, final CT600, deregistrations and the distribution calculation, typically similar to or slightly above a normal annual accounts fee given the extra tidying up involved.
There is no fixed insolvency practitioner cost here because strike off is an administrative process, not a liquidation; you only need an insolvency practitioner if you move to a members' or creditors' voluntary liquidation instead.
Rates, thresholds and deadlines quoted here reflect the 2026/27 UK position and current Companies House and HMRC guidance. Check GOV.UK, or ask us, before relying on them for your own company.
Local help
We work with company directors across London and Surrey from our office at 12 London Road, Morden, London SM4 5BQ. Pick your area, or send the form below and we will call you back.
Frequently asked
You can, but final tax and accounts obligations remain and unresolved liabilities can lead to an objection or restoration.
HMRC can object to the strike off application, so settle any outstanding corporation tax or VAT first.
Around three months from application, allowing for the two month objection period after the Gazette notice.
Keep bank statements, sales and platform reports, purchase invoices, payroll records, VAT workings, finance agreements and Companies House correspondence. We confirm the exact list at onboarding and identify gaps before a filing deadline becomes urgent.
The fee depends on transaction volume, record quality, VAT and payroll requirements, historic catch-up and the level of reporting needed. We agree a fixed scope and price before technical work starts, with published packages available on our fees page.
Yes. We request professional clearance, collect the prior records and authorities, check the next Companies House and HMRC deadlines, and give you one clear handover list. The process is normally completed remotely.
Yes. We work through secure cloud records, scheduled reviews and digital approvals, while keeping a named team available by phone, video call and email. Clients can also visit our Morden office by appointment.
We regularly work with Xero, QuickBooks, FreeAgent, Sage and connected sales or expense apps. The right setup depends on transaction volume, integrations and the reports you need, not simply the software brand.
The relevant calendar may include annual accounts, Corporation Tax payment and return dates, confirmation statements, VAT returns, payroll submissions and Self Assessment. We map the dates from your company year end and registrations.
No. This page explains general UK rules and common accounting treatment. Your facts, contracts and wider tax position must be reviewed before you rely on a conclusion.
Included approach
Check the current rules
Deadlines, thresholds and filing rules change. GOV.UK and Companies House publish the current statutory position; advice should then be applied to your company’s circumstances.
Talk to an accountant
Share your next deadline, accounting problem or growth question. We will reply with a clear next step and quote any technical work before it begins.
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Pick a time that suits you and a qualified accountant will call you about your company, deadlines and fees.
Appointments run monday to friday, 9:00am to 5:30pm. Your confirmation is emailed straight away.
