What is administrative restoration of a company?
Administrative restoration is a process under the Companies Act 2006 (sections 1024–1028) that allows a former director or shareholder to apply directly to Companies House to return a dissolved company to the register - without needing a court order. Once restored, the company is treated as though it was never dissolved.
What is the difference between administrative and court order restoration?
Administrative restoration is a direct application to Companies House and is available when the Registrar dissolved the company - typically for missed confirmation statements or accounts. Court order restoration requires a court application and applies in other circumstances, such as voluntary strike-off or post-insolvency dissolution. Administrative restoration is faster and less expensive.
Can I restore my company if it was struck off for missing a confirmation statement?
Yes - this is one of the most common reasons for an administrative strike-off and exactly what administrative restoration is designed for. All outstanding confirmation statements must be filed before or alongside the restoration application. For dissolved companies, online filing is not available - the CS01 must be submitted on paper at £110 per statement.
How long does administrative restoration take?
The overall process typically takes 2–3 months from submission of Form RT01 to Companies House. However, the bona vacantia waiver letter from the Treasury Solicitor (KCLO) must be obtained before RT01 can be submitted - and the KCLO can itself take several weeks to respond. We start this step as early as possible to keep the overall timeline as short as we can.
What is a bona vacantia waiver letter and do I need one?
When a company is dissolved, its assets automatically vest in the Crown - a legal concept called bona vacantia. Before Companies House will accept a restoration application, you must obtain a waiver letter from the Treasury Solicitor (KCLO) confirming the Crown consents to the restoration. This letter is mandatory for every administrative restoration application and must be secured before Form RT01 is submitted. The KCLO charges £64 to process the waiver. We apply for this on your behalf.
What happens to my company's assets and bank accounts after dissolution?
From the date of dissolution, all company assets - including bank balances, property, domain names, trademarks, tax losses, insurance claims, and outstanding debts - automatically vest in the Crown as bona vacantia. Bank accounts are frozen and the company cannot trade or enter contracts. Restoration returns all assets to the company, provided the bona vacantia waiver is obtained and the restoration is approved.
Is there a time limit to restore a dissolved company?
Yes. Administrative restoration must be applied for within 6 years of the date the company was dissolved. After this deadline, the administrative route is no longer available. If you are approaching the limit, contact us immediately so we can prioritise your case.
Who can apply for administrative restoration?
Only a former director, shareholder, guarantor, or partner of the company at the time it was dissolved can apply. Creditors cannot use this route - they must pursue court-ordered restoration
Do I need to file all outstanding accounts before restoring my company?
Yes. All overdue confirmation statements and annual accounts must be filed before or alongside the restoration application. Late filing penalties charged by Companies House must also be paid. These range from £150 for accounts less than one month late to £1,500 for accounts more than six months overdue - and double if accounts were also late in the previous year.
Can I restore my company if it was voluntarily struck off?
No. Administrative restoration is only available where Companies House initiated the dissolution. If the company was voluntarily struck off following a directors' application, or dissolved following insolvency proceedings, a court order restoration under section 1029 of the Companies Act 2006 is required. We specialise in administrative restoration only and will advise you of this at your free assessment.
