Voluntary Strike Off (Full Service)

If you find yourself with a company that’s no longer operational or Dormant and you’re considering voluntary strike-off, it’s vital to grasp the process and prerequisites involved for a hassle-free dissolution. While a voluntary strike-off can be a cost-effective way to wind up a company, any missteps during the process could lead to unexpected delays and additional expenses. Given recent changes in electronic filing procedures with the Companies Registration Office (CRO) and increased scrutiny from Revenue, getting the timing right is crucial to avoid complications.

Qualifications for Voluntary Strike Off:

Before proceeding with a voluntary strike-off, your company must meet specific qualifications. This includes the necessity of applying to Revenue for a “letter of no objection.” We have outlined these qualifications in our previous posts.

Factors to Consider When Pursuing Voluntary Strike Off:

1. Seeking Revenue Approval: Revenue conducts an in-depth review of your company’s tax filings before granting a letter of no objection. Initiating this step should be your first priority, as addressing any pending tax returns may take time. Revenue generally prefers companies to cease their registration before applying for a letter of no objection. It’s noteworthy that a lot of recent applications to Revenue had additional filings to submit before they could receive the Letter of No Objection, potentially causing delays. It’s prudent to contact Revenue before initiating the application or have us our your agent review your outstanding returns to identify any necessary filings.

2. Assets & Liabilities Evaluation: A pivotal criterion for voluntary strike-off is ensuring that the company’s assets do not exceed €150 or its liabilities surpass €150. If your company cannot meet these financial conditions, it might be more prudent to explore the possibility of a Members or Creditors Voluntary Liquidation.

3. Compliance with CRO Filings: Your company must be up to date with all its filings at the Companies Registration Office. Applying for voluntary strike-off is not an option if the company has any pending annual returns but if you have the Letter of No Objection and advertisement to hand you can submit them to the CRO after your annual return is due but within 56 days from that date its due.

4. Completion of the H15 Form: The H15 form is required for initiating voluntary strike-off, and it requires the signature of each director. Obtaining the signatures of all directors might present some logistical challenges.

Critical Timelines to Bear in Mind:

Take note of these essential deadlines when embarking on a voluntary strike-off:

– The resolution passed by members to strike off the company must not exceed 3 months from the date of filing the application with the CRO.
– The letter of no objection from Revenue should not be more than 3 months old.
– The H15 form must be lodged with the CRO within 30 days of publishing the advertisement in a national newspaper; otherwise, the advertisement will need to be republished.