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Companies House guide

Dormant company filing obligations

Dormant companies can still have Companies House filing obligations, including confirmation statements and annual accounts.

Last reviewed
18 July 2026
Sources checked
18 July 2026
Reading time
6 minutes

Written by Business Sorted editorial team

Business Sorted provides general educational information and organisation tools. It is not Companies House, HMRC, a solicitor, an accountant, a tax adviser or a regulated professional adviser. Check official sources and get professional advice where your circumstances need it.

Direct answer

Yes, a dormant limited company usually still needs to file with Companies House. GOV.UK says you must file the confirmation statement and annual accounts even if the limited company is dormant for Corporation Tax or dormant according to Companies House.

Key facts

  • Dormant limited companies can still need to file accounts and confirmation statements.
  • Dormant for Corporation Tax and dormant for Companies House are not identical ideas.
  • Small dormant companies may be able to file dormant accounts.
  • Dormant status is not a reason to ignore Companies House deadlines.

Filings can still apply

GOV.UK says a limited company must file its confirmation statement and annual accounts with Companies House even if it is dormant for Corporation Tax or dormant according to Companies House.

This is why a company with no trading activity can still receive Companies House reminders and late filing consequences.

Dormant for Companies House

A company is dormant according to Companies House if it has had no significant transactions in the financial year. GOV.UK gives examples of transactions that are not significant for this purpose, such as filing fees paid to Companies House and money paid for shares on incorporation.

If the company is dormant according to Companies House and qualifies as small, GOV.UK says it can file dormant accounts and does not have to include an auditor’s report with those accounts.

Practical next steps

Check the company register for the accounts and confirmation statement dates, then check whether the company is dormant for Companies House purposes. Do not assume HMRC dormant status automatically removes Companies House filings.

If the company restarts trading, GOV.UK says you do not need to tell Companies House just because trading restarts; the next non-dormant accounts will show the change.

Frequently asked questions

Do dormant companies need to file accounts?

Yes. GOV.UK says annual accounts must still be filed with Companies House even if the limited company is dormant.

Do dormant companies need confirmation statements?

Yes. GOV.UK says dormant and non-trading companies must file confirmation statements.

Related guides

Annual accounts guide for UK limited company directorsUnderstand what annual accounts are, common Companies House filing deadlines and how accounts differ from HMRC Company Tax Returns.What is a confirmation statement?Understand what a Companies House confirmation statement is, what information it confirms and why UK limited companies still file it when nothing changes.Companies House deadlines explainedA plain-English overview of the main Companies House deadlines UK limited-company directors should track and how they differ from HMRC dates.Companies House late filing penalties explainedSee the Companies House accounts late filing penalty bands, repeat late filing rules and official appeal routes for company accounts.

Useful next steps

Turn important dates into practical tasks

BusinessSorted helps UK business owners organise Companies House, HMRC and business admin tasks without claiming to replace official guidance or professional advice.

Relevant feature: Dormant company filing reminders.

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