Can I register a new Co after CH dissolved my Co.

My ltd Co was dissolved by CH as accountants had not filed the returns.. can i start again?

Didn't find your answer?

So here goes, my accountants sold to an online accountants.. it was really difficult to get in touch with anyone and the returns never got filed last year, I owed some vat which I was paying off and got a few penalties along the way. I received a letter from Companies House ststing they were gojng to strike the Co off,  then when i went on the CH website it was objected too.. I presumed by HMRC so thought nothing about it. I spoke to the accountants who were most unhelpful and for the last 3 months refuse to answer or return my calls. I had been making payments to HMRC for vat and then a few weeks ago I got a letter saying the ltd Co was going to be struck off ... 4 days later it was dissolved. Do I get in touch with hmrc to still pay the vat off as I still owe about 13k? will i be barred from starting another ltd Co? Am I in any trouble as no one has informed me yet? I had no creditors and was struggling a bit hence the vat not being paid.. I've read lots of posts on similar but would appreciate some advice. Thsnks Dave.

Replies (13)

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By mrme89
18th Oct 2017 07:35

The £13k debt died with the company.

There is nothing stopping you from starting another company as long as you have not been banned from doing so.

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By Davesere
18th Oct 2017 09:17

Thanks for the response mrme.. how do i know if any action has been taken against me? This has happened so fast...

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By mrme89
18th Oct 2017 09:45

You would have known if you had been banned.

Forget about the company. Start another and move on.

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By Davesere
18th Oct 2017 10:24

Thanks again mrme, although I'll leave the post up for any other responses .. with that advice I'm going to move on and start again.. do you think another ltd company or sole trader for a h&s consultancy is a better route..

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Replying to Davesere:
By mrme89
18th Oct 2017 10:32

Who knows?
You need specific advice, not forum advice from people you don't know.

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By ireallyshouldknowthisbut
18th Oct 2017 08:52

Its your company. Your responsibility.

If your accountants are crap, then you fire them and hire someone competent, however if they have not been returning your calls for 3 months it would suggest they have fired you?

You can "restore" a company which means put it back on the register as if nothing happened.

I would suggest you engage a competent firm to look at your situation and advice on the best course of action.

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Replying to ireallyshouldknowthisbut:
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By Davesere
18th Oct 2017 09:34

Thanks for the response ireallyshouldknowthis.. I am grateful for the advice, since selling to the online accountants I will admit the wheels had fallen off the relationship.. I agree with you it's my Company, my responsibility and believe me I have lost alot of sleep and put alot of effort trying to get this all sorted out. I really understand accountants make a good business.. I had a good relationship with the original accountants for over 3 years.. there was wasted months when they sold and the new company was taking over, then it was all to be uploaded to a poor portal system which had it's faults.. more time wasted... as the service wasn't great I never found the mutual ground and rightly so it fell apart. As I don't think they will respond to me to return the information submitted, yes I am now locked out of the online portal, would it be good advice to let this company go and start again? I owed vat, and could still arrange a payment plan, but to restore the company i would need the accountants help... with this further information would you still advise going to another accountants?

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
18th Oct 2017 09:47

What assets did old co own when it was struck off, do you need to get them back from Liz?

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Replying to DJKL:
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By Davesere
18th Oct 2017 10:21

Thanks for the response DJKL, no assetts within the Co, nothing owed to anyone other than hmrc, nothing really in the bank account.. albeit a hundred pound.. I would expect that goes bona vacantia.. I haven't used the account since it dissolved... so easy answer, nothing to get back...

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By bernard michael
18th Oct 2017 09:59

The one complication you could face is when applying for a new VAT number.
HMRC might ask for a security deposit as your dissolved company owed them money

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paddle steamer
By DJKL
18th Oct 2017 10:43

Given what you say, before rushing into a newco you should have a chat with an accountant, it may well be that whilst using a company was previously the right decision that is no longer the case. There have been a lot of changes in the tax regime making companies less attractive, and they do tend to come with higher professional fees to operate than say sole traders.

If new business is similar to old it does not sound like much in the way of creditors that might have one chasing limited liability.

In addition, unless old company was loss making, it appears you somewhat pillaged its assets, drawing funds that were not yours (you would not have no assets and a vat liability if that was not the case) so perhaps you and companies are not a good mix.

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By Davesere
18th Oct 2017 11:11

Thanks for the response DJKL, I can only agree that this may be the case for me.. I leased vehicles and plant, paid out alot and never really made alot... after 5 years of running a company I should of known better than spend claimed vat than use the money for running the company.. i accept that when times are tough companies borrow from Peter to pay Paul, this was my case... maybe sole trader is better for me, invoice less than 85k, no vat, no returns other than SA and pay less for running the company.. i know some made money out of my hard work.. probably less stressful too... my biggest problem was the new accountants put me on the flat rate scheme.. when my role was travelling most days, lodging, fuel and plant hire... so paid vat on everything and could not claim it back... hope that explains the pillaging... positive or negative I did what I thought was right..

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By I'msorryIhaven'taclue
18th Oct 2017 11:50

So, paradoxically, going to a cheap accountant with poor communication and dodgy software has actually saved the OP a good deal of tax.

Be aware OP that you were lucky HMRC didn't block the strike-off; if and when they ever wake up to the fact that your company owes VAT or corporation tax then they, HMRC, may just apply for reinstatement of the company. You should resist the temptation to discuss the matter, and get on with a new £99 company (or self-employment if you think that better). I should let the dust settle before applying for a new VAT registration if I were you - I'm not sure that HMRC will be able to extract a security deposit from you if you leave VAT registration until your new business hits compulsory registration levels of turnover - blood from a stone?

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