Can a Dissolved Company be Reinstated?

In short:

Previously dissolved companies can be restored by directors, shareholders, or creditors.
There’s a six-year window from its dissolution date in which a business can be reinstated.
Creditors can apply to the courts to reinstate a company in order to recover what they are owed.

To cut straight to the chase – yes. A dissolved company can indeed be reinstated. Whether you’d actually want to is another matter entirely, though, given how convoluted and difficult the process can be. Because of this, many choose to simply start a new business instead.

Nevertheless, should you be interested in reinstating a dissolved company, here are some of the main points that you should know.

Is there a time limit in which a company can be restored?

There is a six-year window after being struck from the Companies House register in which a business can be reinstated.

While it’s technically possible to restore a business after this timeframe, it is very rare to see this happen. There are myriad obstacles in the way for those who attempt it.

Insolvency expert and Senior Client Manager at Forbes Burton, Ben Westoby, adds that “one exception to this is when companies are reinstated to allow personal injury claims to be realised. Occasionally, some creditor claims can force a company to be reinstated after this timeframe too.”

Who can apply to reinstate a dissolved business?

Applications to reinstate dissolved companies can only be made by the former directors/shareholders, or those that have an outstanding claim against the business, such as HMRC, former employees, or other creditors.

Which method of restoration is needed?

Directors or shareholders hoping to restart a company will have to use an administrative restoration in order to get up and running again.

Businesses that are being reinstated because of outstanding bills, meanwhile, will go through a court-ordered restoration.

How long does it take to reinstate a dissolved company?

As you might imagine, there are a number of factors that can expedite or slow down the restoration process. The Gazette itself gives a rough guideline, however, of four months.

Cases involving court orders are likely to take a fair bit longer, while administrative restorations tend to be quicker as they negate the need of any court involvement.

How much does it cost to reinstate a dissolved company?

As of September 2025, the following fees apply to restoring a dissolved company via an administrative restoration:

£468 Companies House restoration fee
£40 for each outstanding confirmation statement
Late filing fees for accounts (if applicable)
£64 for a bona vacantia waiver letter

Should the restoration be court-ordered, however, the fees change to the below:

£308 court fee
£300 payment for the Crown’s legal costs

Can a dissolved company name be used again?

In the case of reinstating a dissolved company, the business will retain the same name it had previously.

Opening a new company with the same name, however, carries some complications. Westoby explains that “there are a number of factors that can affect this, but generally speaking, if a company has been dissolved as part of a solvent closure, such as a members’ voluntary liquidation, it’s usually fine to reuse the name.

“Should the original closure be down to insolvency, though, there can be restrictions on reusing its name for up to five years.

Of course, if other businesses can take a dissolved company’s name for their own, it poses the potential problem of reinstated companies finding that somebody else now has their name.”

In these instances, the reinstated company will need to change its name to avoid confusion with the new company that has taken it. Directors can check if anybody has taken their company name during their hiatus by using Gov.uk’s name availability checker.

What happens when a company is reinstated?

The reinstated company has the same status of a company that has never dissolved, and becomes a legal entity again.

The business reappears on Companies House as ‘active’ and a notice announcing its restoration is published in The Gazette.

Any assets that had previously been taken by the Crown as part of the Bona Vacantia law can potentially be recovered should they be applied for. Directors, board members and others can also be put back in their original positions if an application is made to the courts.

Can a claim be made against a dissolved company?

Technically, no. If a company is dissolved, no claims can be made against it. As the business is no longer a legal entity, it simply doesn’t exist.

However, creditors can apply to the courts to have the business reinstated. Once active again, claims can be made against it.

Can HMRC reopen a dissolved company?

Yes, as long as six years haven’t passed since its dissolution.

If money is owed to HMRC, they may decide to reinstate a business in order to realise unsold assets. Similarly, they can potentially do the same should any other creditors post a petition to do so.

In this scenario, creditors apply to the court for a court order asking to restore the business that owes them money. Once reinstated, any remaining assets are extracted from the defunct business in order to pay back its debt.

How long do dissolved companies stay on the register?

Details about a company’s dissolution are kept on a public register for 20 years. Many are then destroyed, though some are kept for posterity in the National Archives.

Need answers on liquidations and dissolutions?

Forbes Burton has been helping businesses to navigate closures since 2009. Our team of helpful advisers are able to provide practical advice on every aspect of company closure, and offer free, no-obligation initial consultations.

Call today on 0800 975 0380 or email advice@forbesburton.com for a free consultation with one of our expert advisers to find out how we can help business owners navigate an uncertain future.